What's On 2014

Mary La Trobe-Bateman, formerly Director of Contemporary Applied Arts and contemporary craft curator and SIT Patron, describes how her career has evolved from designer to curator. Artist Eleanor Glover outlines how her varied career as an artist has been oxygenated by interaction with curators.
There will be a short film by Eleanor as part of the talk.
Eleanor Glover is exhibiting in Selected at Newark Park as part of SIT’s Select Festival this year. 

This seminar brings together a panel of contemporary weavers to discuss their creative practices. From hand weaving to the mill.

Jane Ponsford is an artist and papermaker inspired by the landscape around us. Join her for two hands-on and enjoyable days exploring your landscape through papermaking.
The workshop will include making pulps using cotton and linen rag, casting and couching, laminating and embossing.
Jane has work in the Newark Park exhibition.
Suitable for all abilities

This workshop explores aspects of ‘stitching in air’, using wire, paper pulp and stitch in an unusual approach which can be developed in many directions. Extend your textile ideas and enjoy experimenting with unconventional materials. Siân Martin exhibits with the 62 Group of Textile Artists, Stitch Textile Artists, as well as the Textile Study Group.

‘’My definition of stitch is a broad one that encompasses wrapping, threading, binding and looping as well as conventional stitch. I enjoy using thread (and anything else that could be a thread) as a three-dimensional journey, rather than as something that only appears on a surface.  

Eleri Lynn is a Curator at Historic Royal Palaces, with special responsibility for the ceremonial dress collection. Previously she was a Curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum, where she devised the touring exhibition ‘Undressed: 350 Years of Underwear in Fashion’. She also managed the development of the V&A’s new Fashion Gallery and the creation of its new research facility, the Clothworkers’ Centre for the Study and Conservation of Textiles and Fashion.

Ruth Issett has been involved with textiles all her life. Her textile training included both print and stitch. Apart from many years teaching adults, in the U.K., Europe, U.S.A. and Australia, she has written a number of successful books – Colour on Paper and Fabric, Print Pattern & Colour, Colour on Cloth and recently, A Passion for Colour. 

On this one-day course we will be looking at the physical qualities of felt and its relationship to the body, referencing the traditional felt coats and cloaks first used by the nomads of Central Asia. You will learn how to make a seamless pocket and then a small pouch or vessel and to consider qualities such as insulation, protection and filtration.
The tutor will give a short introductory talk about her work and show a wide selection of samples and images of larger exhibition pieces.

A workshop looking at some of the techniques Alice uses in her work and with the backdrop of her exhibition Tide Marks. 
Places are limited to five so booking is necessary

Spend two days creating sculptural Willow Forms while learning rolled willow techniques.
Using twisted and rolled willow techniques you will spend time developing and building a unique free form vessel. The result will be a fluid abstract shaped container. You will be encouraged to experiment and be free with the shape of your final piece.
The weekend will be relaxed and fun while you learn exciting ways with willow

Fee includes coffee, tea and a delicious Home made organic lunch

Material list will be supplied on booking

Hawkwood College, Painswick Old Road, Stroud GL6 7QW
A workshop that playfully investigates abstract mark making on paper, and how it may be used to provide inspiration and new ideas for contemporary drawing, textile and mixed media art. Over two days, participants will be encouraged to create a series of sensory, freeform, playful and impulsive textural samples using unusual mark-making techniques.
Over two days Jilly will present an illustrated presentation, a short guided walk to explore textures inside and out, and provide mark making demonstrations. Beginners to practicing artists are welcome and demonstrations, exercises and discussions will be designed to provide inspiration which will enable you to develop your own ideas further.
Some basic tools for exploration will be provided however a list of basic materials to bring will be provided on registration.
Full details in brochure

'One thing leads to another'
Spend a few enjoyable hours together where you will look at how Sarah’s blog is made and discuss the purpose and creative uses of social media and recording your creative journey. Each participant is invited to keep a diary or journal for the few days before you meet, to come ready to develop some aspects of this in a visual way and be happy to take a new look at sharing their views. Bring pencils, paints and enjoy writing and creating your story for journals and online story telling.

Enjoy a talk around the making of Sarah’s delightful blog and journals. Sarah’s writing, her ways of recording in drawings and her colourful paintings. The sharing of thoughts and experiences, stories that inspire her to share, dipping in and out of past present and future - and the usefulness of social media.
Sarah’s journal and recording of her day to day memories is a vibrant and always interesting journey. She will share her memories and how she records them.