London Craft Week

Daniel Harris at London Cloth CompanyLondon Craft Week  6 – 10th May 2015 is a new annual, not-for-profit event which showcases exceptional craftsmanship through a journey-of-discovery programme featuring hidden workshops, celebrated makers, other lesser known makers and highly specialised skills alongside famous shops, galleries and luxury brands.

Founded on the ethos of making, London Craft Week aims to put craftsmanship at centre stage of the world’s creative capital by introducing the talent, people and techniques behind beautifully made things to a wider audience. They will be able to experience craft not just as static branded objects in smart shops but understand the context of how they were made, why they are special and even have a try themselves.

Weavers involved in London Craft Week include :

Daniel Harris, who set up The London Cloth Company in 2010,  has single-handedly sourced, rebuilt and restored numerous power looms of historical significance dating from as early as 1870 to 1970. Since then the London Cloth Company has grown into a renowned international brand, supplying a range of cottons and woollens to top designers.  He will set up a power loom and be weaving at DAKS, 10 Old Bond Street, London W1S 4PL, on May 7th 2015 from 10.30am – 17.00

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Katherine Swailes & Caron Penney: Tapestry Exhibition & Workshop

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Katharine Swailes and Caron Penney will be exhibiting at Zimmer Stewart Gallery  June 6 – 27th 2015. They both travelled repeatedly to New York City over a twelve year period whilst working on a large commission. During this influential time both artists were inspired by the urban landscape, street architecture, museum collections and natural environment. Mapping this journey through photography, note taking and sketches to their resulting work in woven textiles.

 ‘Manhattan’ is the beginning of a new chapter for both the artists, one which has involved shedding the past and emerging into new avenues.

 Swailes has created textiles for over 20 years, specifically working in tapestry for the last two decades. She specialises in both conventional flat wall works and smaller three-dimensional, sculptural pieces – as well as weaving large scale commissions at West Dean Tapestry Studio. Swailes is interested in the constructively open ended nature of the medium.

 Recent works explore the textures, systems and structure of Central Manhattan – using a limited palette of techniques, materials and colour. The inclusion of gold thread offers a contrast in structure to the natural fibres of cotton, linen and wool. This latest series of works draws on the collections in museums, the parks and streets of Manhattan.

 Penney has also been producing tapestries for over 20 years and is a Master Tapestry Weaver. As well as working on high-profile commissions for the West Dean Tapestry Studio and her own Weftfaced Tapestry Workshop, Penney is a prolific exhibition-led weaver in her own right. ‘A defining characteristic of her oeuvre as an artist is the use of visual semiotics in expressing autobiographical themes’ (from Tapestry, A Woven Narrative: Black Dog Publishing 2012).

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Ribbons & Trims Workshop: Ayse Simsek

summer school imageAyse Simsek will be running a ribbons and trims weaving workshop from 13th July – 17th July 2015. The workshop will be using 8 shaft table-top looms and participants will be designing and making ribbons and decorative trims which can be used for a variety of end uses including; fashion, accessories, interiors and other craft projects.

This workshop provides the perfect platform to both begin to learn the process of loom set-up and to get to grips with some weaving techniques, as you will be working on a small scale. Experienced weavers also very welcome. All the skills you learn are fully adaptable to create larger fabrics on a loom.

The workshop will start by designing a ribbon warp based on colours and yarns that inspire you. Participants will  be guided through the process of making a warp, putting it onto a loom and threading up and how to weave. Using a variety of materials and techniques you are encouraged to experiment finding designs that you like, which  participants will  produce in longer lengths. At the end of the week the finished pieces will be taken off  the loom, and  potential  finishing techniques discussed and the end use of the ribbons and trims

Ayse Simsek gained her MA from The Royal College of Art, is a professional weaver and works term time as Weave Technician at Central Saint Martins.

Times: 10 – 16.00 each day.
Venue: Central Saint Martins, University of The Arts London. Kings Cross site

To book: www.arts.ac.uk/csm/courses/short-courses/fashion-and-textiles/textile-design/introduction-to-weaving-ribbons-and-trims/

Booking is open until the course start date

 

Exhibitions & Profile: Dovecot Tapestry Studio

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Dovecot Tapestry Studio, based in Edinburgh, is a world-renowned producer of hand-woven tapestry and gun-tufted rugs. Continuing a century-long heritage of making and collaboration with leading international contemporary artists, the Studio weavers are dedicated to producing extraordinary works of art by commission from private and public collectors from around the globe.

Dovecot Foundation exists to champion Dovecot Tapestry Studio and its place in the world of contemporary art, design and making. The Foundation puts Dovecot Tapestry Studio at the heart of this mission in the support of the Dovecot Apprenticeship Programme, collaborations with leading artists from around the world and the development of cultural and educational partnerships. Ultimately, the Foundation seeks to bring the innovative work of contemporary artists and makers to a wider audience (see further).

Garry Fabian Miller Dwelling at Dovecot Gallery
15 May to 4 July 2015

Dwelling at Dovecot Gallery from 15 May to 4 July 2015 highlights the importance of home and its landscape to the work of Garry Fabian Miller. Alongside recent works by Fabian Miller, the exhibition will feature two new hearth rugs produced by Dovecot Tapestry Studio in collaboration with the artist, as well as explorations of the artist’s influences including important paintings by Winifred Nicholson.

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Exhibitions & PhD: Barbara Jansen

3 - temporal patterns - colour flowBarbara Jansen will be displaying two projects (physical prototypes): “rhythm exercise” and “Sinus 64 + blue” at Techtextil Fair in Frankfurt on the stand from Smart Textiles/University of Boras, stand 3.1 C76, 4th-7th May 2015.

She will be on site on 4th-6th May. She will also give a lecture on  her PhD research at Elfack Fair in the Light Forum at the Swedish Exhibition and Congress Center in Gothenburg 7th -may 2015.

Temporal patterns – Solo Exhibition.
Textile Museum Boras, Sweden. 17th February – 29th March

7 - temporal patterns - Sinus 64 + blueIn this exhibition, textile designer Barbara Jansen presented her PhD thesis, in which she investigated the visual effects of movement using light as a continuous time-based medium. The textiles displayed in this exhibition showed a varying range of examples which explore aesthetic possibilities of how light can be integrated as an active part into textile structures. Thereby ranging from weaving, to knitting and braiding techniques, both hand crafted, as well as industrial produced.

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Call for Applications: Cockpit Arts / The Clothworkers’ Foundation Award 2015

SMALL.Amor La momposina.4About The Award:

Applications are invited for the Cockpit Arts / The Clothworkers’ Foundation Award 2015. The Award is only open to weavers who have graduated within the last 5 years.

The Award aims to assist emerging weavers to set up in business by providing studio space and business support provided by Cockpit Arts as well as shared use of looms.

There are Two Awards available and the selection panel (including the acclaimed ikat weaver and designer, Mary Restieaux) will be looking for individuals who demonstrate entrepreneurial spirit as well as creative excellence and craft skills.

The Award contributes to the cost of a place at Cockpit for one year from July 2015 and will include a space in a shared studio equipped with 3 looms, Leclerc and Louet, and the following benefits:

  • Studio space and use of looms within the creative community of Cockpit Arts at Deptford, London, SE8 with access to office facilities and resource centre.
  • Business and professional development services including on-site coaching, a personalised development plan, access to finance, workshops and events.
  • A range of selling and promotional opportunities including Cockpit Arts Open Studios selling events.
  • Award worth £2,000 with the remaining £2,000 fee being provided by the Award winner, payable on a monthly basis.

How to apply:

  •  Please request a “Clothworkers Award” application pack from dana@cockpitarts.com
  •  Deadline for receipt of applications is Monday 18 May, 12pm
  •  Interviews with shortlisted applicants will be held on Tuesday 26 May

Text & image: Copyright Cockpit arts

Job: Tibor

img002Graduate Full Time Position: Production Manager/Personal Assistant
The opportunity:

To work on the relaunch of Interior and Lifestyle brand ‘Tibor’ founded by Tibor Reich in 1946.
For more information see www.tiborreichtrust.org/
Tibor is based in Notting Hill London.

The Role:
Liasing with textile maufacturers ( weavers, spinners, dyers) Liasing with interior designers and furniture manufacturers Helping to organise the |Tibor Reich retrospective exhibition at The Fashion and Textile Museum-London and Whitworth Manchester in 2016 Helping to compile a 300 page book on Tibor Reich’s life in design
General Admin and day to day running of the company
Knowledge of and working on social media, look books. Website, photography
Organising the Tibor Reich archive
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Première Vision report: Fiona O’Keefe

Fiona O’Keefe is a second year weave student at Central Saint Martins, University of The Arts London. This is the account of her first visit to Premiere Vision.

LanyardSporting the all-important lanyard and armed with a free guide, Première Vision was at first, and at the very least, overwhelming. Attending the trade fair as part of a class trip, we had been given various tips and tricks to aid our maiden voyage, but negotiating the maze of elevated, opaque stands was something that can only be experienced first hand.

Thanks to an immediate coffee-break and an avid perusal of the surprisingly helpful maps, the day at Première Vision looked somewhat more surmountable. The exhibition halls were vast, but the forums that were scattered throughout each were accessible and offered students a hands-on opportunity to get a feel for what was at the fair.

The biggest forum, situated in Hall 6 Fabrics, boasted a miscellany of mainly-woven samples that were assorted into different trends. Placed side by side, ’Bathrobe’ and ‘Spongey Languor’ attracted much attention as hands reached in from all angles to clutch at the cushiony samples.

Italian mill Mantero Seta had a take on this trend which stood out from their cotton, lilac and chartreuse counterparts. The silk alternative they offered in a blush pink with playful flashes of primary colour created a squashy but sophisticated newness. The feeling here was simultaneously soft and lively.

Teeming It was the vivacity in colour, mood and texture that recurred within another trend titled ‘Teeming’, which visibly proved popular among those who came across it. Clusters of colour dotted in and around graphic shapes cropped up on samples from both Ratti and Malhia Kent who used jacquard weaving to produce busy, illustrative patterns.

This energy extended as far as their stands and at Malhia Kent getting past their front desk was akin to gaining entry at an exclusive night club or fashion show. Large, scribbly and dazzling samples in shades of neon green and glittering gold had been tossed artfully over the walls of the stand, and the constant groups of hopefuls milling around it generated a definite buzz.

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Textile Institute Talk: Futuristic Textiles

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Bill Macbeth will outline some of the ground breaking technology developments happening in Yorkshire including the world firsts in true 3D weaving system  to create components for the aerospace and automotive sectors and the Laser Plasma technology producing dry waterproof and fire retardant treatments using no fluorocarbons.   Bill will also introduce the forensic anti counterfeit treatment utilising restructured botanical DNA.

Symposium: Threads and Codes

Scan10006Threads and Codes Symposium at Goldsmiths, London, March 6th 2015
Research symposium: Threads and Codes
www.kairotic.org/threads-codes/

Time: 10am-6pm
Venue: 137 Richard Hoggart Building, Goldsmiths, New Cross, London SE14 6NW

Register online (by 1st March): www.is.gd/threadscodes
Price: £7 (£5 concessions), including lunch.

The Weaving Codes, Coding Weaves project explores the practices of weaving and computer programming together, considering both looms and computers as algorithmic environments for creative work with pattern.

The connection between computing and the Jacquard loom is well known, but the project researchers want to go deeper in history and philosophy, to investigate traditional work with threads for its digital nature, including the genesis of discrete mathematics in ancient looms.

This will provide an unravelling of contemporary technology, finding an alternative account of computer programming with its roots in arts and craft. On this basis this symposium will investigate contemporary theoretical points where textile and code-based crafts connect.

All interested researchers and practitioners are warmly invited to join the project for Threads and Codes, an all-day symposium which will consist of diverse talks and panels exploring the above topics, co-organised by Dr Ellen Harlizius-Klück (International co-investigator), Dr Alex McLean (principal investigator) and Prof Janis Jefferies (project partner). The results of the symposium will feed into a special issue of Textile: The Journal of Cloth and Culture.
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