TextileArts news and re:views

Wool House: The world’s largest showcase of wool: 13 – 24 March 2013

The UK is will see the biggest ever celebration of wool when The Campaign for Wool launches Wool House next week. Wool House, staged in the West Wing of Somerset House in central London, presents a vision for wool as a modern, versatile, lifestyle fibre. It will feature a showcase of interiors, fashion and the world of artisan and craft making, plus a hi-tech educational suite.

Wool House curator Arabella McNie has over twenty years’ experience of working as a stylist and designer in the world of interiors. She says:

I am determined to show wool as a modern fibre and visitors will see a broad spectrum from ultra-modern and hi-tech to highly luxurious and more traditional. There are some amazing fabrics and flooring and Wool House will showcase some stunning room sets which will really show the difference that wool can make and inspire greater use of the fibre.

Wool House has invited leading interior designers to offer their vision and seven individual rooms will show how the design community uses the fibre extensively within their work. Exclusive room sets from Donna Wilson and Kit Kemp will feature alongside a huge wool art installation commissioned from the acclaimed Dutch tapestry artist, Claudy Jongstra. Other woollen delights include a Roger Oates runner and a Pantone style rug representing international carpet manufacturers. An artisan in residence will work on location throughout the period showing the heritage of industry skills to the public.

There will be three rooms dedicated to fashion, including a space showcasing fine woven fabrics and live tailoring while two others will celebrate the importance of wool in the fashion industry.

Look out for a series of wool-led designer talks, events and a programme of activities with interactive workshops during the course of the event. A special educational room will feature tablets that cover everything from sheep to manufacturing and all types of products. Plenty to discover for school children from around the UK and people of all ages.

It is the most expansive venture the Campaign has seen to date as it looks at all the key uses of wool under one roof and shows the amazing versatility of the fibre and its potential to be both stunningly beautiful in use and yet incredibly practical too. We want to make the most of this wonderful opportunity within the fabulous location that Somerset House offers and we will truly shine the spotlight on wool. There really will be a plenty to see and do at many different levels.

Bridgette Kelly, The Campaign for Wool’s project director

Wool House, Worldwide Wool will be open to the public from 13th to 24th March 2013 and entry is free.

The Campaign for Wool, whose Patron is HRH The Prince of Wales, is funded by the British Wool Marketing Board, the Woolmark Company, Wool Council of New Zealand and other wool organisations across the world including those in South Africa, South America, Norway and the USA.

• Wool House
• The Campaign for Wool
• Somerset House

James Hare add to their collections of distinctive fabrics in preparation for the Decorex exhibition held in London this year. The leading silk specialists will be offering designers an innovative and moving colour palette along with new enticing textures and patterns.

Decorex International displays everything from floor coverings to high fashion fabrics, highlighting the latest collections from renowned suppliers from all around the world. The exhibition brings together a mix of professionals, including designers, retailers and architects all looking to absorb new creations and inspirational talent. The artistic prints and designer fabrics displayed at the exhibition are sure to impress and encourage creative thinking.

The show takes place at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, London, UK, and runs between the 26th and 29th of September 2010.

James Hare provide an array of designer and fashion silks that have been artistically created to express unique style and sophistication. Bright colours and unusual textures are amongst some of the most beautiful pieces of fabric, perfect for the most eye catching fashion creations. Embroidery and embellishment is prominent within the collection of fashion fabrics available from the range.

James Hare has developed ‘Savoy’, a heavyweight silk satin with a unique curl-free finish that has been created in 33 colours, from simple neutrals to energetic shades. Simila Silks are linen look matka silks in various neutral shades. This year’s range includes stripes and embroidery in nine different colour-ways.

James Hare is based in Leeds, UK. Visit the James Hare web site to see more and find stockists worldwide.

The International Fiber Collaborative project for 2008-2009 is Interdependence. Participants will create a full-sized tree for display in April 2009 at Big Springs International Park in Huntsville, Alabama. The idea is to symbolise the interdependence of of different elements of society – family units, communities, and countries, much as the leaves and roots of a tree are interdependent, and neither can survive without the other.

Participants from around the world are invited to create leaves using fibre or fibre techniques to contribute to the creation of the tree. Submissions may relate to interdependence in a social, economical, political, ecological, or geographical way. In total, up to 30,000 leaves may be used.

The application deadline is March 15, 2009.

For more information and to download an application form, visit the International Fiber Collaborative web site.

The Manchester Craft Mafia are holding a Christmas Market at the Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester, on 13th and 14th December 2008, where you can "peruse a delectable range of contemporary textile and paper based handmade gifts".

More info on their web site.

A new exhibition by Sleaford Embroiderers in the Roof Gallery at the

Hub
National Centre for Crafts and Design
Navigation Wharf
Sleaford
NG34 7TW

www.thehubcentre.info

4 – 7 September 2008
10am – 5pm

Sleaford Embroiderers, established in 1986, are a group of 25 creative embroiderers who enjoy working with both modern and traditional techniques, from precise and exacting pieces such as goldwork and silk shading to innovative designs of modern progressive textiles including paper and bookmaking, feltmaking, metalwork, etc.

In addition to the waterfront inspired pieces, the exhibition will also include other pieces of new work.

The Textile Society are holding their annual conference – Something Old, Something New – in Winchester, England, on 5 – 7 September 2008. See the conference programme, which is packed with interesting talks and visits, on the Textile Society’s web site, together with a downloadable booking form.

Contact the Textile Society on 020 7359 7678 or via www.textilesociety.org.uk.

A group of contemporary lace makers is to give an ancient craft a twenty-first century edge with a new exhibition of modern lace.

To mark its 10th anniversary, the 98 Lace Group is bringing together the best of its work to challenge all preconceptions about this often delicate, intricate textile. No longer the preserve of old ladies in bonnets, the pieces exhibited range from wall-hangings to bags and vessels, all demonstrating the surprising possibilities of lace.

The pieces create colour and texture out of a web of different materials. Plastic, paper and raffia, metal, linen thread and wire are worked in different combinations to make a stunning whole, echoing the finest lace of the past while belonging firmly in the present.

The UK-wide fellowship of textile teachers and artists aims to revive and maintain the ancient skill of lace making to prevent it being lost for good. Members are offering a rare opportunity to learn their craft at the De Morgan Centre in a series of workshops for children and adults.

Visit the 98 Lace Group web site at www.98lacegroup.org.uk.

This special exhibition will be on show from 8 November 2007 to 9 March 2008 in the Museum of Arts and Design in New York.

Participating artists are from 12 countries and include Judy Chicago, Elaine Reichek, Tilleke Schwarz, Berend Strik, Andrea Deszo, Mattia Bonetti, Nava Lubelski, Clyde Olliver, Kate Kretz and Benji Whalen. A catalogue is planned.

Into the Woods (detail), Tilleke Schwarz

Cas Holmes

29 September – 25 November 2007 ~ Rochester Art Gallery and Craft Case and Rochester Cathedral

Amber Walls

Cas Holmes’ narrative works combine recycled materials with digital photographic techniques and methods adapted from Japanese textiles, textile art and papermaking. Her work is informed by personal experience, places visited, stories of her Romany grandmother and old forgotten textiles.

Exotic images, colours and landscape alien to the English experience surrounded Cas during her recent research trip to India, which was supported by Arts Council England. The new works in this exhibition examine cultural links between the Northern Indian art and decoration and her Romany heritage within a broader cultural context.

She has combined the found materials gathered in India with donated waste silks and fabric from the UK, and reassembled them into large wall hangings and more intimate textile canvases. Richly coloured stitched images reflecting patterns and forms from textiles, buildings, posters and street life form part of the main exhibition, and an installation in the Rochester Cathedral Crypt provides a small, enclosed space for contemplation and reflection.

Rochester Art Gallery and Craft Case
Medway Visitor Information Centre, 1st Floor
95 High Street, Rochester, Kent.
Phone: 01634 843666

Open Mon – Sat 10am – 5pm, Sun 10.30am – 5pm

Admission free

www.medway.gov.uk/arts
www.casholmes.textilearts.net

The build up to the UK’s National Knitting Week 2007 has begun!

The dates for this exciting event in the knitting calendar are 13 – 21 October 2007, kicking off with the Knitting & Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace, London.

National Knitting Week is a chance to celebrate the world of knit and purl and yarn crafts in general. Why not teach a friend to knit or stage a charity knit-in?

Embrace the world of needles and wool! Spread the word – the countdown is on!

You can find lots more info on the National Knitting Week web site, courtesy of Knitting Institute in assocation with Knitting magazine.