The Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman​​

In this exhibition, Grayson Perry celebrates the work made by unknown men and women throughout history from the British Museum, alongside his new work. 
He takes you on a journey through his imagination to explore cultures and themes, exploring Shamansim, magic identity and contemporary culture. All with the help of his favourite Teddy Alan Measles. 


It is apparent from the show that he has an interest in Japanese and African Culture. Temples and shrines feature in this exhibition, incorporating his beloved Teddy. 
His vases, for which he is most famous, are beautifully decorated. However, they lull you into a false sense of security as when you look closer they are not what they seem.

You have to look closely to see the sometimes quite dark and dangerous messages. I have always found them fascinating; seeing beautiful objects but having your senses pushed in another direction is really powerful. 


Everyone who knows Grayson Perry is aware that he is a transvestite who goes under the name of Claire. He touches on this at his show, always in a humorous way. As he says "one fact that every transvestite has to come to terms with is that a person dressed up is funny. This can be difficult and I feel this has profoundly shaped my outlook on life. I regard humour as an important necessary aspect of art".  
His sense of humour runs right through this show and as he says "The craftsman's anonymity I find especially resonant in an age of the celebrity artist".  
A memorable, thought provoking show. 
http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/exhibitions/grayson_perry.aspx

Media watch

Interesting article in the New York Times entitled 'Hat Makers With Attitude'. Click on the link below

New York Times

Celia Birtwell in conversation

Today I went to my favourite place for my first ever talk. The V&A to see Celia Birtwell, one of Britain’s best-known textile designers. At the moment I have been revisiting my interest and love of textiles, I am not sure why, but I have been flicking through my books on Lucienne Day and Zandra Rhodes so I was thrilled to see the V&A hosting Celia Birtwell in conversation. 
 


Celia studied at Salford Art College at the incredibly young age of 13, where she developed her unique fashion and textile drawings. 
After Art college she came to London and met the fashion designer Ossie Clark. They combined his beautiful feminine clothes with her gorgeous prints and created a style, which dominated the sixties. 
They soon married and had two children. 
 


Celia too hails the V&A as her favourite place to come and gain inspiration. In her talk she spoke about a particular photo in their archives of Leon Bakst's - L Apres midi d'un faune-1912, which inspired one of her first collections. She also told us of her love of medieval textiles and Jacobean embroidery. 
It was interesting to see how she translated these ancient designs to something of her own.

During the talk images were projected of her wonderful designs. Bold, rich prints translated from page to the figure. 'Mystic Daisy' and 'Tulips' (1972) are two of my favourites. 
 


Of course the conversation moved onto David Hockney her great friend and she, for him, his muse. 
Celia has posed for him countless times but she will always be immortalized in the painting Mr and Mrs Clarke and Percy (1970) one of Hockney's most famous paintings. It was great to hear about the background to this painting and for her to share the story of Hockney's difficulty in painting Ossie's feet. So he covered them with a shag pile carpet to disguise this. 
 


Celia Birtwell came out of the spotlight after Ossie Clarke was killed. She quietly brought up her boys and concentrated on textiles for interiors. 
In 2006, however, Top Shop approached her to collaborate and she then moved back in to fashion. Here she reached out to a new audience and her collections were youthful, but still had the Celia Birtwell signature. They were a big success and lasted three seasons.

Her book, which has taken two years to put together, is a beautiful account of her work and colourful life.

Opening of the Cambridge Arts Salon

This week the studio space I have been working in, along with several other artists, opened its doors to the public. It was a great night. A real party atmosphere with a brilliant DJ and a gorgeous burlesque dancer serving drinks. The Art salon will host exhibitions, workshops and various other events.

For more information, visit http://www.cambridgeartsalon.org.uk/

Ladies Day at St Leger Horse Races, Doncaster, 7 July 2011

Click here to see a fun video of some of the unusual hats and headpieces worn at St Leger's Ladies Day.

Also check out the BBC Sports gallery!

A summer wedding

Congratulations to Anne and her husband who recently married this summer. To complement her absolutely gorgeous dress, Anne wore one of my Plume designs, featuring a light chocolate shot satin base, crin trim with handmade chiffon petals and ostrich feather centrepiece.

Love is What You Want

For my summer holidays this year I am going on two holidays. Firstly to London (where I grew up) and later to Northumberland where I have never been. It’s been a great holiday so far, visiting family and friends but also there has been time for a little bit of culture. First stop was the wonderful Cartoon Museum really close to the British Museum, hidden away on Little Russell Street. I am not really a comic reader but I did enjoy seeing the original drawings of so many familiar comic strips and the Hogarth satirical cartoons are brilliant; definitely worth a visit.

Today though I went to Tracey Emin’s Love is What You Want at the Hayward gallery (18th May-29th August). I have a soft spot for Emin as embroidery and appliqué dominate her work and I love cloth and stitches.

This show isn’t an easy show to see. There is, as you would expect, an awful lot of text to read and you have to take time to read her words and digest the work; the content may also be difficult for some to deal with.

Walking around I did wonder whether I had had my fill of Emin as she always uses her own life as the starting point for her art. Her work is so personal that, for some pieces, I did not know if I wanted to delve into her world. Her response to her abortions feature heavily in the show for example. But being the Artist she is, it is hard not to resist.

The exhibition includes work from over her career and she uses many different media, including textiles, film, prints, neon lights and wooden structures. Some of her work I found too sentimental such as the film of her and her dad running through the waves in Cyprus. However the film which included her mum talking to Tracey about Tracey not having children is compelling. Her loving mum rejoicing that Tracey had her abortions and doesn’t have children was unusual to see.

The piece of work which has stayed with me the most is her 2002 piece ‘Knowing My Enemy’. It was more her need to respond to a letter her dad had sent her when he was trying to steer her away from drink than the actual structure she built. It was, like her father’s, her longing to find a place to be happy that really touched me, and her suggestion of a missing presence.