Origin Cancelled

I've just heard that the Craft Council - who are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year - are planning a new event for makers to take place somewhere and sometime in 2013.

"Makers are working in new ways and need new and diverse platforms through which to promote their work. There has been a notable increase in high-quality domestic marketplace opportunities for makers over the last few years which is good news for the craft sector. It is the Crafts Council's role to create fresh opportunities and identify new ways in which to engage buyers and collectors with contemporary craft and we will design a relevant, distinctive and dynamic new opportunity for 2013." Rosy Greenlees, Executive Director, Crafts Council

The new event is currently in development and further details will be announced later this year. In order to focus fully on this new event, the Crafts Council will not present Origin in 2012. 

So Origin is cancelled at least for this year.

Origin took over from the Chelsea Crafts Fair which was held for many years in Chelsea town hall, the name was changed when the show moved to Somerset House courtyard for a few years before the move to trendy Spitalfields and the integration into London Design week. 


SO do the Crafts Council know something we don't? or is it merely the success of Bovey Tracey, MADE, Great Northern etc meaning that there isn't such a need for a single, officially endorsed London showcase anymore?

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Online Shop of the Week - Elya Yalonetski

Elya Yalonetski is a Russian ceramicist now living in Berlin who sells her work through her Etsy Shop - (as well as selling through Galleries in Berlin, Paris and St Petersberg)

Etsy has a bit of a mixed reputation - as befits an unselected website where anyone can show and  sell their work (and that's the beauty of it) - but dig deep and there are some really fantastic makers to be found.

 Elya's sculptures and 'Bell Dolls' have a real 60's 70's feel (in a good way!)
If you want to see more check out her flickr account too.

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An Edinburgh Mystery

Apologies for the lateness of this blog - I'm sure those from further north than the south coast will have picked up this delightful story much earlier.

Since March last year small, beautifully sculpted paper sculptures have been appearing at intervals anonymously in various institutions across Edinburgh. The first one was the poet tree which was left in the Scottish Poetry Library with a note attached - “It started with your name @byleaveswelive and became a tree.… … We know that a library is so much more than a building full of books… a book is so much more than pages full of words.… This is for you in support of libraries, books, words, ideas….. a gesture (poetic maybe?)”

 

The series ended in November when the Phantom artist returned to the Poetry Museum and deposited this sculpture of a bird and gloves (see detail below) along with a sign off note.

 

  

 In all ten sculptures made from books ranging from Ian Rankin to Jules Verne were left in venues such as the Edinburgh Book Festival, the Filmhouse, the Scottish Story Centre and the National Library of Scotland.

  

There is speculation as to the meaning of the gifts - is it a publicity stunt to promote Unesco's Edinburgh City of Literature, a protest against cuts to the arts and Libraries in particular, or a gesture of thanks to institutions that mean much to the artist.

  

The Artist (by her admission) is a woman and is an artist but doesn't usually work with cut paper or books. Her notes speak of thanks to the institutions. Some people claim to know the identity of the artist but wish to keep the secret intact, others have searched but have given up the search quickly knowing that the mystery is far more powerful than the solution.

 

Whatever the intention is has focused attention on various institutions which in their own differing way go to help make Edinburgh a very civilised special city. And if a protest it is a protest achieving much in a very stylish, skilled and patient way.

Read the full story in many places including Central Station

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Alice Pattullo at Cecil Sharp House

Since leaving University in 2010, Alice Pattullo has been illustrating her socks off to great success. Her work has graced many magazines, Open Houses, fashion brands and galleries both in Brighton and further afield. The themes she draws from include folklore, traditions and superstitions, always seen with a little humour and enjoyment of odd British pastimes.



I met with Alice on Monday at Cecil Sharp House in London. It houses the English Folk Dance and Song Society, and this pairing is perfect. They had asked Alice to illustrate the leaflets and timetables that keep their visitors up to date with what's going on. It is the 80 anniversary of the society, so Alice had a rich history of Pearly Queens, Morris Dancers and village fetes to be inspired by. This has led to a full exhibition of her prints, handmade books and interesting collectables including lucky rabbit's feet she has made for the show. There is a special edition anniversary print for the society, and all work is available to buy.



It officially opens tonight with a private view from 6.30-8.30 pm and the show runs until April.
http://www.efdss.org/
Please RSVP for the opening receptionist@efdss.org

If you don't get a chance to see Alice's exhibition, her next outing will be in AT Open House in May. www.atopenhouse.co.uk

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Calling For Entries

Applications are now open for Brighton Art Fair and MADE12 - Brighton's Design and Craft Fair.


Brighton Art Fair will take place between 20th and 23rd September 2012.
Artists interested in exhibiting should download the application form for information and apply online here

 
MADE12 will take place between 22nd and 25th November 2012
Artists interested in exhibiting should download the application form for information and apply online here

(photo by Steve Speller)

The deadline for applications for both shows is 31st March 2012


The Palace Art & Craft Fair will take place17 – 19 May, 2013 with the application form ready after May 2012. Artists and makers interested in exhibiting should register your email here


All our shows are aimed primarily at artists wishing to communicate directly with the public and art buyers. We don't have a 'house style' but want to present the best show we can, featuring a wide variety of art and craft by innovative and original artists and makers who are passionate about their art.

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Palace Art Fair - The Times They are a Changin'

After a break in 2012, the Palace Art Fair will be back bigger and better in May 2013. This time the event will  incorporate the best of fine art and contemporary craft and design. There will be an equal split of artists and makers with around 60 of each. The 2013 dates are 17 – 19 May, 2013.

At the Palace Art Fair, the exhibitors themselves show and sell their work direct to the public, making the viewing and buying process more personal and relaxed. The fair will showcase printmakers, painters, sculptures, jewellers, ceramicists, furniture makers, textile designers and much more, providing a one stop shop for all art and craft enthusiasts.

The Palace Art Fair will continue to be held at the beautiful and historic Fulham Palace. The change of date will enable visitors to enjoy the Palace's botanical and kitchen gardens in the spring, with the longer evenings allowing more time to view the work on show, and more time to relax in the cafe and terrace overlooking the grounds.

The Palace Art and Craft Fair
17 – 19 May, 2013
Fulham Palace
Bishops Avenue
London SW6 6EA
www.palaceartfair.co.uk
info@palaceartfair.co.uk

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Juliana Sissons

At MADE09 textile designer Juliana Sissons, was commissioned by the Brighton and Hove Collects Award to produce a piece of work for the museum's collection. This commission is now complete and the result is beautiful.

Since then, Juliana participated in the V&A’s Artist in Residency programme between July and December 2010. During this time Juliana used the V&A’s Medieval and Renaissance galleries for research and was particularly inspired by the armour collection and by images depicting armour within the many paintings, tapestries and sculpture.

Sissons' new collection was displayed in the Galleries in February 2011, it showed a range of developmental knitted pieces inspired by the research, skills, exploration and textile experimentation gained during her residency. Like armour, these pieces can be worn separately or can be worn in conjunction with other items from the collection to make up whole outfits.

The links between historic armour and fashion are extremely close. To complement Juliana's collection, a selection of armour from the Museum's collection was displayed and available for visitors to examine. Juliana says;

'The Residency Programme gave me a unique opportunity to have a studio in the Museum for six months. As well as working on my own practice, I created individual programmes of events and activities involving collections and visitors. Using my studio as a base, I had access to the V&A's unique resources including the extensive collections, curatorial and conservation expertise, practical art, design and digital media workshops and experienced educational and outreach staff'.

The work that Juliana recently showed at MADE11 followed on from this period of research.

In the development of this work, Juliana tried to bring historical design and pattern shaping into a contemporary context by the exploration of innovative methods of cutting and knit structure.  Juliana says;

'I gravitated towards the pattern drafting and construction of garments as inspiration for knitwear and was fascinated when I came across an album of armour designs. I was interested in the components and how they fit together to form a suit'.

Juliana can be contacted on juliana.sissons@ntlworld.com.

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