What's New? Studio log: access to log archives: new work: teaching: exhibitions
Art in Action and other newsI have been so involved in various projects that nothing has been written here for weeks. My apologies to any readers who drop by to see if I am showing any signs of life. I am still emphatically among those present and will prove it by showing work at Art in Action over the four days 15th - 18th July. Some of my new pieces there will be work in natural dyes on wool and there are two images of sample colours in the image section at the bottom of this page. Cochinilla - BerrimillaI am late in writing up last month's doings. I have now completed most of my Lanzarote cochineal work (see last month) and will write it up properly as a separate feature. I have been using cochineal from Lanzarote, where the Milana Association are making efforts to revive the cochineal industry. I have been finding that their grain is making a very good red on silk and wool. Dyer friend and colleague Helen Melvin finished her cochineal work too. You can read her equally positive results with cochineal on wool on her blog here; look for her entry on 15th April, 2010. More about recent work here.
Grinding cochineal the old fashioned way. Many people use a coffee-grinder - not used for anything else but cochineal of course! I find it quite satisfying grinding it by hand. I daresay if I did a lot of it I might be cured of this eccentricity Research Work If you drop in here regularly you'll know that I have been undertaking some research into the trade in natural dyestuffs of the past. In particular I have been studying the nineteenth century trade in orchil lichen. Orchil dye was used to dye silk and wool purple. There is a new article of mine in Issue 233 of the Journal for Spinners, Weavers and Dyers. More... Craft Education / Heritage
The Heritage Crafts Association has been set up to support and promote heritage crafts. That seems to me a good thing. What doesn't is that Duncan of Jordanstone College in Dundee, Scotland, has decided to drop Weave from its programme. This has provoked fury, frustration and some despair. Visit the Facebook site here if you want to learn more and maybe find out how you can join the protests.
Image from my archive |
An ongoing personal investigation into my work practice. Click here to access Sustainability pages
Berrimilla arriving in Sydney March 15th 2010. With thanks to an unknown photographer: credit will be given if they contact me! Berrimilla, my brother Alex Whitworth and Pete Crozier arrived in Sydney on March 15th after another epic journey which completed a historical circumnavigation via the North West Passage. Flying from the rigging are many of the flags that Berrimilla collected en route around the world (twice). They include the flags of Australia, USA, Canada, Nunavut, Greenland, Irish Republic, United Kingdom, New Zealand, the Falkland and Kerguelen Islands. Not listed, I should add, in order of collection or Berri's route would have been somewhat odder than it was. I like this textile record of Berri's travels.The Nunavut flag is mine, and is now back, flying limply on the kitchen radiator and dreaming of Polar Bears and the ice-floes of the North West Passage. The radiator has taken it all to heart and sometimes grumbles that the enthusiastic warmth of its efforts should have merited a more appropriate flag. Log Archives
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Exhibitions 2010 / 2011
Crafts in the Bay, Cardiff; June 11th - July 11th 2010 as part of an exchange exhibition with Welsh artists and the Devon Guild of Craftsmen The Market at Art in Action, Waterperry, nr Oxford. July 15th - 18th 2010 Batik Guild Exhibition: Imagination - Contemporary Batik Art; Harleston Gallery, Norfolk, October 4th - 23rd My work can be found at: Art in Action Gallery, Waterperry, nr Oxford; Burton Art Gallery and Museum, Bideford; Devon Guild of Craftsmen at Riverside Mill, Bovey Tracey; Salar Gallery, Hatherleigh; Craft Gallery, Griffin's Yard, South Molton, Devon; Walford Mill Craft Centre, Wimborne, Dorset; Raven Press Gallery, Isle of Skye; Verandah Gallery, Oxford
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Teaching 2010 / 2011
Denman College 2010 / 2011 July 6th 2010: Silk Painting with Wax Resist July 7th 2010: Shibori Scarves Day February 17th - 19th, 2011 Dyes to Die For; a course introducing the wonderful world of natural dyes May 13th, 2011 Silk Painting with Wax Resist Booking through Denman College West Dean 2011 A residential course at West Dean College 25th - 28th March 2011. Resist-dyed silk scarves – developing colour and pattern Booking through West Dean College |
Recent work: wax resist and acid dyes; natural dyes on wool and silk |
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Natural dyes on wool: Weld (Reseda luteola) and Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) |
Natural dyes on wool: Weld (Reseda luteola), Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) and indigo (Polygonum tinctorium)
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Nailheads design on crêpe de Chine; acid dyes and wax resist |
Skell design on crêpe de Chine |
Nailheads design on crêpe de Chine; acid dyes and wax resist |
Welsh Meadow design on crêpe de Chine; acid dyes and wax resist |
