VIVE LA TAPISSERIE

Shell by Anna Ray

An exhibition of small format tapestries by S.T.A.R.* (Scottish Tapestry Artists Regrouped) at GALERIE LA TOUR MONTSALES, 12260 AVEYRON, FRANCE. All exhibitors are past students or staff of the tapestry department of Edinburgh College of Art. Some makers have departed from the flat tapestry route but all acknowledge the debt they owe the Gobelin tradition.
16 July - August 18th 2011 every day 15 - 19h. Entry free. Sara Brennan, Amanda Gizzi, Linda Green, Fiona Hutchison, William Jefferies, Jo McDonald, Susan Mowatt, Paul R Penrice, Elizabeth Radcliffe, Anna Ray, Joanne Soroka, Lesley Stothers and Méabh Warburton.

Demons, yarns and tales

A warm summer evening in 1863, tapestry 2008 by Kara Walker

Demons, yarns and tales, an exhibition of tapestries by contemporary artists curated by Banners of Persuasion, is at The Dairy, 7 Wakefield Street, London WC1 until 22 November.

Handweaver's Studio and Gallery

Handweaver's studio and gallery, 29 Haroldstone Road, London, E17 7AN. This is heaven for anyone interested in fibre arts. They stock spinning and weaving supplies and it is also a great place to buy raw materials for feltmaking. Today I was looking for monochrome fibres and found some lovely carded fibres including Light Grey Suffolk, Shetland Moorit, Masham, lambswool, grey Alpaca, Merino and some semi-spun horse hair. The shop is open Tuesday-Saturday.

Alan Davie

The Shaman's Enigma. The word paintings of Alan Davie.

Infernal Beings No1, 2007, oil on board 12x14.5in


Errores Y Multilaciones No 2, 2007, oil on canvas 48x60in

Alan Davie has a show of his recent paintings The Shaman's Enigma at Gimpel Fils gallery (until 23rd February) and James Hyman Gallery (until 1st March) in London.

Flag walk, 1974 tapestry wool.

Alan Davie has also designed some beautiful tapestries such as this one from 1974 which was purchased by the Government Art Collection of the UK.

Craigie Horsfield

I went to see the new Frith Street Gallery which has moved to Golden Square. It is a very sleek looking space from the outside and nothing prepares you for the incredible interior which has a very raw, yet monumental feeling. They have mounted a stunning show of tapestries by Craigie Horsfield. It is on until 27 February. They kindly let me take these photographs.

In the tapestries, which are based on photographic images the sense of their fabric as the material of representation concerns the interplay between the substance of the things depicted and of their being depicted - at once a metaphorical and actual interweaving. Unlike a photographic surface, that of the tapestry is densely present and its rhetoric is not first of all concerned with the evanescence of light, but with the physical surface - the skin of things.
(Text from the press release)

Meabh Warburton

target#2, originally uploaded by meabh warburton.

Tapestry weaver Meabh Warburton is showing work at Brighton craft fair this weekend. There is an interview with Meabh on the Made blog.

My heart belongs to Frida

Heart 2006, tapestry weaving, stuffed with wadding and backed with fabric.
I studied tapestry weaving at Morley College last year with William Jefferies. The weaving was inspired by this Frida Kahlo painting. It took almost 6 months to complete.




Frida painting The Two Fridas, photograph by Nickolas Muray 1939. Image found here.

Take Me Home

Tapestry from the 60s

This tapestry is available at this vintage furniture and textile store, Take Me Home which is based in Brighton. I was looking for a website for the textile designer, Karen Miknas, who is showing work at the textile fair I visited yesterday and I found this shop which is run by Karen's partner. They also have some lovely chairs which reminded me of this chair that Fanja found. Karen Miknas has a website but it is under construction at the moment.