volunteering at V & A craftivist event

Sunday 7th September. 

Craftivist event at Victoria & Albert Museum in support of the Disobedient Objects exhibition.   I hung my banner outside the Playhouse in Norwich, hoping that others would join in.    Russell Brand viewed the exhibition with his mum and then they came to see the craftivist workshop.  I was completely starstruck. 


I passed!!!!!

a busy week

I can't believe this is my final blog.  After a busy week of digital and hand embroidery, all thirty ties are finished, the report is written and I am putting workbooks together.

As is always the way, I wish I had a bit more time because I would like to further develop digital embroidery on the blade of the tie (right).  This tie was made by sewing two ties together around the fold lines and fraying the edges.  It is titled 'frayed' and I resisted the urge to embroider 'a frayed knot' on it.  I wanted to make a tie completely differently and I think I will do so - although it won't be for the Masters Project.  The 'intersectionality' tie was hand embroidered.  Precariously treading the line between 'hand-made' and 'home-made'. 

finishing up

Business cards designed and ordered. 

I had already decided not to invest in a website so I'll be quoting my blog on any publicity.

Exhibition display rails in situ.

I have 30 ties completed or nearly completed.

Report nearly written.

Workbooks being put in order. 

two steps forward, three steps back

 The exhibition decisions are getting sorted.  Cheaper sources of acrylic pipe were found on line and three 2 metre lengths are being delivered today.  Time is an issue and I have to decide today on how I want to progress.  I have decided to use two 2 metre lengths, slightly staggered and a cabinet - some ties will be hung over the rail, some will be displayed flat.  

I have had to reject three completed ties - I was unhappy with the digital embroidery on one, I spoilt one when it was washed (the thread was not colourfast!), and the third was scorched with the iron! 

 I want to include a holding tab on the ties and I thought it could double up as a label.  So I invested time digitally printing the labels onto coarse cotton.  I tested different ways to attach them and settled on simple bar stitches.  However, they didn't suit the ties, they looked too unsophisticated.  I think I am still in the 'disobedient objects' mindset which is rough, ready and functional. 

I will try again using lawn cotton, this time using feminist quotes, campaigns and slogans.

exhibition

On Friday I visted the 3d workshop to discuss how I would display the ties.  I have decided I want to fold and tie the ties and I want a contemporary minimalist look.  The ties have a variety of patterns and I am anxious not to confuse those patterns and designs with any further colour.  We decided an acrylic (perspex) 36mm tube would offer the best solution.  I found a local distributor but it would be expensive so I have been investigating online manufacturers to see if I can find a better price.

disobedient objects

 A day in London yesterday. I visited the National Portrait Gallery to see their exhibition about the suffragettes.  On the right are police mug shots of women known to the police.

The Steps outside the V & A decorated with text about activism

  From there I went to The Victoria & Albert Museum to see their Disobedient Objects exhibition which I thought was energising, unusual and very relevant to my  studies.



 
























The combination of the two exhibitions served to remind me that the suffragettes were seen as extremists in their time.  They had tried campaigning and lobbying for the vote with no success and their only option was 'deeds not words'.  The suffered abuse, ridicule and ill treatment.

The exhibition included Chilean arpilleros, which I had read about but never seen.    They offered the Chilean women an opportunity to express their personal grief, spread word of the atrocities the Chilean people had suffered plus, importantly, earn some money so that they could survive.

One of the exhibits included a little hand written notes addressed to whoever bought the textile.  It put me in mind of the recent notes found attached to Primark garments, from the factory machinists informing the purchaser about exhaustion, slave labour and poor food endured by the workers.

Many exhibition items which had been hand stitched, hand constructed or screen printed and it had a very authentic, hand made and contrived chaotic layout.