PSS: Quilts at the V&A - Caren Garfen

The V&A exhibition also introduced some contemporary textile artists to a wider audience, and I think Caren Garfen is worth a mention here. Garfen's work contains a distinct commentary relating to the female in society and her hand drawn and stiched style is quite alluring because of its simple but iconic imagery. 

The quilt in the picture below represents Garfen's contribution to the V&A exhibition, but have a look at her website for many more examples of her beautiful work.

Ever wondered what the ingredients for 100 cupcakes looks like...?

I am spending what I imagine will be the vast majority of the day baking 100 cupcakes for my cousin Kate's wedding to Ant on Saturday! I will post pictures of the  finished, decorated cakes after the wedding!!

PSS: Quilts at the V&A

(NB - I am blogging whilst I wait for various batches of cupcakes to bake/cool - I am so the 21st century baker.)

The collage-tastic Kate Slater willingly agreed to accompany me on another cultural enrichment session; last time it was CircusFest at the Roundhouse, this time Quilts 1700-2010 - a somewhat more 'gentle art-form' (the V&A's words, not mine.)

The exhibition is excellent, not surprising as it is proving to be one of the best-selling events at the V&A to date. The range of quilts on display is diverse, ranging from tapestry-like quilts, hundreds of years old, to politically motivated contemporary work by Tracey Emin and Grayson Perry. A particular highlight is a quilt constructed by a group of men from HMS Wandsworth, commissioned by the V&A for the exhibition in conjunction with an amazing organisation called Fine Cell Work. While the cross-section of people attending the exhibition appears to fulfil all the craft clichés (mainly women in their 60s with overly wooly cardigans...), this piece challenged the presumption that craft is a feminine, passive art form.

I found the range of quilts on display incredibly inspiring - while some were composed of abstract patterns and geometric shapes, many were huge mural-like illustrations in themselves. The exhibition notes also took care to elaborate on some of the stories and rumours associated with the quilts and their makers, including the woman who wove her own hair into the quilt as she cursed the lover who had left!

See the post above for more information on contemporary textile artists, or even better go and see the exhibition before it closes on 4 July 2010!

Quilts 1700-2010

V&A South Kensington

20 March - 4 July 2010

Curated by Sue Prichard

Introducing... PAPER/SCISSORS/STONE

Paper/Scissors/Stone is a relatively new project of mine which aims to chronicle, celebrate and critique the most exciting craft makers - from theatre craft to handicraft! Up until now Paper/Scissors/Stone has existed as an entirely separate entity, but now it will be combined with anjafeeillustration.blogspot.com as I have quickly realised that it is simply too difficult to separate my own illustration work from its influences!

So look out for for posts with the above logo attached - these posts will be dedicated to ongoing exhibitions, emerging artists and makers, creative theatre work and more!

Wolf-Grandma

Goodness Grandmamma, what luscious hair you have!

Happy Journey Collective

Kate Slater told me about a brilliant project called the Happy Journey Collective, and the above is my contribution. The project asks illustrators to produce a coffin design based around a phrase or epitaph of their choice. For my epitaph I relied on the wonderful wisdom of Six Feet Under: If you mix up the letters in 'funeral' you get 'real fun'!

Grandma's Chair

Despite the GLORIOUS sunshine, I have been inside this morning working on some fairy tale illustrations - starting with Red Riding Hood -  so here is a little something  from the scene in Grandma's lounge! It just needs a cross-dressing wolf to sit in it now...!

Welcome!

Thank you for visiting my brand spanking new blog! Most of my new art work will feature first on this blog before it goes up on my website, so check back soon!