Jane Tardo is an inventor, sculptor, and designer. She was born and is currently based in New Orleans. Jane will earn her Master of Fine Art in Sculpture from the University of New Orleans in May 2020. She is a grant recipient of Colloqate Design and has exhibited work in Baton Rouge Gallery, Good Children Gallery, and Barrister’s Gallery. www.janetardo.com IG: @stringspring

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This week and over the past few weeks I have been entirely focused on preparing for my thesis show. Rather than show an accumulation of work made during the past 3 years of my graduate career, I have chosen to show only the work that I have completed this year. This decision is largely due to just recently (over the summer) figuring out what kind of artist I am and what kind of work it is that I make- it took me 3 years to learn this & the techniques to be able to produce my work! I think this is a pretty common experience for MFA programs, yet am amazed by how much I have actually learned and grown as artist during my focused period of study and practice. I am truly, truly excited and in love with everything I am creating and very much looking forward to sharing my work with audiences.

Yet the preparations have been a bit daunting, mostly in finishing and installing my title piece: Snake Tube Adventure Racing.

Snake Tube Adventure WHAT?!

I have prepared a short Q&A to answer all of the fan-mail and questions regarding Snake Tube Adventure Racing (STAR).

Q: What is Snake Tube Adventure Racing?

Good question! Snake Tube Adventure Racing (STAR) is the world’s first quilted RC snake tube adventure racetrack. Racers will be able to pick out their own snake from a tank, insert it into a custom radio-controlled car, then race with up to 2 other racers around 24 ft of quilted dystopian landscapes. Racers will have the option to record or livestream their race from a phone mount installed on each car!

Q: Wait, what?

STAR is a game-like interactive installation that melds fiber art, political art, performance art, and postinternet/tech art into one incredible experience. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll love it!

Q: How does it work? What do I do?

Well, basically you just show up! STAR has its own pit crew that will guide you through the process. You’ll be received by a host, helped by a technician, and have your race announced by a professional MC. While you wait for your chance to race you can take a self-guided tour of the arena with the informative brochure. The other side of the gallery will host my store, where you can peruse my other inventions while biding time until your race. And don't forget to visit the gift shop on your way out!

Q: That all sounds incredible, how long did it take to make?!

Thanks! I have been working on the concept of STAR for about a year. In October I began the scale model construction and made blueprints; construction on the racetrack finished around mid-November. I was assisted by a fabricator, who helped me with the construction (I'm very small so I try to always build with the buddy system!) and a studio assistant, who helped with various sewing, cutting, and sketching tasks. She also did the design for the brochure. The poster for STAR was designed by Harriet Burbeck. I’ll write more about working with assistants in a later post, it’s such an important part of being able to go as large in concept and scale as I was able to go with STAR! Overall, in total, STAR took about 1,500 hours to make. Which is a really, really long time.

Q: So the whole thing is sewn? How long have you been sewing? What techniques/materials do you use?

Yes, aside from the armature, the booth, and the cars, the entire installation is sewn. My grandmaw taught me some basics of sewing and I’ve sewn on and off for my whole life. I’d say that it’s only recently that I’ve gotten really good at it though, I’m teaching a costume craft and sewing class so I had to learn a lot more by having to know more in order to teach. Most of the sewing is quilted, or in the spirit of it anyway. I think professional quilters might be a little annoyed by some of my techniques, but “real” quilting is actually really hard and time consuming! I used a lot of applique techniques as well; this is when you transfer and connect one or more pieces together in order to make a new image. Many of the details of the work are machine and free motion embroidered. I used tracing paper to get the general layout and pattern down, then matched and collaged the fabrics I wanted to use. It’s a little embarrassing to admit, but almost all of the fabrics are from Joanns. I just love the bright colors and patterns and of course I’ve developed a close relationship with the staff there- it’s where I feel most comfortable shopping. I spend a lot of time ironing! Most days feel like I iron more than do actual sewing. I also used a lot of stabilizer, interfacing, and batting to get the textures and loft of the landscapes.

Q: Wow wow wow. I just can’t wait to see this thing! How can I experience STAR?

Snake Tube Adventure Racing and more! opens Saturday, March 14, 6pm-9pm at the UNO St Claude Gallery (2429 St Claude Ave. New Orleans, LA) and will be open Sat & Sun thru 4/4, 12pm-5pm. I’ll be in the gallery each day, so come by and say hi!