Branching Out – Concepts for a Domestic Space, Pop Up Event Saturday 30th November 2013
October 30, 2013
This is the first of a series of projects I have been developing, which will be staged in a domestic space.
Katherine and I were very excited to be working on this project together; the concept ‘Branching Out‘ of which was born out of a genuine desire to expand the perimetres of our own contemporary practices, whilst also introducing those very organic elements (branches) into the theme as a constant linkage or lineage. This we felt very much reflected the concerns we bring to our own practices.
Pop Up Products will include:
Contemporary lighting solutions
Interior objects and interventions
Two and Three dimensional drawings
Paper products for accessorising your interior, and packing your products.
Further details including times and location will be posted soonish.
……..Pig Gut Parka
October 16, 2013
When I was first invited to take part in this ‘experiment’, to recreate the original Native Alaskan Parka, I was more than intrigued since it would enable me to revisit the collection of Native Alaskan Parkas at the Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford. I first encountered these examples almost 20 years at the museum and was struck by both the beauty and function of the garments.
In short, the original examples were mainly made from seal gut. The indigenous people would hunt, (sacrifice the mammal), then prepare the raw material , so that it was ready for piecing and stitching together into a simple garment pattern. This would involve different members of the tribes, in their specific roles.
So an opportunity to pay homage to these people, especially the skilled craftswomen involved in the latter stages of this process of making the garment, was a challenge I was keen to take on.
Below is a snapshot of the transformation of the gut from the drying stages to fabric construction, into the final garment.
Introducing the…….
October 13, 2013
During the summer I was involved in a project for Kevin McClouds Manmade Home, broadcast by Optomen Television for Channel four. This involved research and experimentation both at home in Swansea and away, on location in the small town of Watchet, Somerset. We were fortunate to have glorious weather, and I enjoyed working with Kevin, Will and the team at Optomen greatly.
Apart from being lots of fun, (I did get involved in more than I bargained for), the project had a serious underlying message about sustainability, ethical textile practice and the value of traditional making skills in contemporary practice.
These are all aspects which I am hugely concerned with in my own practice and so the project was extremely appealing to me.
Without wanting to reveal too much (the episode has not yet been aired), below are a couple of onsite photographs of the initial consultation between Kevin McCloud and myself. I’ll reveal more about the processes and product after the episode has been released this evening.
Thought it was about time I started sharing information about the projects I am involved in, the things that interest me, and the ideas I have.
Included here are images of my recent work from the group exhibition Everyone Everything held at the Ragged School, Swansea, South Wales
My instillation included a collection of material studies, alongside found objects, reclaimed materials, images and text, which were intended to create a narrative about some of the processes involved in making a piece of work.
This enabled me to extend my experience of working with unconventional materials, as well as to explore ideas related to ethical textile practice and sustainability, which were pertinent to both to this project and my own practice.