The Long Awaited Loom...

Yes, I finally got my hands on one.
I needs alot of 'doing up'...sanding, varnishing, new screws etc. but should be up and runnning in a few weeks!
Picture isn't that great, mostly because it's in two bits (and by the end of today, in even more bits)


I can't wait to get weaving on it! But for now, back to my little bird brooches, pictures of which shall be here later I assume.

Ernesto Neto - The Edges of the World

I haven't updated this in a while but theres alot going on! And I havent done much of any note anyway.
But...this weekend we made a trip to the Hayward Gallery at the Southbank Centre in London.
Ernesto Neto had created an installation called The Edges of the World. A selection of sculptures described as 'body/space/landscapes', with sensory experiences, morphing into one another through various forms. All structures were made from individual pieces of wood slotted together without a fixative (such as glue or nails), holding their shapes just through gravity.
It was a wonderful experience, I enjoy art that I feel encouraged to interact with.






two views above the suspended layer of cloth..it was like looking across a strange, alien landscape...the smooth textures and gentle curvature.



curves and undulations weighted with stones




the outdoor sculpture pool. swimming in this pool encourages the viewer to almost become a part of the sculpture.


another outdoor sculpture.


view of the tunnel, fabric stretched over the wooden 'skeleton' gives an organic, animal appearance. it was almost as if we were walking through the inside of some giant creature.






within one section of the tunnel there were shaped pockets with chamomile and lavender sewn into them. an interesting experience to walk through this surreal tunnel, getting brief sweet smells.




there was a section where viewers were invited to take off their shoes and walk across the stretched fabric. this was my favourite experience; when pressure was placed on it, the fabric stretched down to the solid floor, challenging perceptions and causing loss of balance and orientation.

Busy times

Things that have happened that sapped my blogging time:
- computer virus and operating system faff
- finally finishing my project AND degree
- more operating system faff and worry
- putting up my degree show and attending private views
- being generally worn out from all of the above and wanting to spend any spare time not thinking about anything to do with moving or using my brain.

On top of that I've lost alot of photos from having to re-install windows. Which means I'm going to have to go back to Tottenham Court Road for all of the nice photos of that stairway. I bloody love it.

I'd post some pictures of my degree show but I don't have any and I can't be bothered to move to find my camera to see what photos are on there! Eck lazy.

Here's one that I found that suggests what it looks like. I'm off to get crafty.

Second.

Featuring in this post: Tottenham Court Road's emergency stairs (my favourite part of the London Underground) and some amazing rock formations from the geology section of the Natural History Museum.

I need to remember to write things down, I can't remember any of these elements/rocks.

First in a two part post

I've been so busy, but as I've worked extra hard this week, I'm allowing myself an evening of down-time.
So I'm taking to opportunity to post some photographs of my mayday weekend adventures.
In this post: the temporary butterfly house at the Natural History Museum, London.

Colours

Whilst dyeing yarns recently I decided to experiment with dropping the dyes onto a page of my sketchbook, to show the variety of colours.
I'v just cropped down a few photos to an abstract scale. I quite like the effect:

Portfolio collection two

I finished my section set of samples for my portfolio yesterday.
These ones used rope to create loops and ribbed textures, designed to be displayed as flat hangings or stretched over canvases.

Portfolio collection one.

I've finally got a few samples from this project to put into my portfolio!

All based on ideas I had at the start with elastic and wool, and using the dip-dyed stripe warp that I've fallen in love with.














Today I'm playing with rope, hopefully I'll also have another collection by the end of the day!

Fabric

I love the feeling of weaving something that looks like real fabric.
I need to make some mock-ups of these moss/fungus growth pieces. It's going to be a long weekend!

This coming month = a very steep hill

I've so much to do, so this is just a quick progress post!

Some pintucks and subtle colour changes

Paints out...

I feel so depressed being cooped up inside on perhaps the nicest day so far this year. But it is all in aid of a decent grade, so it's no ones fault but mine for not keeping on top of everything.

Ruth Laskey

Whilst doing some artist research last week, I came across Ruth Laskey, a textile artist who creates these really delicate and beautiful pieces.







Her use of colour, and the way it subtly gradates, has become really inspirational to the way that I dye my yarns and plan the stripes within my warp.

So my loom is ready and waiting to weave on Monday, and today is such a nice day that I feel quite depressed spending it indoors. I'm tempted to go out and buy some folders, if just to enjoy the sunshine and warm weather, but it's a Saturday which means I'd only get stressed out!
I suppose I shall just stay in and work through my sketchbook, design ideas and planning next weeks weaving.