Mummy Exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland

I visited this exhibition the other day at the National Museum of Scotland.  It was free with my ArtFund card so for probably the first time in my life, it cost more for the kids than it did for me!

It was a 'fascinating' exhibition for many different reasons.  The exploration of the science behind mummy examination and how it has developed over the years was interesting, particularly the screens explaining the 3D x-rays and CT scans.  From an art point of view, I loved the exhibition design; it reminded me of several exhibitions I have seen at the V&A in London in the past.  From my own personal research viewpoint, I loved the shape of some of the amulets and drew them all the way home on the train.  I'll have to try and find more images of them on the web, as the exhibition book didn't seem to have any further information on them. 

The exhibition runs until 27 May and if you're in Edinburgh, I would recommend it.

Artists' Book Fair at the Fruitmarket

Catherine Hiley

Yesterday I went to the Artists' Book Fair at the Fruitmarket Gallery in Edinburgh.  It was a lovely event, with lots of exciting different books created by artists.  The huge variety was amazing and as well as purchasing some of them, I came away greatly inspired and wanting to make more books.  Even better, my elder son who was with me was also really taken with it all and hopefully he will want to make some with me.  Anything arty I can persuade the kids to do with me is a bonus as it means more art time for me!

I particularly liked the books by my friend, Catherine Anne Hiley (the picture above is of her, taken by my son).  There was an amusing one about dogs and a beautiful one, called 'Selkie', based on Scottish myths about seals.  'Selkie' is so new that it isn't yet on her website, but other books, cards and prints are there for sale.

Among the others, I liked the interesting pieces made by Mina Braun and also Lucy Roscoe's fascinating structures of trees, hot air balloons and rooms.

We wanted to join in a workshop run by Rachel Hazell, but unfortunately by the time we arrived it was already full.  I'll definitely be going to the next one!

Teaching in Italy

My diary for this year is beginning to fill up. I'm very excited with this latest event. I've been invited to spend a week teaching at the new School of TextileArts in Abruzzo in Italy in September.

Over the course of a week we'll go exploring the area and take photos and find inspiration and then follow my techniques for making the 37 steps to make a number of small textile panels. I'm thrilled at the chance to do this in a totally different environment to the grey Scottish weather I make my work in. I'm looking forward to seeing how the Italian weather will inspire the participants and how it will influence their colour choices.

It will be great fun for everyone and for me, not having to cook for a week will be fantastic! The main thing I need to do though at the end is make sure I make it back to Scotland for middle child's birthday. It's going to be cutting it a bit fine.

There are more details on the website and also on the Facebook page, assuming unlike me, you can competently use Facebook!

4th International Textile Triennale, Szombathelyi Képtár

A few months ago I wrote about a new piece I had just finished. It was long and narrow and I thought I had included a long and narrow full photo of it, but when I looked the other day, the photo had been cut to square for some unknown reason. Hopefully the picture below has worked this time, although it is rather low resolution.
I entered it for a juried exhibition in Hungary, an international textile triennial and to my delight it was accepted. I posted it off to Hungary last week and the exhibition opens in June. Unfortunately I don't think I'll be able to go, but if you do manage please take some pictures and let me know what it looks like on the wall.

I quite enjoyed making something to an unusual shape. I have a sketchbook which I bought from Oliver Twists last summer which is also long and narrow and I've been filling it with long, narrow drawings.

It is in some ways more challenging to make a piece long and narrow, but on the other hand, it is also quite liberating as it is very different. Do you have a favourite format to work to or do you like variety?

Upcoming Workshops at the Festival of Quilts

I'm really excited because this summer for the first time I've been invited to teach at the Festival of Quilts. I'm running two very different workshops, both of which have a strong design connection.

The first one is Paper Pieced Bowls and over the course of a day, we will explore different shapes and how to make 3D structures from them using very traditional English paper piecing. I love the mix of old techniques being used in unusual ways. It will be a very relaxing day,with simple hand sewing, but I'm aiming to open participants' minds to the possibilities of taking patchwork away from being flat.

The other day is Create a 37 Step, which is a bit of an oblique title. I do need to come up with better titles. This is essentially about getting over your fear of creating your own design for an art quilt. Over the course of the day, we'll look at practical as opposed to beautiful drawing and creating a mini quilt or textile panel from your drawing. I know many people are fearful of drawing having been told they can't draw. I believe this is rubbish and everyone can draw to some extent. Although you could be the one to come and try to challenge my belief!

Although I want the participants to take away some learning experiences from these days, I also want them to enjoy themselves and have fun. Come and join me if you are going to the Festival of Quilts

Fame on Just Hands-On TV

With Valerie Nesbitt of Just Hands-On TV.  Photo by Matt Bigwood

My moment of fame!  At the Festival of Quilts last year, Valerie Nesbitt of Just Hands-On TV filmed a segment with me and my hanging goddesses.  It has gone live on the Just Hands-On website today.  You can see a tiny bit of it even if you are not a member.  I think it is the first time I have knowingly been caught on film, but after getting over the nervousness of it, I think I could get used to it!

Workshop and talk for the Quilters' Guild

Last weekend was exceptionally busy. It was the annual conference of the Quilters' Guild in Dundee and I had been asked to run a workshop and give a talk. So on Friday afternoon, I spent a delightful three hours helping a group of ladies 'experiment with design'.

I had a lot of fun and I think they did too. We did lots of drawing, which I assured them were not going to be good and perhaps freed from the expectations of having to be able draw well, they just enjoyed it. Which for me is the whole point and some of the resulting drawings were surprisingly good.

We then translated the ideas from the drawings into fabric and there were some really interesting outcomes. I should have taken some images to share with you, but it was all rather frantic trying to pack it into three hours.

I'm running a similar workshop but over a full day at this summer's Festival of Quilts and there are still a few places available.

My talk was about how I had made the work Unsung Muses. When I wrote the blurb for the conference programme, I had called it a rollercoaster ride. This was written long before the work was completed and I had no idea how prophetic it was to be! The talk seemed well received and many people commented on how honest it was. I'm in two minds about this because I think a bit of mystic about my artistry may be more beneficial. But on the other hand, I am a fundamentally honest person and as someone said afterwards the talk was very me.

What do you think? Is it better to be honest and give a warts and all view or do you prefer to have a bit held back to make you or the artist more interesting?

Opening of Goddess exhibition

Friday evening we took the kids through to Edinburgh by train so we could go to the preview of the Goddess exhibition at the Scottish Story Telling Centre.  I think the kids enjoyed the experience of going out late on Friday.  They liked the exhibition and we enjoyed the thought-provoking performance by the Megaphone Choir.  It was lovely to see the exhibition hanging and seeing how others had interpreted the theme.

If anyone is in Edinburgh, the exhibition is on until the end of the month.

Out and about with cameras



Yesterday we took the oldest group of kids from our Saturday morning art class out to explore the neighbourhood to sketch, photograph and get inspiration for their next project.  Miraculously the rain stayed off whilst we were out.

It is amazing what you can see when you actually look closely.  We barely went 100m from the hall and found lots of interesting contrast just round the corner.  The kids photographed, sketched and took rubbings.  These are some of my photos.  It was so much fun looking from inspiration in the everyday again that it was hard to remember I wasn't there for me, but for the kids.  I took the photos to give them an idea of what I found interesting, to help them learn to look (and because I wanted to!).



Cutting Through Time: Jeanette Sendler at the Collins Gallery

Whenever I have asked people about venues to show textile art in Scotland, th ere has only been one response: the Collins Gallery in Glasgow. Sadly, the University of Strathclyde has decided that whilst it can run non degree courses in painting and genealogy that my dad attends, running a world class gallery is not part of its remit.

Its final textile show is drawing to a close and I went to see it yesterday. It was well worth the visit. Jeanette Sendler is a German born artist who now lives in Scotland. Her practice is varied and in the past has made significant work involving felt. However, this group of work is based around the notions of pattern cutting and shaping for the body. The materials used were simple, giving an honesty to the work. The contrast of the calico to the light brown of the pattern paper was subtle and effective.

I particularly liked the wall mounted, ribbed pieces, which gave the impression they may fly off the wall at any moment and launch into the air. The multiple shadows were also enchanting, a by-product, I suspect, rather reminiscent of Caroline Broadhead's work of a number of years ago.

I have always enjoyed my visits to the Collins Gallery and the symposiums they have often run in conjunction with the shows, even if I haven't been able to attend them for a while as they always clash with the Saturday morning kids art class I run, which is a terrible shame given the exciting programme they had for the last one.  Change is inevitable, but it is sad when it seems a retrograde step like closing the best gallery in Scotland.