In the May session we explored the latest Suitcase Collection from Contemporary Quilt. 43 quilts on the theme of 'All in a days work'. Some lovely techniques and compositions on show and some interesting compositions. We then went on to imagine that we were curating an exhibition. How would we select 10-15 quilts? Considering theme and approach? What influence does technique and execution have on the decision? How would the quilts be displayed? The exercise raised some interesting discussions and thoughts on the process. Useful for all to sit on the 'other side of the fence' for a change and made many realise that rejection may have nothing to do with the quality of a quilt but everything to do with simply not 'fitting' with the vision of a curator or an individual exhibition.
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We met a number of people at the Knitting & Stitching Show who are interested in coming along to a meeting. If you're one of those - please do join us! We welcome people of all textile disciplines (or dabble in a bit of everything!) of all standards from beginner upwards. We're a 'pay-as-you-go' group so there is no commitment or obligation to come regularly. More information on what and where is found here on the 'About us' page. Or email us via the Contact page
Activities planned for the day include: exploring the Contemporary Quilt group Suitcase Collection - and an activity thinking about the process of curating. Phew, what a great 4 days! We had so many interested people through our gallery and very positive feedback. Its really the direct contact with the visitors that has made the whole experience worthwhile. More pictures to follow soon when I've collected together all the images from the show for a gallery. Meanwhile - if you missed the show at Olympia, or you would like to see it again or bring a friend - it is now open at the National Needlework Archive at Greenham near Newbury. Showing until 30th April. Saturday opening on 5th April.
Thank you Kate, Dorothy, Rob and Sandy ... we did it! The exhibition is looking fabulous. I can't wait to arrive in the morning for the show opening. Hope to see you there.
We're counting down to the Knitting & Stitching Show at Olympia
We have a large gallery stand and are getting prepared. On my 'To do' list this week... labels, banners and a huge list of bits and bobs to take with me on the setting up day. Catalogues are ready though and have been printed. They look great, and will be available at the show for £2. Hope to see you there - 13-16th March. Lyric Kinard - an American Quilt artist, teacher and author is doing a series of blog posts about showing work in various venues. One of the posts was about showing work in a museum.
Sandy Snowden emailed her about our involvement with the Slough Museum and the various doors opened up through that experience. Lyric looked at our website, the Whatever Floats blog, and the Whatever Floats Your Boat ... online catalogue and asked if she could do a blog post reporting about our experience. If you would like to read Lyric's blog - find it here http://lyrickinard.com/2014/02/entering-shows-a-museum-experience/ The next meeting will be Saturday 18th January 2014. We have been going for a very successful 5 years! We will be celebrating what the members of the group have been up to recently.
More details on the programme to follow soon. Following a quick review of the year and AGM admin, we had a fascinating talk from artist Janet Curley-Cannon about her work. We were taken on a journey through her drawing, photography, print-making, mixed media and sculptural work.
The afternoon was filled by a workshop on Janet's paper mache clay technique. Very useful and adaptable for a variety of purposes- either to create work that can be a vehicle for print transfers. Or as a method of creating forms for sculptures from cheap and light weight materials such as card or polystyrene packaging. Or simply as a way of creating a base or plinth for a 3d piece. We're looking forward to welcoming Janet Curley Cannon on 23rd November. I am very excited to participate in her workshop when she will be showing how to make 3D forms using her techniques with Paper Maché Clay.
Mulling things over is all very well but at some point one just has to get on with it to see if it will work. My chosen lines from Dante appealed because they mention being in the middle of or half way between (depending on translation) the journey of our life. Being lost in a dark wood was how I’d been feeling about this challenge. The straight way was certainly lost! The poem is about a spiritual journey to find God. I’m less interested in this aspect and want to focus on being lost in various ways, whether in the design process, in life or any other interpretation a viewer might bring to the work. Earlier I’d thought about mini albums, so a book idea was already in my head. The inspiration is a book so I’m going with this idea. Unsure whether this will be zig-zag, diorama, or bound in some way. Leaving everything so late in the day means I have to think small and reasonably simple. Eventually decided on postcard 6x4 inches, portrait format with a cut out window and to use pelmet Vilene as a base because it could easily be painted, stitched adhered to, burnt as necessary. An initial idea to use ‘stilts’ as stands and to reference trees was abandoned. Twigs seemed unreliable and my bent BBQ sticks looked too chunky for the chosen size. This meant I could discard the idea of sandwiching them and use just one layer of Vilene. Burned out/stitched ideas for the ‘window’. I prefer the burned look but maybe not stitched into as top right sample. I like painted abaca tissue on the Vilene. Took several washes with Brusho to get a dark but not jet black look. Applying it with Bond-a-web preserved the crumples but matt medium ‘ironed’ them out. Faggoting looks to be a good way to join pages up and an opportunity to add beads Adding text successfully is something I haven’t sorted yet. I’m repeating/muddling the Dante translation to give a ‘groundhog’ kind of idea. Have tried various gold pens and foiling so far. Now I’ve stacked the samples I like the tangled effect of the windows and think book will be better than diorama so the text can be read.
Zig-zag is possibly easier to stitch with fagotting but I like the idea of a spined book being displayed upright in a circle. Hmmm, which to choose? |
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