Welcome to The Craft Edit, where we bring you an insight into what's going on within the craft sector in Scotland.
This month, there are plenty of exhibitions happening that reveal the quality, skill and experimental nature of craft in Scotland. Prestigious awards being given to Scottish makers that are exemplary of the degree of innovation found in contemporary craft and showcases of beautiful Scottish craft are taking place throughout Scotland.
Recognition for Scottish makers
It was fantastic to see Scottish makers nominated for this year’s LOEWE Craft Prize (see our article with jeweller Paul Adie), and we were delighted that Edinburgh College of Art graduate Jennifer Lee won the prestigious award. In Jennifer’s quietly beautiful ceramics, she uses a unique method of incorporating metallic oxides into stoneware clay. This process combined with using traditional coil and pinch methods to build her vessels creates fascinating results. Keep a look out for our upcoming interview with Jennifer soon, and see her work alongside all the LOEWE Craft Prize finalists at the Design Museum, London until Sunday 17 June 2018.
Congratulations to all the makers who were awarded Inches Carr Craft Bursaries this year. Jonathan Pang won the £5000 Inches Carr Craft Bursary, with four more emerging makers awarded £2,500 including textile maker Jane Walker and five more receiving £500. These bursaries are offered to established and emerging makers, who are encouraged to use the bursary to continue producing skilful, innovative work that pushes the boundaries of their discipline or practice. We look forward to seeing new work developed by these outstanding makers.
Kate Haywood (Calla, 2016) / Photography by Ole Akhaj
Nexus: Meetings at the Edge at Kirkcaldy Galleries
A must see exhibition for all craft enthusiasts; this is a showcase of the contemporary makers who are pushing the boundaries of jewellery, silversmithing, textiles and ceramics. Curated by Dr Elizabeth Goring for Fife Contemporary in collaboration with Ruthin Craft Centre, Wales, Nexus: Meetings at the Edge features makers whose works combine outstanding technical skill with ambitious ideas and fresh approaches to traditional craft disciplines.
Included in this exhibition are works by Adi Toch and Michael Brennand-Wood, who you can hear speak at the Craft Scotland Conference in June. We were also excited to see works by makers who feature on our Craft Directory; Andrew Lamb and Ruth Leslie, as well as the work by Lynne MacLachlan that was showcased in Collect 2017.
Rachel Adams (Curtain, 2015. Site-specific installation, British School at Rome. Tie-dyed cotton, 240 x 600cm) / Photography unknown.
Design Exhibition Scotland
Open from on Saturday 12 to Tuesday 15 May at Lyon and Turnbull, Design Exhibition Scotland will champion designers and artists who significantly contribute to Scotland’s growing reputation of being a centre of design excellence. With a broad selection of disciplines and practices being represented in this exhibition, curated by Susanna Beaumont, this is your opportunity to experience the creative excellence that we support and enjoy. Alongside the exhibition, we have partnered with Design Exhibition Scotland to bring DES Debates on Monday 14 May. During these dynamic discussions, you will hear insights from national and international designers and thinkers.
Xpo North: ShiftED
The annual Inverness-based XpoNorth festival, formerly goNORTH, is Scotland's leading creative industries festival. A hotbed of creative activity, the conference and showcase takes place over two exciting and energising days and nights in the Highland capital.
This year during XpoNorth, you can visit ShiftED as it tours to Inverness Museum and Art Gallery from Saturday 19 May to Saturday 21 July 2018. SHIFT is a long-term project that brought together a diverse group of makers from Scotland and Iceland, creating a catalyst for experimentation and discussion on their creative practices, resulting in exhibitions of their work in Inverness, during last year’s XpoNorth and during Design March in Reykjavík in 2017 and in March this year.
We’re fascinated to see the progression of the works of the designer/ makers involved during our visit in June. Scottish makers include; Diggory Brown, Eileen Gatt, Hilary Grant, Julia Smith and Yellow Broom and Icelandic makers; duos Agusta Magnusdóttir and Gustav Johannsson, Guðrún Larusdóttir and Ragna Fróða, as well as Arndís Jóhannsdóttir and Guðný Hafsteinsdóttir.
Felicity Bristow / Photography unknown
GP Journeys in Design: Our Linen Stories
Curated by John Ennis, this exhibition and series of talks at Custom Lane highlight the work of twelve talented designers who use the most sustainable of all textiles, Linen. As part of GP Journeys in Design: Material World series, Our Linen Stories champions and explores the diverse ways that textile makers are using linen. During the exhibition, there will be artist talks with Felicity Bristow and Helena Loerman, as well as the next in a series of Twilight Talks, that will focus on Place-making and Creative Industry.
There’s a lot more going on in craft in Scotland during May, take a look at our What’s on or Opportunities pages to browse or submit an event.
Share your news
We're always on the lookout for the latest in Scottish craft news. If you have any stories you would like to share, send them to hello@craftscotland.org.
