The Peter Collingwood Trust Award 2015 Winner: Rita Parniczky

26 August 2015 |
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Rita ParniczkyRita Parniczky is the winner of the Peter Collingwood Trust Award 2015. Her latest work, X-Ray Vault Series I and II have earned her this award for innovation in loom-based work. In 2014, to continue the development of her translucent material Parniczky set a new challenge to further investigate the movements of the warp, this time focusing on the manipulation of the monofilament warp.

Observing the architectural details of fan vaults Parniczky recalled the skeletal structure in her new body of work X-Ray Vault Series I. This piece, as previously posted on The Weave Shed was the winner of the Geoffrey Squire Memorial Competition 2014. Parniczky, with the  support of an Arts Council England grant further explored her process and technique to form more complex and abstract fan-like shapes at a larger scale in 2015.

The result, X-Ray Vault Series II exhibited at COLLECT at Saatchi Gallery, demonstrates profound monofilament warp manipulations resulting in patterns that are emphasised and truly visible with light passing through the structure.

Rita Parniczky’s curiosity about what lies beneath textile surfaces led her to experiment with various weave techniques during her studies at Central Saint Martins. She has developed her own translucent material that reveals the vertical warp. The warp threads, otherwise often invisible in most materials, become the focal point and form elaborate patterns in Parniczky’s work. `I like to imagine complex patterns running underneath the surface of woven materials, invisible to the naked eye until unveiled in my work. I compare this to the bone structure of the human body, only visible when x-rayed.` explains Parniczky.

Parniczky studies her translucent material installations with light; natural or artificial light bring visual change to the pieces taking on the luminosity of crystals. Parniczky is interested in the transformation of the material as light moves across her work; she analyses this performance at different locations and times and documents her findings in photography and moving image.

Exhibition: Waste Nothing – Finding a Home for the Discarded

26 August 2015 |
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Exhibition 2015London Guild ImageLondon Guild of Weavers Spinners and Dyers are exhibiting their work at St Martin in The Fields, Trafalgar Square, London, from 8 September-3rd October 2015

“Waste Nothing- Finding a home for the Discarded”

This exhibition brings together original textiles and yarns designed and made by members of the London Guild using old textiles, yarns and other materials and demonstrates their creativity in transforming unwanted materials into something new.

Free admission – open Daily 11.am-6pm.

 

Select Showcase & Conference

21 July 2015 |
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Showcase Sophie Z 4Select Showcase opens in Cheltenham in the historic Cheltenham Town Hall running for 3 days: 23rd – 25th October.

Presented by SITselect the Showcase will be a 3 day festival,  bringing individual maker stands plus a stimulating mix of talks, workshops, demonstrations. There is also a  one day conference.

There are 78 makers’ stands, 4 Colleges of Art and Design showing graduate’s work, an area featuring World Textile stands and exhibitions of contemporary craft work. There is the chance to learn something new, buy something extraordinary, or just admire the outstanding creativity of our designers and crafts people.

A major part of the Showcase is a series of talks with speakers immersed in the world of weaving.

Rethreaded series of talks
Friday 23rd  offers a series of stimulating talks around weaving journeys.

In Conversation Penny Wheeler & Maryrose Watson

Chair: Theo Wright
Penny Wheeler is a hand-loom weaver and artist who explores the complexities of the craft whilst also subverting the conventions of the discipline.
Maryrose and Penny will be in conversation with Theo Wright discussing how they work, the freedom and limitations of working within a grid and how colour informs their practice.

Jilly Edwards in conversation with Ismini Samanidou
Two tapestry greats delve into their different methods of working.
Jilly is a tapestry weaver and Ismini a weaver both hand weaving and jacquard. They have a shared language and a common understanding through threads.
Chaired by Felicity Aylieff
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From Back to Front: Online Exhibition

15 July 2015 |
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sorli_apply-your-energy-in-the-spirit-of-love_2-800x611From Back to Front 

Commissioned by the American Tapestry Alliance and the Laffer Curatorial Program

From Back to Front is an online curatorial project which gathers together recent examples of tapestry weaving that expose their construction: warp threads are left dangling, even the frame of the loom remains integral to some finished works. These visible traces remind us of the vast potential of the woven structure.

Exhibitors include Ann Cathrin November Hoibo, Emelie Rondahl (pictured above), Jennifer Hunt, Katharine Swailes, Lucy Brown, Nicole Pyles & Tonje Hoydahl Sorli.

The exhibition is curated by Jessica Hemmings

Text and images from The American Tapestry Alliance website. All photo credits can be found on the sitec141752e-6cf9-4ba0-a573-1f463f33e9cc

Magee Weaving: Vacancy – Senior Designer

8 July 2015 |
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magee shuttles_ loomMagee Weaving, celebrating its 150th Anniversary in 2016, is a small specialised mill in Co Donegal, Ireland weaving high quality, colourful, natural fibre fabrics with a strong Design team and a skilled workforce.

A vacancy has arisen for an experienced Textile Designer.

The likely candidate will currently be operating at senior management or Board level in a sales development/design role with a good current knowledge of the high end apparel market.

Applications to Ann Harley – aharley@magee1866.com before 31st July 2015.

 

Competition: Bristol Tweed

3 July 2015 |
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Farm8byAlexIngram2014-2low resBristol Cloth have launched an open competition to design a Tweed for Bristol. The cloth will be a 100% wool fabric of classic heritage-inspired design, prioritising locally sourced materials and manufacturing processes from the South West of the UK.

Design Brief
What does Bristol’s social fabric look like?
What kind of cloth does Bristol need?
How would you weave Bristol?
What woven designs were traditionally borne out of the South West?

The winning Bristol Cloth design will encapsulate the  very diverse city, while also referencing traditional woven design. Participants will choose their own starting point from which to explore a design theme and follow Bristol Cloth’s Instagram for inspiration.

The Bristol Cloth will be broadly and commercially appealing to local designer-makers, local brands and retailers as well as the general public with end use being for accessories, outerwear and/or interiors.

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Job: Senior Editor, Textiles – WGSN

2 July 2015 |
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WGSN_create_tomorrow_RGB[2]Job Description: Senior Editor, Textiles
Function: Content
Location: London
Reporting to: Head of Design & Youth Culture
Travel: International Assignments when required

Are you a Textiles expert with a 360-degree technical expertise in textiles design, techniques and finishes? Are you passionate about textiles design, trends and innovation with a proven understanding of the premium and commercial and textiles markets for womenswear and menswear? Do you have an active list of mill connections and an exceptional textiles address book of industry contacts? If you’re answering ‘yes’ to all these questions then WGSN has a unique global opportunity for you to consider.

WGSN is a global foresight business. Our experts provide deep insight and analysis of consumer, fashion and design trends. We inspire our clients to plan and trade their range with unparalleled confidence and accuracy. Together, we Create Tomorrow.

The Senior Editor will create exceptional content and provide expert textiles insight and analysis for subscribers. The role holder will be an ambassador for WGSN to further the credibility and recognition of the business with media interviews, presentations and the chairing of seminars and conferences. They should constantly strive to improve the content offering by intently understanding the global markets of WGSN subscribers.

With an innate understanding of their area of specialism, they are exceptionally articulate in both written and visual communication. Being highly skilled in interpreting the textile market they are sought out internally and externally, as a trusted industry expert. The Senior Editor will contribute and manage projects, providing direction in their area of expertise by building and maintaining strong, and global cross-department relationships.

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Resource: The Weaving Communities of Practice Website

22 June 2015 |
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Fig1The Weaving Communities of Practice website, the result of an AHRC-funded project on textiles, culture and identity in the Andes, provides a great resource for anyone interested in Andean textiles and an inspiration for textile designers. The database is easily searchable around a number of themes and provides high-resolution full colour images of textiles from collections around the world.

The project is based at the Centre for Iberian and Latin American Visual Studies (CILAVS) and the Department of Computer Science and Information Systems at Birkbeck, University of London, with the Instituto de Lengua y Cultura Aymara (ILCA), in La Paz, Bolivia, in partnership with museums in the UK, Bolivia, Peru and Chile.

The principal feature of this website is a database of Andean textiles. Using the Textile Product Search, you can:

  • Search the database by key terms
  • View high-resolution images of textiles from collections around the world
  • Make thematic searches: on structure, technique, place, region, period, material and iconography
  • Make advanced searches, crossing and filtering data
  • Save text, images and searches
  • Print, export and send data

There is also a detailed guide to processes of textile manufacture, including images and video clips of techniques, instruments and structures; a glossary of textile-related terms in English, Spanish and Andean languages; an introduction to textile heritage; and bibliography.

Text and images: Weaving Communities of Practice website

 

 

 

Woven Textile Designer – Vanners: Vacancy filled July 2015

22 June 2015 |
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Laura Thomas photoVanners, Sudbury, Suffolk are looking for a woven textiles designer to be the Fashion/scarf assistant at Vanners silk weaving Mill.

The job will be based in Sudbury initially for 2-3 years but the applicant will then have the opportunity to work in the London office as the role progresses. Applicant needs to be outgoing with a strong technical knowledge, good with colour and image and also possess CAD skills, Photoshop or Illustrator for now an we can train them in Texcelle.

The role will be a combination of processing the fashion designs through the mill, working on new collections, colouring designs, working with various finishers, client meetings and liaising with London design office. There will be opportunities for travel to our various markets and trade fairs.

Must possess a keen interest in fashion and colour. This is a growing division so there is great opportunity for the role to expand. Note: Vacancy filled July 2015

Job: Lecturer of Creative Industries – Woven Textiles

22 June 2015 |
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Shetlandweave job imageLecturer of Creative Industries with a specialism in Woven Textiles. Shetland College

As part of the teaching team on our BA(Hons) Contemporary Textiles course and Creative Industries Department, you will deliver workshops in primarily in woven textiles. As well as teaching and supporting students, you will contribute to lesson planning, assessment and course development.

The duties of a Lecturer include:
• Teaching planned lessons and underpinning knowledge to students assigned to approved courses.
• Assessing students’ work in the classroom and in preparation time.
• Planning lessons; monitoring progress; assessing students work
• Keeping up to date with professional changes and participating in professional development.

Applications are invited from suitably qualified and experienced staff which can demonstrate the following:
• Professional background in woven textiles
• Teaching experience
• Relevant degree
• Excellent communication skills
• Flexibility, vision, energy, initiative and decisiveness

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