I’m delighted to be taking part in Wandsworth Artists’ Open House for the first time this year with my friend Emma Gibson. The event runs over the first two weekends in October.
Emma makes beautiful handmade contemporary jewellery.
She works mainly in silver, combining traditional and experimental techniques to produce bold pieces, which often retain the texture of the hammers used to forge them.
Emma allows for an element of chance in her work so that even if a design is repeated each piece remains individual.
I will be showing and selling some of my basketry work – another first for me!
I will also have my latest batch of upcycled indigo and ecoprinted accessories and clothing.
When: 5-6 October and 12-13 October, 11am-6pm Where: 46 Drakefield Road, London SW17 8RP
The 10th International Shibori Symposium (10iss) in Oaxaca in November was spread over several venues. Most were in the centre of town, but the Centro de las Artes de San Agustin (CASA), about 45 minutes’ drive from the centre, was the location for many of the workshops and exhibitions.
This post will feature the exhibitions in and around CASA – be warned that there are lots of photos!
CASA is a former cotton mill that was converted into a stunning arts centre by local artist Francisco Toledo in 2000. Its hilltop location gives amazing views, and it has two exhibition halls and smaller rooms for running workshops.
There are also some interesting sculptural plants!
Indigo Earth: Shibori Kimono, Past and Present
This exhibition, curated by Yoshiko Nakamura and Consortium Arimatsu Narumi, featured a selection of historical and modern Japanese indigo-dyed kimono from Arimatsu and Narumi in Japan.
Optica and Haptica
This exhibition showcased 12 pieces of clothing designed by Mexican designer Carla Fernandez, highlighting connections between the Mexican and Japanese traditions of ikat (known as jaspe in Mexican and kasuri in Japan).
The contemporary garments were wonderful, combining Japanese silhouettes and designs with traditional Mexican rebozo patterns.
Contemporary Art of Shibori and Ikat
The main exhibition hall at CASA was given over to a wide range of contemporary shibori artworks and wearables, curated by Yoshiko Wada and Trine Ellitsgaard.
And here I must apologise profusely to artists whose work I photographed but whose names I failed to record. I did photograph the name labels but because of the low lighting many of them came out blurred and unreadable. I have credited artists whose names are legible or whom I remembered, but if your work is featured without a credit, do let me know and I will remedy it as soon as possible!
Susan Schapira, Nine Birch Trees Dreaming of Summer
Hiroyuki ShindoYosi Anaya, Snake SkeinsElisa Ligon, Untitled 2Asif Shaikh and Jabbar Khatri, Bandhani Dress with Aari Embroidery
Birgitta Lagerqvist, Blues 1-3
Ana Lisa Hedstrom, Folded and FlatJorie Johnson
Paper Jewellery
A short walk downhill from CASA is the papermaking cooperative Arte Papel Vista Hermosa, also founded by Francisco Toledo. Its members use bark, plants, flowers, cotton, hemp, silk, linen and pieces of shiny mica in their products. As well as seeing the artisans at work, visitors can have a go at making paper themselves.
For this exhibition they worked with artist Kiff Slemmons to produce some stunningly intricate paper jewellery. And yes – I did end up buying a piece! 🙂
Just a few works that have caught my eye in the past couple of weeks.
Michelle Griffiths, Cross Pollination series
Michelle Griffiths uses shibori techniques but without the dye to create beautiful 3D forms. I’ve noted before that when the fabric is pleated, folded, stitched or tied before dyeing, it often looks very attractive. Michelle has worked this concept into an art form. I missed her exhibition earlier this year at the Lesley Craze Gallery, but I would love to attend one of her workshops.
Velcro necklace by Yong Joon Kim
Yong Joo Kim received her Master of Fine Arts in Jewelry and Metalsmithing from the Rhode Island School of Design. So she’s used to working with silver and precious metals, but her latest collection of jewellery is made from Velcro.
Flextiles 