MY BONES ARE WOVEN
Image courtesy of Ann Sutton
Celebrating weaver, maker and artist, Ann Sutton and the Crafts Live archive, documentary film, My Bones are Woven, will be screened publicly for the first time at the British Library this July.
My Bones Are Woven is a documentary about Ann who, in her 80s, set a radical new course for creativity challenging the expectations of her age and finding herself in the limelight of the world’s leading galleries vying to own her work. Ann Sutton won world acclaim as a weaver and industrial textile designer. But, aged 78, she gave up her looms and dedicated herself instead to pushing the boundaries of fine art.
Image courtesy of Ann Sutton
In her ‘laboratory’ of a studio she works alongside her assistant Ruth to turn her endless ideas into radical creations. She is a magnet for artistic collaborators who visit to enjoy her energy and wry humour. Suddenly Ann’s world changes as curators from two of Britain’s biggest art institutions – The Tate and V&A – start knocking on her door. Covid lockdown sees her revving up rather than slowing down. As Ruth prepares Ann’s work for the Tate she is also finalising her own packing to retire to Cornwall. Ann, now 86, deals with Ruth’s teary farewell in the only way she can. She is back in the studio creating what she feels is her best work yet. The film, by beachtobeach, is co-directed by Jane Mote and Joshua Kershaw.
Image courtesy of Ann Sutton
In 2004 Ann recorded a long life story interview for National Life Stories Crafts Lives archive – a treasure trove of oral histories with over 160 crafts specialists amassed over 20 years which will be explored at the film screening.
Bookended by a discussion on making art and crafting narratives, My Bones are Woven, will be screened at the British Library Knowledge Centre on Friday 1 Jul 2022, 19:00 - 20:45 BST. The event is free and you can book here.