The thread of London Craft Week
Over the last few years, textile has gradually found its place in London Craft Week, part of a general reassessment or rather a new appreciation of the power of cloth and associated techniques. There’s a winding thread across the capital and whilst few individual makers are opening their studios, there’s plenty of textile to be seen and numerous opportunities to participate in workshops.
Image courtesy of Jacob Monk.
Several shows have a significant Textile element. A Textile Assembly, by Craft Show, offers examples across the spread of techniques from knitting to printing through the work of twenty textile artists emphasising the work of South London makers, both established and emerging. The show looks at textile construction as well as the weaving of structures and stories. Narrative is key in highlighting those not traditionally included in the art world. The show is augmented by a series of hands on workshops including natural dye, embroidery, patchwork, weaving and knitting. 13 May 2024 - 19 May 2024, 10:00 - 18:00 BST, 49 Staffordshire Street SE15 5TJ.
Christabel Balfour a tapestry weaver based in East London has a solo show Unimagined Animal: Tapestries Made and Unmade at 67 York Street Gallery, York Street, W1H 1QB on 14-19 May. Here she looks at the limitations of language, hearing and memory using the structure of weaving whilst employing excavated archaeological imagery. Christabel is also making tapestry live on the 16 May, 16:00-19:00 BST, in the Barbican Gallery shop. She works on several large floor looms, as well as simple looms she builds herself, one of which will be at the Barbican.
Image: Emily Jo Gibbs portrait.
Textile related makers will be selling their work at Craftworks, the new craft show fronted by Jay Blades, at Shoreditch Town Hall , 380 Old Street, EC1V 9LT, 15-17 May. Textile artist Caroline Hyde-Brown works with bio-materials, such as hand-woven and embroidered pieces made from foraged materials like lichen, hemp, flax and grasses. She extracts natural colour from flowers, herbs and weeds growing in her own garden to echo the ephemeral and fragile quality of the threads. Caroline will be part of a panel discussion on Thursday 16 May.
Image: textile art by Momoka Gomi.
Graeme Bone a former construction worker turned-textile-designer is exhibiting his traditionally made kilts, alongside Emily Jo Gibbs’ stitched portrait of a metal worker, hangings by Majeda Clarke and weavings by Momoka Gomi. The exhibition will also showcase a project by Heritage Crafts, to highlight some of the craft skills currently in danger of becoming extinct in the UK including Whitchurch Silk Mill (the oldest working silk mill in Britain) and straw plaiting by hat maker Lucy Barlow.
International exhibits include Chinese Design: Harmony in Diversity, with the Harmony in Textiles exhibition, exhibiting embroidery from the Mama’s Needlework Project at the Royal Mint Court, EC3N 4QN 13 -19 May. The AlSadu Society presents Beyond the Loom: Contemporary Expressions of Sadu, melding contemporary aesthetics with traditional Kuwaiti weaving. Embassy of Kuwait, 2 Albert Gate, SW1X 7JU, 13 -19 May.
Image courtesy of José Luis Sánchez Expósito
There are a significant number of textile demonstrations scattered around the capital. José Luis Sánchez Expósito is demonstrating the traditional skills of gold and silver embroidery techniques used to decorate sacred objects as well as high-fashion projects. The artist has run the Bordados Santa Clara (Santa Clara Embroidery workshop) in Seville and specialises in the cartulina and the hojilla techniques.
Chiara Griffantini, is an architect and interior designer turned master of Hand-Painted Textiles showing her cushions, curtains, wall hangings, and tablecloths at Bonadea, Pimlico Road. Her designs owe much to her travels and studies of first nation crafts, in Australia, New Zealand and the USA. She is in store demonstrating her techniques 14-15 May. Conservation biologist/designer Dr Susy Paisley is running a workshop on 16 May on the repeat motif of the Tree Of Life in library of The Linnean Society of London. Susy creates nature-centric textile and wallpaper designs for her company, Newton Paisley.
Image courtesy of Hand & Lock
Carl Hansen offers the chance to watch the weaving of a new Children’s Wishbone Chair at 48a Pimlico Road SW1W 8LPon 15-16 May and Chelsea Textiles has a team of embroiderers at 40-42 Pimlico Road SW1W 8LP on 13-17 May. There are quilts by Emily Campbell at Connolly, 4 Clifford Street, W1S 2LG on 16-18 May. In Jaggedart ‘s Story of Place, textile artist Maria Smith will demonstrate her story though her work. 28a Devonshire Street, W1G 6PS on 13-15, 17 and 18 May. For Batik lovers New & Lingwood. 14 Chiltern Street, W1U 7PY, host Talking Batik with Lisa King and Dr Fiona Kerlogue on 14 May.
Fashion related talks include British Fashion Council, Banshee of Saville Row, Kathryn Sargent and the Pollen Estate’s discussion of Fashion and Female Tailors on Saville Row on 14 May at Benjamin West Lecture Theatre, Royal Academy, W1S 3ET. Rachel Trevor-Morgan is giving tours of her Millinery Atelier on the 15 May. More millinery artistry with Tursi Unveiling the Art of Craft, The Swiss Church In London, 79 Endell Street WC2H 9DY on 17-19 May.
Image: Glimpse Dawn Ochroma Courtesy of Newton Paisley.
Guest edited by Corinne Julius
There’s more to select from on the London Craft Week website. By and large workshops should be booked and are not free admission. Please check on londoncraftweek.com/events
Several shows have a significant Textile element. A Textile Assembly, by Craft Show, offers examples across the spread of techniques from knitting to printing through the work of twenty textile artists emphasising the work of South London makers, both established and emerging. The show looks at textile construction as well as the weaving of structures and stories. Narrative is key in highlighting those not traditionally included in the art world. The show is augmented by a series of hands on workshops including natural dye, embroidery, patchwork, weaving and knitting. 13 May 2024 - 19 May 2024, 10:00 - 18:00 BST, 49 Staffordshire Street SE15 5TJ.
Christabel Balfour a tapestry weaver based in East London has a solo show Unimagined Animal: Tapestries Made and Unmade at 67 York Street Gallery, York Street, W1H 1QB on 14-19 May. Here she looks at the limitations of language, hearing and memory using the structure of weaving whilst employing excavated archaeological imagery. Christabel is also making tapestry live on the 16 May, 16:00-19:00 BST, in the Barbican Gallery shop. She works on several large floor looms, as well as simple looms she builds herself, one of which will be at the Barbican.
Textile related makers will be selling their work at Craftworks, the new craft show fronted by Jay Blades, at Shoreditch Town Hall , 380 Old Street, EC1V 9LT, 15-17 May. Textile artist Caroline Hyde-Brown works with bio-materials, such as hand-woven and embroidered pieces made from foraged materials like lichen, hemp, flax and grasses. She extracts natural colour from flowers, herbs and weeds growing in her own garden to echo the ephemeral and fragile quality of the threads. Caroline will be part of a panel discussion on Thursday 16 May.
Graeme Bone a former construction worker turned-textile-designer is exhibiting his traditionally made kilts, alongside Emily Jo Gibbs’ stitched portrait of a metal worker, hangings by Majeda Clarke and weavings by Momoka Gomi. The exhibition will also showcase a project by Heritage Crafts, to highlight some of the craft skills currently in danger of becoming extinct in the UK including Whitchurch Silk Mill (the oldest working silk mill in Britain) and straw plaiting by hat maker Lucy Barlow.
International exhibits include Chinese Design: Harmony in Diversity, with the Harmony in Textiles exhibition, exhibiting embroidery from the Mama’s Needlework Project at the Royal Mint Court, EC3N 4QN 13 -19 May. The AlSadu Society presents Beyond the Loom: Contemporary Expressions of Sadu, melding contemporary aesthetics with traditional Kuwaiti weaving. Embassy of Kuwait, 2 Albert Gate, SW1X 7JU, 13 -19 May.
There are a significant number of textile demonstrations scattered around the capital. José Luis Sánchez Expósito is demonstrating the traditional skills of gold and silver embroidery techniques used to decorate sacred objects as well as high-fashion projects. The artist has run the Bordados Santa Clara (Santa Clara Embroidery workshop) in Seville and specialises in the cartulina and the hojilla techniques.
Chiara Griffantini, is an architect and interior designer turned master of Hand-Painted Textiles showing her cushions, curtains, wall hangings, and tablecloths at Bonadea, Pimlico Road. Her designs owe much to her travels and studies of first nation crafts, in Australia, New Zealand and the USA. She is in store demonstrating her techniques 14-15 May. Conservation biologist/designer Dr Susy Paisley is running a workshop on 16 May on the repeat motif of the Tree Of Life in library of The Linnean Society of London. Susy creates nature-centric textile and wallpaper designs for her company, Newton Paisley.
Image courtesy of Caitlin Hinshelwood.
There are a number of making opportunities. Abiola Onabulé is teaching how to create Adire a Yoruba cloth in an Indigo dyeing workshop at Royal Museums Greenwich on 19 May. A workshop at Bamford, 62 South Audley Street, W1K 2QN on 16 May celebrates Indian Nila and Injiri dyes and embroidery. The Yunus Emre institute is providing workshops, demonstrations and taster classes in embroidery at 10 Maple Street W1T 5HA on 13 -19 May and there is the opportunity of exploring Yemeni embroidery including family fun, with Nouria Nagi OBE at Leighton House, 12 Holland Park Road, W14 8LZ on 18 May.
Hand & Lock, embroiderers to the Royal Family, offer a tour and taster classes in gold-work, 13, 15 and 17 May. 86 Margaret Street, W1W 8TE. Maison Michel has a millinery workshop on 16 May at 26 Conduit Street, W1S 2XX. A millinery taster course is on offer at Morley College as well as pattern making, whilst West Dean is celebrating its new London outpost with 2 intensive courses; Passementerie 18 -19 May and Needlework Embroidery 16 -17 May, West Dean College, Dilke House, 1 Malet Street WC1E 7JN.
Carl Hansen offers the chance to watch the weaving of a new Children’s Wishbone Chair at 48a Pimlico Road SW1W 8LPon 15-16 May and Chelsea Textiles has a team of embroiderers at 40-42 Pimlico Road SW1W 8LP on 13-17 May. There are quilts by Emily Campbell at Connolly, 4 Clifford Street, W1S 2LG on 16-18 May. In Jaggedart ‘s Story of Place, textile artist Maria Smith will demonstrate her story though her work. 28a Devonshire Street, W1G 6PS on 13-15, 17 and 18 May. For Batik lovers New & Lingwood. 14 Chiltern Street, W1U 7PY, host Talking Batik with Lisa King and Dr Fiona Kerlogue on 14 May.
Fashion related talks include British Fashion Council, Banshee of Saville Row, Kathryn Sargent and the Pollen Estate’s discussion of Fashion and Female Tailors on Saville Row on 14 May at Benjamin West Lecture Theatre, Royal Academy, W1S 3ET. Rachel Trevor-Morgan is giving tours of her Millinery Atelier on the 15 May. More millinery artistry with Tursi Unveiling the Art of Craft, The Swiss Church In London, 79 Endell Street WC2H 9DY on 17-19 May.
Guest edited by Corinne Julius
There’s more to select from on the London Craft Week website. By and large workshops should be booked and are not free admission. Please check on londoncraftweek.com/events