Watch this blog for important news about a very exciting event which the group is planning for next year. However in the meantime at least two of our members are participating in Make:Shift:Do events this weekend. Check them out at this link to see if there is anything happening in your area.
Summer School 2016
York MInster
York University
York University
bull rushes on campus
Some of the campus birdlife
studio activity
Studio activity
Studio activity
Studio activity
Studio activity
End of a fulfilling few days
End of Summer school
The TSG Summer School has long been a highlight of the year and the Summer School of 2016 has been no exception. This year summer school was held at James College, York University which is a lovely campus with its large lake and varied bird life. Ducks with their ducklings and green legged grebes walked about the campus with little concern for the humans walking between accommodation blocks and the studio class rooms. We were blessed with lovely weather all week – if anything the first two nights were rather warm – but it was a lovely atmosphere, pleasantly warm during the day while everyone worked.
The tutors this year were Bobby Britnell, Alison King and Sheila Mortlock and looking at the results on display at the end of the week it was clear that each class had worked hard, challenged by the course but going home with ideas to take forward into textiles.
These photographs give a general view of the venue and the working spaces but images from the three classes will be added over the next few weeks so watch out for future posts.
An evening in London
At the start of May, two of our members, Dorothy Tucker and Sheila Mortlock, attended this year’s presentation for the Embroiderers’ Guild Beryl Dean Award for Teaching Excellence in Embroidery and Design. The event took place in St Margaret’s Church, Lothbury, in the City of London right behind the Bank of England. It’s a lovely church and well worth a visit. It shows up in records dating from the 12th century although it was destroyed in The Great Fire of London and subsequently rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren. There is fine woodwork throughout and the church serves the financial area of London.
The Beryl Dean Award is in its third year and was started in the name of Beryl Dean to recognise the very best of teaching in embroidery. The invited guests were welcomed by the event’s host Andrew Salmon who introduced Muriel Campbell, Chair of the Guild and then last year’s joint winner Debbie Gonet who talked about the pleasure she gets from working with young students just starting on their textile career.
Anthea Godfrey, Artistic Director of the Embroiderers’ Guild, spoke at length about the importance of design in embroidery, coupled with the technical skill, views echoed by many attending. She also highlighted her own and the Guild’s concerns about recent announcements from the Department of Education who seem intent to reduce the teaching of art in schools. It was tempting to quote Winston Churchill during the early days of the last war when asked to cut funding to the Arts “Then what are we fighting for.” Whether that particular quotation is apocryphal or not it is surely a proven fact that everyone benefits from engagement with the creative arts.
The Beryl Dean Award this year was presented to Hannah Maughan, a lecturer at Falmouth University where she teaches textile design. Hannah studied at Birmingham and the Royal College of Art, specialising in embroidery and mixed media. There were also two Commendations this year. Carole Holme was commended for Embroidery Technique and Sonia Tuttiett was commended for Inspiration in the Community. Carole, Carole Holme specialises in Goldwork and Sonia, Sonia Tuttiett works with disadvantaged and other groups in the East End of London.
Before everyone moved to enjoy the splendid buffet Diana Springall spoke and presented a book to the winner. A lovely evening and a great event.
What makes working as a group so exciting?
Working in a studio with other people is quite special. There is the focus you have from the directions of the tutor, the learning about new materials or techniques perhaps, the friendships you make, even just for the brief time you are together, but often these can endure beyond your workshop. However the most precious part of being at a residential workshop is TIME. We all live in a constantly busy world and to have the chance to develop our interests, or passions?, without worrying about everyday things, is a delight. Historically textiles have been produced by groups, of women usually but not exclusively, think of the Gees Bend women or the many groups of ethnic makers around the world. It is something of that fruitful collective endeavour we see at workshops.
The time spent in a workshop can be rewarding on many levels. Creatively it may give a new direction to your work, or unblock a log jam of ideas through discussion and tutor feedback, and you will have good fun at the same time.
This gallery of images are from Mary Sleigh’s 2015 Summer School but if these images whet your appetite to join the group in York this year then take a look at the information on our website.