FabLab - The Devon Guild of Craftsmen

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Jan 3, 2016 - 2016 Free Craft Demonstrations ... displayed in the shop for limited periods of time. Our fabulous new onl
Newsletter Autumn 2015

inside Arts Live event 10 December

Craft Shelf tell us your craft stories

2016 exhibitions Line Up

FabLab Plymouth

FabLab

FabLabs are a global network of local labs, enabling invention by providing access to tools for digital fabrication Flora Pearson, the Devon Guild Exhibitions Officer, trained on the FabLab at Plymouth College of Art alongside Devon Guild Members and other makers. She describes her experience here. I did a FabLab course in June and July at the FabLab facility at Plymouth College of Art and found it enthralling, exhausting,

inspiring and exciting in equal measures (I called it a journey beyond my comfort zone!) Here’s what they say about it: FabLab is the educational outreach component of Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Center for Bits and Atoms (CBA), an extension of its research into digital fabrication and computation. A FabLab is a technical

prototyping platform for innovation and invention, providing stimulus for local entrepreneurship. A FabLab is also a platform for learning and innovation: a place to play, to create, to learn, to mentor, to invent. There are FabLabs in 30 countries around the world. Because all FabLabs share common tools and processes, the program is building a global network for research and invention. The FabLab in Plymouth College of Art was a suspiciously clean looking room (by art school standards!) with a number of large machines and a lot of computer screens. By the end of the 6 weeks we had used all of these and had at least a vague appreciation of the endless possibilities of these technologies; the laser cutter for mainly 2D in paper, card, plywood and perspex, the CNC routing and milling machines for working 3D in wood, plaster, foam, rubber and resins, 2 types of 3D printers, and 3D scanners. The students on this course were a mix of artists, makers, local business representatives and usurpers (me). The course was an NCFE accredited course (level 2 award in creative craft) which meant we were required to keep track of our learning and work on a final portfolio and project. The course was roughly divided into 2 halves – the first half was an introduction to the dizzying possibilities of the technology and machinery available as well as an introduction to the software required and the health and safety implications, and the second was spent working on our chosen project. continues inside ➔

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An update on our innovative project exploring the links between English football clubs and their craft origins

Home Ground – on tour The Home Ground exhibition has toured to Sheffield and Macclesfield so far in 2015, acting as a trailblazer for the participation programme that runs alongside it engaging local communities and supporters connected to each football club. Each location of Home Ground is very different to the next as the project is focused on developing new audiences within football communities. During the Sheffield programme lead artist Chris Knight delivered workshops to the local primary school, in the local college with the Senior Blades Supporters Group and at a local youth club with members of the Blades Youth Team. Zoë Hillyard, the lead artist in Macclesfield, has been working with two groups and started the project by working with young families who live within the community surrounding Moss Rose stadium, the home of The Silkmen. The Macclesfield project started with a research visit to Adamley’s Hand Printed Textiles, the Silk Museum and Paradise Mill in order to give the group an understanding of Macclesfield’s rich heritage within the textile trade. The core group in Macclesfield are made up of members of the The Silkmen supporters’ club who expressed an interest in producing pieces of craftwork influenced by the historical link between the club and its local industry. Many of the supporters have stories to tell about their personal link to the trade through their families which are being drawn out with additional stories coming from members of the public who joined the ICON* Ask the Expert textiles day, bringing in textile pieces linked to the football club. The Macclesfield sessions have been focused on developing marks and printmaking in order to foster confidence and open up new routes of creative practice within the group. The participants’ drawings and prints will be transferred onto silk and through hand-stitch and appliqué be incorporated into a collection of textile pieces using silk materials donated by Adamley’s Textiles. The final fabrics will be made into football shirts which will be modelled by the first team before coming back to Devon as part of the Souvenirs from Home exhibition in autumn 2016.

To find out more about each Home Ground location, project and partners please visit: www.homegroundcraft.com Twitter.com/Homegroundcraft Facebook: Homegroundproject *ICON: The Institute of Conservation Macclesfield research tour Remaining tour dates: Stoke 14 September - 25 November · Walsall 4 December 2015 - 29 January 2016 Luton 5 February - 31 March · Crystal Palace 8 April - 31 May

JUBILEE GALLERY

FabLab

Add your mark to a Michael Honnor print

from front cover ➔ I worked on ways to produce a block for handprinting wallpaper for my project. I figured the technology would provide a precision hitherto unknown in my work which would be really useful for matching up or tiling a wallpaper design. I produced a number of prototypes on a small scale with

Saturday 24 October 10.30am - 12 noon (prompt arrival essential) Michael will use the press and lithograph stone, in-situ in the gallery, to produce a print with the help of the public. Free drop-in event.

The Big Draw FabLab work by Flora Pearson

the aim of scaling it up for the final wallpaper. This prototype print (in black) I did on laser rubber (the green block) with the laser cutter. It is partly engraved (the middle) and partly cut (around the edge), and I tried printing it as a relief and an intaglio print. The relief print worked much better, producing a really delicate print which looked eerily perfect and prompted much discussion amongst my fellow printmakers back at Dartington along the lines of ‘why it’s too perfect’ and ‘how to make it look more handmade’! The hardest part for me was getting used to the design software but I really enjoyed investigating the possibilities once I’d got the knack. In my experience of working alongside a lot of highly skilled craftspeople in the Fab Lab the end process of the actual machines producing things is very much the tip of the iceberg. Everyone on the course is working on things which they have a lot of knowledge, experience and understanding about, and looking for ways of pushing the boundaries of what they are able to produce; whether that means they are able to produce something which would have taken hundreds of hours, or reproduce something to within incredible degrees of accuracy repeatedly, for example as part of their chosen manufacturing process. Some amazing pieces were produced for the final projects and a lot of worlds were opened up. The FabLab Plymouth is open to the public by appointment http://fablab.plymouthart.ac.uk/

Painter Printmaker Saturday 19 September - Sunday 1 November Part retrospective, Painter Printmaker will show the breadth of Michael Honnor’s work across some 50 years of practice. An opportunity to see Michael’s painting and printmaking alongside one another, to explore the synergy of the techniques and to see how one informs the other.

Thursday 29 & Friday 30 October 10.30am - 12.30pm & 1.30 - 4pm Jubilee Gallery Help us save the world from a weather disaster by adding your own superhero to a giant, graphic storyboard and create your own extreme weather mobile to take home. Free drop-in event. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Saturday 14 November Sunday 3 January 2016 Showcasing over 50 of the UK’s best contemporary designer-makers, working in a variety of disciplines, with a range of prices to suit everyone. In addition our shop will stock cards, gift wrap and decorations as well as a huge range of South West makers’ work.

Christmas Celebration Saturday 5 December 10am - 5pm Join us for a day of Christmas festivities with music, workshops/demonstrations, mulled wine and food/drink tastings.

Workshop: Textile workshop with Madeleine Millington

Richie Alli (MAKE 2015)

Saturday 21 November 10am - 4pm Make a festive Christmas bird using appliqué and embroidery techniques. £50 (£45) Advance booking essential.

RIVERSIDE GALLERY

SHOP

Focus on Devon Guild Members 10% promotions discount on selected work in the Craft Shop October

Yuli Sømme

Felt

November

Genia Lorberg

December

Gillian Stein

January

Ruth Broadway

February

Holly Young

Millinery

March

Arwyn Jones

Ceramics

April

Jane Witheridge

Batiks

Textiles Jewellery Prints

Members Showcase

Sketchbook by Helen Edwards

Sketchbooks: Life Illustrated

17 October – 30 November

Veronica Gould

Textiles

Friday 2 October - Sunday 15 November For many artists and makers, sketchbooks are a vital tool, providing pages on which to record, experiment, practise, meditate and escape without the constraints of an audience. Sketchbooks can be a place to trial new ideas and record results. Or they can be a place to collect thoughts and ideas. They can be used as a diary, a way of recording images and feelings to remember. Many people work on themes, either consciously or subconsciously, in the way that one idea leads to another related idea. Exhibitors are Priscilla Trenchard, Mary Sumner, Helen Edwards, Isabella Whitworth, Jill Fanshawe Kato, Hugh Dunford Wood, Deborah Treliving, Julia Finzel, Jude Freeman, Celia Lister, James Morton-Evans, Jane Deane and Jess Davies. These books are incredibly precious to their owners as they are unique and completely unrepeatable. The sketchbooks represent the time and energy put into the finished work; the experimentation and the playing with ideas which preceded the final piece.

5 December – 18 January 2016 Carol Ballenger

Photography

Workshop: Create your own book Saturday 7 November 10am - 4pm Artist and printmaker Priscilla Trenchard hosts a day of creativity. Make a book and learn about paper cutting, folding and sewing. Suitable for all abilities. £50 (£45) including basic materials. Advance booking essential.

23 January – 22 February

Sarah Morris

27 February – 11 April

Mei Lim

Prints Photography

2016 Free Craft Demonstrations Saturday 30 January

Ruth Broadway

Saturday 20 February

Holly Young

Printmaking Millinery

Guest Makers There will be an exciting programme of Guest Makers’ work displayed in the shop for limited periods of time. Our fabulous new online shop on www.crafts.org.uk offers a wide selection of contemporary craft for you to browse and buy.

2016 JUBILEE GALLERY A PREVIEW OF OUR 2016 EXHIBITIONS

What Do I Need to Do to Make it Ok?

Line Up Photo by Beth Evans

Line Up 16 January - 6 March 2016 A touring exhibition from Flow gallery, London curated by interior stylist and author Sania Pell, exploring the relationship between objects; how they combine and interact in styled groupings. Inspiration for the show derived from the collections at Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge, where curator Jim Ede pioneered art and craft in a domestic context. Pell will explore compositions of objects, creating beautiful still lives that could be displayed in any home. The work examines shape, pattern and texture within a monochrome palette. The shapes of the handmade objects are graphic and bold with expressive mark making. Pell has also painted canvases especially for the exhibition to act as a backdrop for her still life compositions. The artists selected by Pell are frequently featured in her editorial shoots and reflect her love of contemporary craft. They include a mixture of established designer/makers alongside emerging new talents.

19 March - 8 May An exploration of notions of damage and repair, disease and medicine, healing and restoration, of objects, individuals and communities, with exhibition content from textile artists in explorations of how we react to damage. Showcasing the work of five very different artists (Dorothy Caldwell, Saidhbhín Gibson, Celia Pym, Freddie Robins and Karina Thompson) all using stitch techniques. A national touring exhibition curated by Liz Cooper.

Pine Feroda 21 May - 3 July Pine Feroda, formed in 2013, is the collective name used by five artists (Merlyn Chesterman, Julia Manning, Rod Nelson, Ian Phillips, Judith Westcott) working together in the South West of England to make large scale, dramatic woodblock prints. All creative decisions are taken collectively, and this requires a great deal of coordination, discussion time and tact.

The Summer Show 16 July - 4 September Our annual showcase of the best work by the Devon Guild of Craftsmen Membership selected by Members.

Souvenirs from Home 17 September - 6 November This exhibition is a culmination of our three-year audience development project, Home Ground, funded by Arts Council England. We have facilitated craft participation projects, toured a capsule craft exhibition and screened specially commissioned films to football clubs across the UK whose heritage, reflected in the teams’ nicknames, is linked to the traditional craft industries of their locality. These include Sheffield United (The Blades), Macclesfield Town (The Silkmen), Stoke City (The Potters), Walsall (The Saddlers), Luton Town (The Hatters) and Crystal Palace (The Glaziers). This exhibition brings together and celebrates the work produced, recognising all the participants involved. The exhibition will go on to tour to each football club. A Devon Guild of Craftsmen touring exhibition

MAKE2016 19 November - 8 January 2017 Our annual Christmas selling exhibition.

NEWS AND EVENTS

arts wave devon

Arts Live: Carol Ballenger

Journeys Thursday 10 December 7pm Arts Live event with light buffet included Arts Live return to the Guild for this special evening event celebrating the various aspects of journeys from walks and voyages, to spiritual quests and pilgrimages. Arts Live, through projected images, poetry and music, tell the stories of the quest of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Carol Ballenger’s voyage as a baby on the “Grey Ghost” of the North Atlantic; labyrinths through the seasons; walking meditations, and a commute to work. The iconic US Route 66 has inspired poems with accompanying images from Google Earth. A variety of music, from folk to baroque, reflects the journeys theme. Carol Ballenger – images and violin, Andrew Downton – keyboard, John Powls – poetry, Susan Taylor – poetry, Simon Williams – poetry, songs. This event is linked to Carol Ballenger’s Members Showcase exhibition at the Devon Guild. £9.50 including light buffet. Advance booking on 01626 832223.

Book Reading by author Sally Anderson Saturday 31 October 11.30am & 2.30pm The Teignmouth based author will read from her popular books. A chance to meet her terrier Bertie too, pick up work-sheets to encourage further reading and buy some of her books. Free, drop-in event in Jubilee Gallery. Please bring your own cushion.

Popping up across the county the arts wave devon orange POP-Up tent (here shown at Nourish Festival) has played host to a variety of free creative workshops engaging diverse groups at schools, community fairs and public events. Although arts wave devon is in its final year, new projects are still beginning. Wolf & Water and Dance in Devon are currently working with Torrington, using the theme Fire and Water to inspire workshops including dance, music, art and film. The Devon Guild has begun working on a year long project with Crediton called Reasons to Stop, delivering creative workshops to a variety of groups within the community. Artist led activities with textiles, ceramics and mosaics, will culminate into a visual arts trail based around Crediton High Street. This 3 year project is a partnership between Daisi, Dance in Devon, Devon Guild of Craftsmen and Wolf & Water, working with Devon County Council providing opportunities for communities to take part in local, accessible arts activities. www.facebook.com/artswavedevon or twitter.com/artswavedevon or contact [email protected]

Made by Hand At City Hall, Cardiff

The Contemporary Craft Fair

30 OCT -1 NOV 2015 Spread across three days in the heart of Cardiff at the historic City Hall, Made by Hand brings together a handpicked selection of 135 leading makers from all over the UK. Includes jewellery makers, potters, furniture makers, textile artists, glassmakers as well as a wide range of craft activities, craft demonstrations and masterclasses by some of the UK’s most prestigious makers, including ceramic artist Ashraf Hanna and paper artist, Jennifer Collier. www.madebyhand-wales.co.uk

The Contemporary

CraftFestival

10-12JUNE2016 Call for entries

arts wave devon at Nourish Festival

Online applications for festival by 6pm on 30 November Online applications for Start UP by 6pm on 29 January 2016 The Contemporary Craft Festival is one of the UK’s largest and much loved craft events, with 200 makers and 10,000 visitors. It includes Start UP, (formerly One Year On), a specially designed area for businesses in the early stages of their career. The festival is open to makers from the UK and Ireland working in ceramics, glass, textiles, jewellery, metal, wood, plastics, mixed media, leather, recycled materials and paper. Full criteria are on the website. The festival is selected by an independent panel of industry professionals. Online applications only, via http://craftsatboveytracey.co.uk/apply Enquiries: [email protected] 01626 830612 www.craftsatboveytracey.co.uk

Devon Guild of Craftsmen

Welcome to the

CRAFT SHELF

The craft you own and love has a story to tell. Through pictures and words the Craft Shelf shares your craft stories and connects you to Devon Guild of Craftsmen’s community of supporters, makers and admirers. This project celebrates the Devon Guild of Craftsmen’s 60th anniversary and has been curated by Dr. Nicola Thomas, University of Exeter.

Post your stories about the craft you own at www.craftshelf.co.uk

‘Celebrate’ the craft in your life!

Devon Guild of Craftsmen have developed a new website www.craftshelf.co.uk to enable you to share your stories about the objects you own made by Members of the Guild. When you buy a piece of work at the Guild, a new story starts. The jug that you couldn't resist buying becomes the only jug you serve custard from. Your partner receives a special box for a present, which they treasure. You commission a dining table and it resonates with the years of conversations enjoyed around it. The things you buy from the Guild can take on a special place in your life. We don’t hear enough about these stories, which is a shame as these are the stories that makers need to hear to encourage them, and also to enable other people to understand why we are so passionate about having craft in our lives! What difference does it make drinking out of a handmade mug? Please can you tell us? Devon Guild of Craftsmen want to enable these stories to be collected, to celebrate the important place of craft in the life of those who enjoy the work of Guild Members. We have developed a website that allows you to share your Craft Shelf stories. When you buy something from the Guild you will be invited to become a ‘Craft Shelf’ participant. You will receive a special code for the item you have bought, and when you are ready you can create an account on the website, and upload a photo of the new purchase and share something about it. Your story might be one about everyday use, or a special story that has layers of connections and emotional resonance. All connections matter, and especially the fantastic ways in which craft becomes part of people’s lives. Please can you share your story by pinning a photo of your mug (or scarf, or chair, or ring etc) on our new website.

Louise Cottey shared this Craft Shelf story about a silver and resin pendant that Helen Noakes made for her:

“I’ve never been interested in having a proper engagement ring, which my husband knew! We went to a festival and late at night he popped the question, and presented a blade of grass that he had twisted into a ring. I said yes! I carried the grass ring around for two years in a pocket in my purse, but I knew I needed to do something about it. At my first Contemporary Craft Festival my neighbour was Helen Noakes, and it Resin Pendant by Helen Noakes made for Louise Cottey wasn’t until the last day when I said ‘Could you do something about this ring’ and she said, ‘Yes Louise’, I’ll put it in resin’. It is perfect, it has encased it so it is safe, and it has emphasized it is a precious thing and I don't have to worry about it fading away.” We would love to hear your stories. Take a look at www.craftshelf.co.uk and send us feedback. If you are asked at the till if you would like to take part in seeing if it works, please have a go and send us information about your experience. If you have items that you have brought from the Guild in the past you can also share stories about these objects. Just ask staff at the desk how to do this.

Published by Devon Guild of Craftsmen, Riverside Mill, Bovey Tracey, Devon TQ13 9AF 01626 832223 www.crafts.org.uk email: [email protected] Registered charity no. 296568

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