Celebrating Innovative Textile Practice by the Textile Study Group

2023 marked the 50th anniversary of the Textile Study Group, a collective of textile artists who have been at the forefront of the discipline as both practitioners and teachers. Since its inception in 1973, and originally established to support tutors of embroidery, the group has evolved and grown in stature and is now one of the UK’s most prestigious and respected groups of textile artists and tutors. This landmark exhibition travels to Farnham after exhibitions at Tweeddale Museum and Gallery at Peebles and The Ropewalk at Barton-upon-Humber. 

Image – Jenny Bullen, A Celebration. Courtesy of Curtis James. 

Janet Leach founded the New Craftsman, the influential shop-cum-gallery, in St Ives, Cornwall in 1965. This exhibition traces its history, from its roots in The Craftsmen's Shop, set up by David Leach and Robin Nance in 1952, to its present form as the New Craftsman Gallery, run by Ylenia Haase since 2008.

The Crafts Study Centre holds the records of the New Craftsman and Janet Leach’s personal papers, as well as founding collections of works by many of the makers whose ceramics were sold through the New Craftsman. The Centre also holds the personal papers of Bernard Leach and the records of the Leach Pottery.

 This exhibition is presented in association with the exhibition New Craftsman: Past, Present, Future at the New Craftsman Gallery, 9 September to 6 October 2023. An accompanying book, Formidable Partners: The Founding of the New Craftsman in St Ives by Simon Olding and Greta Bertram, will be published at the end of October 2023.

In memory of Professor Simon Olding, Director of the Crafts Study Centre 2002-2022

Since 1995 Lesley Millar, Professor of Textile Culture and Director of the International Textile Research Centre at UCA, has been working with textile artists and designers from across the world, particularly in Japan. Over this period she has accumulated a small, but very choice, collection of contemporary textile works. Now, as Lesley will be retiring in 2023 from UCA, these textiles will be exhibited for the first time as a way of saying "Hello" to the next phase of textile research at UCA and the Crafts Study Centre. It is also "Goodbye" after a long, and extremely happy, association with the University reaching back to 1986, and therefore she will also include work in the exhibition from some of her highly esteemed colleagues.

Professor Lesley Millar will give two informal talks within the HelloGoodbye exhibition.

The events are free but booking is essential as spaces will be limited.

Curator’s Talk July 7th 2pm

Final Curator’s Talk September 2nd 2pm

dancing in the womb presents a collection of woven lengths inspired by what Wahid felt, saw and collected during her pregnancies and motherhood. The multi-dimensional and interdisciplinary qualities of Wahid’s weavings thread her experiences as a woman, poet, teacher, artist, wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend; she weaves textiles that transcend the practical boundaries of art. To truly appreciate Wahid’s genius, one must follow the yarns of identity and memory rich with poetry, tales of love, courage, maternal instinct, and feminine defiance that run through her work.

Azadeh Monzavi, Toronto Metropolitan University

Photo © Paul Tucker/Rezia Wahid

Dame Magdalene Odundo’s ceramic vessels are on a quest for ‘perfect simplicity, for natural forms; and as Christopher Frayling has said, express ‘an art which transformed energy and inspiration into restraint and beauty’. In this exhibition, Odundo presents her vessels and drawings alongside works she has selected from the Crafts Study Centre’s collections. The presentation offers a means of inquiry, dialogue and deep personal conversation.

The exhibition is dedicated to Professor Simon Olding for his guidance, mentorship and friendship.

Thank you, Magdalene Odundo

Nourish features work by sixteen willow basketmakers, artists and sculptors, all of whom are full-time professional makers. The exhibition explores the idea of nourishment and what it means to the maker today.

Each Friday during October Craft Month makers from the exhibition will be at the Crafts Study Centre to talk to visitors about their work and their part in the exhibition.

Alisha Davidson, Angela Cole, Anna Liebmann, Anna Turnbull, Debbie Hall, Dominic Parrette, Geoff Travers, Julie Gurr, Julie Livesey, Justine Burgess, Leilah Vyner, Patrizia Sascor, Rachel Evans, Ruth Thompson, Sarah Hatton, Sarah Le Breton.

Please book your ticket in advance here

Nourish features work by sixteen willow basketmakers, artists and sculpters, all of whom are full-time professional makers. The exhibition explores the idea of nourishment and what it means to the maker today.

The makers are part of the Basketmakers Professional Development Programme at Cockpit ARTS:a Basketmakers’ Association and Worshipful Company of Basketmakers funded project.

Alisha Davidson, Angela Cole, Anna Liebmann, Anna Turnbull, Debbie Hall, Dominic Parrette, Geoff Travers, Julie Gurr, Julie Livesey, Justine Burgess, Leilah Vyner, Patrizia Sascor, Rachel Evans, Ruth Thompson, Sarah Hatton, Sarah Le Breton.

Nourish is part of October Craft Month 2022

This small exhibition presents recent work by textile artist Linda Brassington. Her material research and outcome on cloth are the result of the Crafting Futures cultural exchange project supported by the British Council. This initiative has been realised by the Crafts Study Centre and the International Textile Research Centre at the University for the Creative Arts in Farnham in collaboration with Tbilisi State Academy of Arts in Georgia.

Linda Brassington's finished works, supported by a visual record of her exploratory research and working methods, tell a story of thinking and making. The presentation of work in the Crafts Study Centre is a cameo of cultural influence. It is a reflection of Georgian material heritage reimagined in Brassington's creative practice - an expression of craft history in contemporary textiles.

https://www.csc.uca.ac.uk/crafting-futures

Tansa, the Japanese word for exploration, is the link that binds this Anglo-Japanese exhibition. The project began with exploration – a research visit to textile workshops, galleries and studios in Japan undertaken by eighteen UK artists, led by Professor Lesley Millar, Director of the International Textile Research Centre. All of the UK artists are involved in higher education at the University for the Creative Arts as lecturers, Post- Doctoral researchers and MA and PhD students. The Japanese artists they met included National Living Treasures, Grand Masters and renowned contemporary textile artists.

CURATOR TOURS - join Professor Lesley Millar for a tour of the exhibition and MEET THE ARTIST- time slots are available to meet some of our artists. Slots are free, however places are limited and advance booking is essential. Please visit www.eventbrite.co.uk/tansa for more information and to book.