Jeanette Durrant
Woven Cargoes
Digital print on calico; montage of sails, Norwich Stuffs from pattern books, customer bale marks, Norwich Red fabric, Drawloom and ledger entries. 146cm x 80cm
Sales Ledger
Digital print on calico; sail, Norwich Red Stuff, ledger entries and customer bale marks. 56cm x 89cm
Uniform Cuts
White woollen serge uniform shapes marked with tailors tacking on navy background. 100cm x 85cm
To the Unknown Sailor
Land-based installation cut from oiled replica wherry sail leaving negative after-shape of a midshipman’s uniform
Leaving
Hand stitching and appliqué, on dyed cotton background. 50cm x 50cm
Detail of Leaving
Artist statement
Several major themes seem to re-occur or combine in my work, in particular the effects of light, movement and architectural space. While working on an MA for Textile Culture at Norwich Art School in 2004, I used my interest in fabric and weaving to study the Norwich textile trade in more depth. This led to a series of digitally printed textiles montages based on the world-wide export of woven fabrics by sailing ships and featuring samples from 18th century Pattern books, entries in ledgers of shipments and customer pack marks from their bales; plus 'Norwich Red' fabric and the Drawloom which would have been used to weave them on. Working as a volunteer at Blickling Conservation workshop with Pamela Clabburn for eight years, gave me experience in handling large scale pieces, a lasting interest in historical textiles, pattern cutting, and connections between people and the past.
I have been interested in architectural space and boundaries since walking through narrow Tuscan streets with deep shadows, and the negative shapes created where the roofs and sky meet. In them I found an affinity with the work of James Turrell who creates spaces that capture the changing light of the sky, and the tall flat steel structures of Richard Serra.
I have broad experience of public and ecclesiastic commissions specialising in large works, and have exhibited with the Textile Study Group in England, New Zealand, and Guernsey.
I taught and verified City & Guilds Embroidery for 15 years in Norwich and have been a freelance tutor and lecturer throughout England and guest lecturer in New Zealand. Recently I have spent more time on life drawing and outdoor landscape painting which I find an ideal compliment to my love of colour and shape.
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