Virtual Studio at Festival of Quilts
Each year the Festival of Quilts show held in Birmingham, UK features a “virtual studio” – a large wet studio where various types of complex cloth are created. This year Claire Benn, Leslie Morgan, Linda Maynard, Claudia Helmer, and Elaine Griffiths worked using four main processes. The only thing better would have been the addition of Jane Dunnewold. Her presence was there, in spirit, as co-author of some of the books being sold.
Demonstrations included breakdown printing, which is a way of using a silkscreen (or silkscreens) and Procion MX dyes to create patterned cloth. Paper lamination, which uses photographic imagery and/or newsprint with matte medium to create design on sheer polyester fabric. Screen printing and tray & bucket dyeing.
The above images show a long piece of sheer polyester over several photocopied black/white images — a “paper lamination” in process. We were told that the cheaper the paper used to copy onto, the better. The screens have a design on it – this can be a temporary design or a permanent screen, whatever your preference. Matte medium (she was using Liquitex) is then squeegeed through the screen. After the entire cloth is thoroughly dried, the paper is washed out. More information about this process is in the book, “Paper & Metal Leaf Lamination,” which you can get in the US through Jane Dunnewold or in the UK through Committed to Cloth.
Various improvisational screens for printing.
I love looking at art journals, especially when they are crammed with clippings, samples, notes, ideas, and the like. The above journal filled to the brim with various discharging samples and notes.
The point of the Virtual Studio is to expose people to different methods of creating patterened cloth. It’s part of the Festival of Quilts show, meaning once you pay admission to the show, you can hang out at the wet studio for as long as you want. It’s fun watching the artists work, listening to the questions and to the answers. And photos are allowed. And of course there are also books and a DVD or two available to purchase. I bought the latest book from Committed to Cloth, “Screen Printing: Layering Textiles with Colour, Texture & Imagery.” It’s pricey, but good. If creating art cloth is up your alley, be sure to check out what Jane Dunnewold offers.
August 25th, 2009 at 9:38 am
This is so cool. Thank you for sharing these pictures with everyone. Love seeing the process and the energy. I wish we could do this at Festival in Houston!
August 25th, 2009 at 10:24 am
I agree, Jamie, it’s very cool!
August 25th, 2009 at 10:32 am
Oh I am DROOLING with envy and lust and all of that…. if I have enough $$ left after prepping for Houston and paying for my tickets, I may have to order the screen printing book. How big is the table? 4×8 feet ish???? I so seriously want a small wet studio area, and to build a 4×8 table with gutters for dye-run-off. Alas, no faucet in the basement, and hauling water is a pain….. next house?
Thanks SO MUCH for sharing….that last piece of cloth just has me itching to create, cheers, Sarah
August 25th, 2009 at 10:44 am
The tables are 4x8ish, but there are several of them. The room is very large. It’s very cool. I had a great wet room in the basement of our prior house. I loved it. I did tons of fabric down there. The problem was the living area of the house was small. New house has a good living area, but only a partial finished basement. In the next few months, however, the goal is to change things down there. We’ll see.
Anyway, glad you enjoyed the images. When I get home I’ll be putting up more from the show.
August 25th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Oh-oh-oh to be you, Gloria! Thanks for the peek into your trip and this show.
August 25th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Oh Fulvia, you don’t want to be me! I only blog about the good things. In that regard, I’ll be adding more images from the show once I’m home from England.