Key Takeaways
- Hayley Mortin, a Canadian artist, has created a unique CBC Arts logo using knitting, inspired by the early days of the internet.
- Mortin’s work combines her passions for UX research and fibre art, exploring the historical connections between textiles and computing.
- The artist’s logo reinterprets the mood of Canada’s early web through knitting, capturing the feeling of becoming visible online for the first time.
- Mortin’s work is inspired by the intersection of technology and art, and she often draws inspiration from scientific journals, public domain images, and the online fibre-arts community.
- The artist’s favourite place to see art is in art and design bookstores while travelling, and she is currently working on new projects, including hats inspired by security patterns and generative AI.
Introduction to Hayley Mortin
Hayley Mortin, a UX researcher and artist based in Montreal, has created a cozy CBC Arts logo for the month of January. Her fibre-art studio practice, Dazy Chains, combines her professional passions, exploring the historical connections between textiles and computing. Mortin’s work may seem unexpected, but it is rooted in the idea that knitting is often described as the first binary technology, where each stitch functions like a 0 or 1. This concept is evident in centuries-old inventions, such as the Jacquard loom, which was an early example of a programmable machine or computer.
The CBC Arts Logo
For this assignment, Mortin turned her focus to the 1990s, capturing the "soft blues and whites" of CBC’s debut digital logo. She produced the piece using a knitting machine, fabricated with hand-dyed, made-in-Canada merino wool. The artist intentionally created a backdrop with a "slight colour variation, similar to a screen’s texture," mimicking the pixel noise of early screens before they became smooth and high-resolution. The result is a unique and nostalgic logo that pays homage to the early days of the internet.
Inspiration and Influences
Mortin draws inspiration from a variety of sources, including scientific journals, public domain images, and the online fibre-arts community. She is particularly interested in investigating how attitudes toward AI have evolved historically and is inspired by the work of other artists exploring new possibilities with fibre art. Mortin also started a publication called Needlebound to share the work of other fibre artists and to give herself a printed collection of inspiration to return to.
The Intersection of Art and Technology
Mortin’s work is a prime example of the intersection of art and technology. She is fascinated by the transitional moment when institutions were first learning to exist online, and the uncertainty of how to present oneself in a completely new medium. This "handmade" quality of early web design lends itself nicely to being reinterpreted through a medium like knitting. Mortin’s project, Marine Learning, is a conversation between human and technologically mediated vision, both struggling to make sense of something as fluid and elusive as water.
Current Projects and Interests
Mortin is currently working on new projects, including hats inspired by security patterns and generative AI. She is also interested in taking another course at the School for Poetic Computation, which explores how we communicate to and through machines. Mortin’s favourite place to see art is in art and design bookstores while travelling, and she recently discovered the work of artist @cctvchurch, who takes publicly accessible CCTV footage and turns it into standalone images.
Conclusion
Hayley Mortin’s unique CBC Arts logo is a testament to her innovative approach to combining art and technology. Her work is a prime example of the intersection of these two fields, and her passion for fibre art and UX research is evident in every stitch. As Mortin continues to explore new possibilities with her art, it will be exciting to see what she creates next. With her rolling portfolio on Instagram, it’s easy to stay up-to-date on her latest projects and inspirations. Whether she’s working on hats, fibre art, or exploring the world of AI, Mortin’s creativity and curiosity are sure to inspire and delight.