If you get the chance then do visit this exceptional show of boro cloth at Somerset House. Boro (rag) cloths and clothes were made in Japan by the rural poor during the Edo period (1603 – 1868). Traders sold worn out cotton garments from the south of the country and the fragments were patched and layered […]
One-minute blog of interesting things
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As a working contemporary artist I visit many exhibitions and shows, but sometimes it is the things I see that are part of daily life that capture my interest. My one-minute blog of interesting things reflects the fact that although we are increasingly time-poor, there is creativity all around us. Email me at info@carolinebanks.co.uk with your name and email to receive a weekly post that only takes 1 minute to read.
Faces in the crowd…
Walking down to the art suppliers I saw these faces then the warehouse under renovation. Are they past or future local inhabitants? I have no idea but enjoyed this temporary art which brightened up my day. Thanks to the artist/s for your work.
Margo Selby Textiles
I first came across Margo Selby when she was a student and I was in the silk business as one of our Indian suppliers took her on for a placement. A master weaver, her style is very distinctive and I was impressed by the progression in terms of design and fabrication of her furnishing fabrics, several of […]
Rocio Moreno at the Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan.
Ah, the Milan Furniture Fair will be taking over the city from the 8th to 13th of this month and for those of us unable to attend I wanted to highlight the exquisite silk fabric collection of Rocio Moreno showing at WMilano for the first 3 days. Launched in 2008 they have been steadily building […]
Crafted: Makers of the Exceptional – textiles
I’ve already written about Margo Selby in an earlier post so here are some other makers I saw at the show. Fair Isle Knitwear, set up by “blow-in” Mati Ventrillon who now lives on the island, offers bespoke traditionally knitted Fair Isle jumpers, all dried on the ” woolly horse” wooden rack, a rather lovely thing […]
Crafted: Makers of the Exceptional – Furniture
Ah, John Galvin. I am an unashamed fan of his work as previous posts attest and loved the use of Purple Heart wood for the inside of his minutely detailed American black walnut drinks cabinet. I’m assured that all his wood is sustainably sourced which only makes it better. Katie Walker showed her interpretation of […]
Crafted: Makers of the Exceptional – glass
Crafted: Makers of The Exceptional is organised by Walpole, an association dedicated to developing and promoting the British luxury industry. The exhibition was to show this year’s intake of makers selected for business mentoring as well as the “class” who had completed their course. I found it extremely interesting, in particular seeing the organisations who […]
James Turrell at Pace Gallery, London
Regular readers know I am an advocate of taking time to see and be, so I highly recommend Pace Gallery’s current exhibition of James Turrell light pieces ; a place to slow the heartbeat, lower blood pressure and absorb the artwork. Give yourself time to experience all the different colour changes – my photos are […]
Spring is now officially here
Now that the clocks have changed for summer time and evenings are lighter, I wanted to bring a little more sun into my posts. Seen back in January at Maison & Objet, one of the trend themes was Heliotropic, focusing on the sun’s heat, light and colour. I found the sunflower-inspired structure below very cheering […]
Brancusi’s Studio in Paris
Some places I never tire of visiting and this, just by the Pompidou Centre in Paris, is one. Brancusi gave his studio to the nation with the pre-condition that it remained exactly as he had left it. Casts, finished work and objects from his daily life all exist together in perfect balance. Well, almost perfect. One of […]