No Borders Installation

No Borders Installation at Carlisle Library (seen from beneath)

Wow, I've had such a busy week! As part of Impecunious I've been working on some giant puppets which went down to Chester this weekend, I've been back to James Rennie to finish off the rag-rug piece, I've been doing my 'normal' jobs and I've run a tote bag making workshop. I've also been working with the other artists who were running the other No Borders workshops to install the finished works in Carlisle Library.

View from 1st Floor

This involved figuring out how we were going to display all the individual pieces of work together (which required a lot of coffee and cake) as well as preparing all the individual pieces to be hung and making sure they'd been treated with fire retardant. For me, this involved wiring and then sewing spokes across the top of each of the fabric tubes so that they could be attached to the chains we were using so they would hang nicely. The other workshops had produced small houses, hot air balloons and various umbrella worlds.

Wiring and sewing spokes to support the tubes

Wiring and sewing spokes to support the tubes

We then had a limited amount of time actually in the library to attach all the work to a hanging grid (which hasn't been used in 25 years since the library was built) so we had to really work hard and help each other out. Despite the time pressures it was good to work with the other artists and I think we're all really pleased with the finished installation. At the start of a project like this it is difficult to know how, or even if, it will all work out so when everything comes together and all the hard work pays off there is a great sense of achievement and satisfaction.

Detail

Detail

The most exciting part will be when the participants, who made the actual work, get to see it all installed in a very public place. The work can be seen from outside the library as you approach it through the shopping centre as well as from both floors of the library.

Detail

Detail

This has been a really exciting project to work on, everyone involved has put so much into it and hopefully even more people will get something out of it and be inspired.

Applique and Embroidery Workshops

Selecting motifs

Thursday was the last of my No Borders workshops at Carlisle Library. It was a really nice chilled session and it was great to be able to see the work come together. There are just a few more bits and pieces to finish off and then it can be installed with the work from the other workshops! In the workshops I've been running I have encouraged people to experiment with different fabrics and stitches to create 2D pieces that I have then (with their permission) sewn into cylinders which will hang from the library ceiling. This way, all their work is visible from all sides and because of the movement of air in the building the pieces will gently spin and catch the light.

Work made so far

One of the finished pieces

Set u and ready to stitch

I had all the work done so far taped up in the work-space and it was great to hear people's thoughts on the work so far. I'm very pleased with how the work has come together, and having seen the work from other groups I think the whole ensemble will look fantastic.

Stitching

Applique

I also covered the last of the fabric collage workshops as the artist who has been running them couldn't make this session. The workshops were aimed at older adults and I really enjoyed working with the ladies who came along. I've not got much experience working with this group of people but I thoroughly enjoyed it, they were all really friendly and we had a happy afternoon stitching and chatting away!