Object and Memory - more inspiration for a new series

 

These little old shoes were discovered at the back of a wardrobe when clearing out my Mother's house when she moved into residential care.

They are what were known as 'clogs' made with wooden soles, leather uppers, and metal horseshoe like grips on the bottom.

Clogs were commonly worn by working people in the 19th and early 20th century. Often shared between siblings and certainly passed down as valuable objects with multiple wearers.

So who wore these little shoes? 

Unfortunately my Mother's memory has gone and she cannot provide the answer.

Here she is, Jean Kennedy aged about three, and wearing a pair of clogs. But not the same design as the ones found.
 

The clogs are stuffed with newspaper so I hoped that might provide a date. But the paper is a copy of the Newcastle Journal from 1971  (the Sports section) so is a much later addition.

So might they have belonged to my Dad? I found an old photograph of him, Ian Famelton, aged about three, and again wearing clogs.

But not the same design.

So how can I find out? The generation of clogs wearers is disappearing fast. Who can I talk to?  

More research required but there is a story, or maybe more than one, to be told here. 

Inspiration for a new series?

 

A fantastic discovery on a recent trip to Dorset - the chained library at Wimborne Minster

I need to do lots of research and maybe more visits to other chained libraries in the UK. I know there are other chained libraries in Wells Cathedral and Hereford Cathedral.

I am sure there are stories to discover about the books, the authors, the scribes, the collectors and the buildings.

It forward to finding out more.

Will it result in a new series of textile work?

Too early to tell. But I shall enjoy the research and hopefully something exciting will emerge. 

New work - watch this space

 

Brand new work in progress for the Out of the Fold exhibition coming up this Autumn.

Just at the experimental stage so far........

To see the results save the exhibition date in your diary.

18th - 23rd Otober 2024

Quay Gallery, Snape Maltings, Suffolk IP17 1SP

TOPstitch exhibition

 

I am delighted to be exhibiting as a guest artist with the TOPstitch textile group.

Tuesday 3rd - Sunday 8th September 2024

11am - 4pm each day

FREE entry

The gallery is right in the centre of Wymondham in a beautiful space. Becket's Chapel has lovely high ceilings with great light. The white boards show off the textile art to perfection 

I have not made new work for this exhibition but my 'To Have and to Hold' series looks good in this space. Plus some other recent work not shown here.

The theme of the TOPstitch exhibition is 'Making Waves' and here are just a few images of parts of the work to give you a flavour.

The artists are not credited here so please visit to find out the names of the makers. 

On Friday 6th September from 11am - 1pm there will be a 'Meet the Artists' session