Camber Sands Trip + Final Ideas

I could write for a long time about what we did but I think it'll be better if I just dump these photos here. There's also a small video collage of some sort.

The Good Ship Betty

For the final piece for this project I think I would like to make something for Miss Havisham or her home.

Miss Havisham is like one of those towers of cliff face that sometimes appear on the coast. The rest of the land has retreated backwards, but occasionally you see fragments of rock standing alone in the water, bravely, ridiculously, rejecting the inevitable. A lonely stand-off between wave and rock and the ticking clock.

I like the image of Miss Havisham in her white dress, like sea foam, the thing she adorns herself in is the very thing that erodes her sanity. Salt water has preserving qualities, but it stings. Textiles feel appropriate, if I had the skill I would use glass or ceramics, but for now embroidery will do. It's something a lady of her societal standing would have learnt, it would have been on her veil, her dress, her table cloth and napkins. I could tell her story on the fabric.

Weaving + Workers

My chosen workers for this project are cleaners and hairdressers/barbers. I feel they're both kind of secretive. Cleaners often go unnoticed, they silently take in all the rubbish in the office and safely remove it. Hairdressers are stereotyped as gossipy therapists, listening to the woes of their clients and chopping away the split ends. You rarely hear about what they're thinking.

I feel weaving connects nicely with cleaners because of the way it organises shapes and colours, the act of weaving is very much like the act of cleaning. I thought about this whilst at the William Morris gallery.

For this project I think the tools of the workers will be most important. I should also get to know two workers personally, I think this will be something I can do tomorrow. 

Round Meaningful Shapes in Britain and Europe

Mên-an-Tol Fertility Hole 

Penny Farthing

Stonehenge 3000 - 2000 BC

Coin of Odin with the Eye of Insight in mouth
c. 50 - 30 BC

From 'Black Britain'

Clay Anglo Saxon Loom Weight 

The Zodiac from the 6th c. Beth Alpa Synagogue

Coin of Emperor Probus circa 280 AD.

Dérive

The Ashford Hijab by Grayson Perry

Dérive - an unplanned journey through a landscape or urban district where the geography of the area subconsciously guides you on an authentic and meaningful journey.

Cloud in Hand by Hannah Waldron

Defluo - Latin meaning to flow away from, to be lost

Tony GIF by Dryden Goodwin

Dreflian - Middle English meaning 'to dribble or run at the nose'

Untitled by Madge Gill

Defleo - Latin meaning to weep for something or someone

Spitalfields Market

We took a trip to Spitalfields Market! This project is about the people of London, past and present. There has been a market in this area for 350 years so it was an ideal place to draw and research. 

Later, Lily and I took a walk - a flâneur, if you like - and came across this beautiful stall. The embroidered designs are so wonderful! I've long loved embroidery and tapestry as a narrative technique, as it can take so long to create a piece you have to be selective over what is included.

Here is a list of things:

1. Dogs. Dogs with market stall owners. Dogs just visiting. Guide dog puppies. Dogs. 
2. Taxidermy.
3. Emperor Claudius' bust taking a bath.
4. Pin-up fry up.
5. Melting pot.