channelfur

DIamond Jubilee carnival sketches

2012-01-16T10:59:00.004Z

The Badger and the Bear - illustrations

2012-01-10T23:46:00.008Z

The Badger + the Bear
How the Fox got his boot

Badger + Bear's Ferret-Go-Round

Yorkshire Art Loop Exhibition II

2012-01-10T17:40:00.004Z

The Yorkshire Art Loop Exhibition is moving to the Print Workshops in Mirfield. It opens on Thursday 12th Jan. The poster has opening times and dates.

Steampunk Interactive Table Commission - Bradford Industrial Museum

2012-01-05T12:26:00.028Z

My partner Lucas Stephens and I were commissioned to design and make an interactive piece for the Steam Gallery at Bradford Industrial Museum. The initial designs I came up with had a steampunk look and as it turned out the Museum had a Steampunk exhibition in the pipeline so we were asked to complete it in time for the exhibition opening in December. The table has lots of mechanical bits and pieces for people to explore, moving scrolls, a sheep race, drawers and cupboards to look in, secret buttons, spy holes to find and a game to play involving a spinning disc and cards.

The sheep race in action, 'Oves Mira Mechanica' means - Marvellous Mechanical Sheep

We call this contraption the 'Fancy'
The embroidered scroll contains quotes from the mill workers

Austerity measures

2011-12-03T14:34:00.006Z

I have some works in the "6" Cube" exhibition at South Square Gallery.

All works had to be no more than 6 inches long in any direction.

I made some "Austerity Measure" multiples for the show... they have been printed with various hints & tips for coping in the recession; from boiling your own shoes to selling your body organs.

In the spirit of the piece they are a recession busting 3 quid each! (+ p+p) (great stocking filler!) - let me know if you want one...

Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge Centenary Carnival

2011-10-24T20:36:00.018+01:00

Norton Primary were Knights and creatures from the Middlesbrough coat of arms with illuminated headdresses. They each designed their own coat of arms to carry and wear on their chest.

I made lots of embossed metal pieces for the Giant Erimus puppet.
The ladies of Chandi and Apna worked on the coat of arms sections for this float.

Rhythm train drummers as bridge workmen.

Breckon Hall school were fire and flames.

The Kool Kids club were workmen with tool embellished overalls and toolbox lanterns. They also made a giant spanner.

Elementals: Birds

2011-10-06T18:53:00.012+01:00

My embroidered birds sat in a tree before making the journey from Norway to America for the Birds: Elementals exhibition.

Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge Parade - section drawings

2011-08-31T20:47:00.014+01:00

Next Parade is approaching quickly. This time it's to celebrate the 100th birthday of the Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge. It promises to be a fantastic night with a fabulous finale courtesy of Emergency Exit Arts, London who are organising the whole thing. I'm working as one of 5 artists to create the costumes and some of the structures. These are my initial serving suggestions for my groups - workshops start very soon!

these drummers have more than a touch of 'Elvis - the Vegas years' going on...

Basketball youth club mural, Batley

2011-08-29T19:08:00.013+01:00

'Youth club' mural in a park on the edge of central estate in Batley (minimal intervention by actual youths) tho' apparently its sick, which is apparently acceptable - its on a basketball court so its got a basketball bloke on it. It's in Batley so it's got bats on it. Truly the Pan's people of murials! Distinguished mainly by the miracle of it's being finished in spite of persistent rain and frequent visits from mad growling, weeing dogs.

Conspicuous Consumption: eat the rich - embroidered head

2011-08-23T22:40:00.007+01:00

Today was handover day for the Yorkshire Art loop project. I had to hand on my piece to Gillian Holt, a ceramicist who makes beautifully delicate narrative works (you can see her work here). We met in a pub car park for the handover. Quite peculiar going to meet someone I've never met in a car park to hand over a gaudy clown head, bit like the mafia with red noses - anyway I'm wondering what Gillian will be inspired to make... I'm convinced that whatever it is it will be more tasteful than my offering. I felt vaguely embarrassed handing mine over - I'm wishing I'd shaken myself out of uber-bling carnival mode before I'd started.

Now though I need to think about my next projects...something for the 'Made in Bradford" showcase in a couple of weeks time, we're supposed to be putting in one of our (Burnett + Catt) costumes but I'm thinking it would be great to make something new for it.

I'm also thinking about new work for an exhibition "birds: elementals", a project conceived by the very talented Rockpool Candy which promises to be very exciting, and well travelled, as it will be showing in Northern Ireland, USA and New Zealand. Those birds' wings are going to be knackered.

Conspicuous consumption. New work in progress.

2011-08-17T22:30:00.005+01:00

I've been working on a new head..you can certainly tell I'm between carnivals...it's a symphony of bad taste. This one is for an exhibition in Yorkshire in which artists have been asked to respond to another artists work and then pass it on - a kind of visual chain letter.

I received a copper pipe sculpture a couple of weeks ago with some small metal balls inside it. It's reminiscent of those old puzzles where you have to release the balls from a maze. Anyway I had no idea where I would go with it... it's a long way from anything I would do. I was rooting through some fabrics and found an old scarf with a kind of pipework design on it. That started me off ... I added embroidered gold balls...the creature was becoming a joker or trickster of some sort.

Then the riots happened + the news was all about disaffected youth + looting. The disparities between rich + poor are grimmer than they've ever been, we're funding massive bank bailouts to fill the pockets of a tiny percentage of rich people, MPs are looting the public purse to furnish their homes and getting away with it. Meanwhile a kid writing something 'inflammatory' on a social networking site or stealing a bottle of water receives a long custodial sentence. The billionaire 'rich list' is full of the people who own the telecoms companies, the electronics giants, the clothing chains ...the people pushing consumer goods down our throats at every opportunity. I sat looking at my work and the phrase 'down the tubes' kept coming to mind. The head became a 'fool' - 'Eat the rich before they eat us' is tongue in cheek (obviously I'm not inciting cannibalism...). I imagine the rich would taste leathery from sun + botox anyway.

It's not finished. It needs more, more text and frills...

SIRF: Stockton Carnival 2011

2011-08-17T21:40:00.016+01:00

Blanche + Martin, Prism
Soph + Adam, Prism
Norton Primary, peculiar flying things

Dance Fuzion on Stage in the finale
my clown shoes....
my backpack...
dance fuzion - before the parade in the rain

Norton Primary - the grown ups got involved too!
The carnival queen wore one of our (burnett + catt's) creations

SIRF carnival Rosebrook Primary as animal crackers

2011-08-12T18:06:00.009+01:00

Rosebrook Primary in silly animal heads and patterned boiler suits. They carried my pink frilly 'giraffobird" throught the rains of Stockton and looked fab. I especially loved their special 'line dance'!

robot costumes - SIRF carnival, Stockton

2011-08-09T02:29:00.005+01:00

one of my groups in this years SIRF carnival parade - footsteps nursery became flowery wallpaper robots...

Stockton Carnival embroidered banners

2011-07-31T23:58:00.014+01:00

I've been busy sewing banners for the finale area of Stockton Carnival. I decided to work on them in Norway and I'm really pleased I did because I was finally introduced to the wonder of the overlocker! I can't believe I've never tried one before! Fantastic! Anyway - Stockton Carnival is on Saturday 6th August. I'm dusting off a pink wig and an extravagant clown gown for the occasion. There will be over a thousand beautifully costumed people along with dancers, drummers and performers. Keep your fingers crossed for sunshine!

Sign-writing and shamelessly 'putting a bird on it' for Carlisle Business Centre

2011-05-28T23:23:00.009+01:00

I've been working on a commission to create the finishing design touches for the Carlisle Business Centres Cafe Refurb in Manningham. Here are some photos of work in progress. There are also a set of five canvasses that I haven't photographed yet.

Cafe sign, not quite finished - It will have one of the orange wooden birds below applied to it. I was going to get a perfect elipse laser cut but ended up having to draw it out (a pain) and cut it myself (painstaking) with a jigsaw....turned out fine though. My grandfather was an artist but his family couldn't afford to let him take a place at the Royal College because he had 10 brothers and sisters and had to earn a living. For most of his life he did this as a signwriter. I did a bit myself before I went to art college - anyway I really got into this and felt very connected to him as I did it...

I've made two of these wooden faux 'window' blackboard menu boards for the cafe specials and put a shabby paint effect on them. Originally I was going to use old windows but they were just too bulky so I had to make them from scratch.

Close up of the paint effect on the 'windows'. One of these is also going to have an orange bird perched...

I sent for a wooden bird template from ebay thinking I'd save myself time and another jigsawing headache. Anyway the template arrived - it was flimsy and not even the design I'd ordered, a horrid, frilly looking thing, so delicate I broke it taking it out of it's envelope. So I ended up cutting my own from 6mm ply anyway and some chopstick legs - I'm much happier with these simple ones - serves me right for being lazy.

Anyway theres a comedy video (its very funny) doing the rounds of designers and artists about the general over-proliferation of bird motifs on anything and everything. This is my first EVER bird motif (I think)...but I have to say - whats wrong with putting a bird on it anyway?! Birds are lovely, feathery creatures, they're beautifully unisex and cheery. I may start putting more birds on more 'its' :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XM3vWJmpfo

Carnival time again! illustrations for SIRF carnival 2011

2011-05-25T01:07:00.012+01:00

I've been working on my designs for Stockton Carnival. This years theme is 'Dare to Dream' so each artist has a section based on an aspect of dreaming. My section is called 'Dreamscape' and we'll be looking at the more surreal and bizarre aspects of our dreams. I've thought about the way we take the everyday and make it strange or ridiculous. I've come up with some funny, fantastical mixed up creatures , aliens made of household paraphanalia, an army of robots patterned with flowers and flock wallpaper as well as some peculiar clown fish and a giraffe made of sweets. There will also be some drummers performing as living surreal artworks

Sofa Monkey + co in progress

2011-04-11T15:58:00.010+01:00

I've been attempting to reupholster my old 1960's sofa - I've had it for years and it cost the grand sum of 20 quid form a second hand shop. I used to keep it in the studio and many artists over the years have taken their rejuvenating afternoon naps on it! Anyway I took it home when I moved house a few years back and finally got fed up of its muddy green velour, black paint and pancake flat cushion. I stripped the arms and base back to bare wood and bought it a new foam cushion.

My upholstery skills leave a lot to be desired so I'm aiming for quirky, psychedelic flower power over beautifully crafted. I've finished hand-sewing the bottom cushion together and put on some newly covered buttons - it's gone slightly baggy already so I can see myself having to redo it. I've used a mix of new and vintage fabrics patch-worked together with vintage edgings and military braid.

For the back rest I've decided to make a series of faces that will be patched together, again with braid and vintage edging - I've completed a monkey and a bird - I guess I need another 2 or 3 to finish it.

a weekend at home with a Folk Art cupboard + Madame La Snake

2011-03-14T21:30:00.008Z

I spent the weekend daubing a knackered old cupboard in my house with my interpretation of 'Folk Art'...It was surprisingly time consuming, I think I stooped over this for 24 hrs and didn't even paint any motifs to the sides yet. Not to mention the 15 minutes I spent wedged on the staircase by the cupboard while I tried to move its fat carcass downstairs.

A pair of silly looking 'love birds' adapted from a fabric design...
A magpie lurking in a Norwegian tree and my XL sized ginger cat Alex
This door has a cartoon of my , long dead, dog Frodo...and a squirrel that was supposed to be holding an acorn but looks like its doing something else.
I also finished the over embellishment of 'Madame la Snake', my ridiculous bejewelled draft excluder....loosely based on my Great Grandma's, which was even more bejewelled and sequined, pretty much the Mme de Pompadour of draft excluders.

Story Chair. Bradford Library. Morwenna Catt + Lucas Richard Stephens

2011-03-14T07:03:00.003Z

Drawing with Thread Exhibition, Shire Hall Gallery, Stafford

2011-03-11T19:12:00.004Z

I forgot to plug this exhibition! I'm in it, its on at the Shire Hall Gallery in Stafford until May 1st if anyones passing through.

Drawing with Thread

Shire Hall Gallery, Stafford

Start date: 05-Mar-2011
End date: 01-May-2011

A new exhibition featuring work by ten contemporary textile artists will be on show at the Shire Hall Gallery from Saturday March 5 to Sunday May 1.

Drawing with Thread will feature artists who all use thread as a drawing tool in their work. The exhibition will feature a mixture of hand embroidered and machine stitched pieces, collage, 3D work and sculptural pieces - as well as an innovative new installation by award winning artist Debbie Smyth.

Other artists include Caroline Kirton, who produces large scale stitched drawings which chart the ups and down of adolescent life which were recently featured in Embroidery magazine, Morwenna Catt who subverts traditional imagery to create tragic toys and dark fairytales and Trevor Smith, a recent graduate of Birmingham City University whose hand stitched embroideries are hotly tipped to make him a future star of Britain's design industry.

For more information people should contact the Shire Hall Gallery on 01785 278345

Market Square • Stafford • ST16 2LD
Telephone: 01785 278345
Fax: 01785 278327
Minicom: 01785 278345
shirehallgallery@staffordshire.gov.uk

Web site: http://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/sams

Opening Times: Mon - Sat: 9.30am - 5.00pm Tue: 10.00am - 5.00pm, Sun: 1.00pm - 4.00pm

The Shire Hall Gallery is located in the Market Square in the centre of Stafford. Car parks, bus stops and railway station are within 5 minutes walk. Stafford is only 3 miles from the M6 (junction 13 or 14).

Animal Benches, Pupil Referral Unit, Bradford. Morwenna Catt and Lucas Stephens.

2011-03-07T14:33:00.020Z

My first rough sketch for the benches

We worked at the Pupil Referral Unit to produce some benches for their garden. The young people took part in workshops, created their own mosaics and learnt all about the materials and techniques we'd be using on the furniture.

The main structure of the benches was carved with a chainsaw and finished with chisels.

This one is an Owl

A frog...

This started as a floppy eared rabbit....

We decided to use reflectors as eyes so they 'glow' in the dark

A cat..

A bear....each animal has a section of mosaic on its head.

A dog

The animals bite onto the benches to keep them solid.

Race Matters, Youth Group banner workshop, Keighley

2011-03-07T13:36:00.002Z

Vote for me!?

2011-02-15T13:40:00.002Z

I've entered my peacock into the Saatchi showdown. You can vote for me (or against me) here:

http://www.saatchionline.com/showdown/match/showdown/4/artist/533/art/1211015

Echostains blog

2010-12-17T02:10:00.000Z

Some nice words on a good blog

http://echostains.wordpress.com/2010/09/09/art-discovered-and-recovered-morwenna-catt/

Freaks Exhibition

2010-12-14T00:58:00.000Z

Freak Exhibition, Shoreditch opens 9th December

2010-12-06T03:06:00.004Z

I'm making multiples to be sold in the 'Freak' Show shop that accompanies the new Exhibition ( The show opens this Thursday evening: 5pm - 10pm at Shoreditch Town Hall - all welcome.

About the Show:
Freaks and misfits hold a vague and mysterious place inside human consciousness and outside of human comprehension. They can take many forms; a freak of nature, a freak accident or a freak appearance. For centuries freak shows and circuses have fascinated and perplexed the imagination of countless audiences. They show us something which is so close to home but living in a reality so far from what we call normality. These misfits serve as a reminder that our reality is only as concrete as we decide to make it. This exhibition serves to explore the notion of the Freaks and to wholeheartedly engulf its self and viewer into the mysteries of things not quite of this world.
This exhibition displays 35 artist's from around Europe and their visions of what happens when we peer behind the curtain and see the glitches in the makeup of our reality.

Opening Night: Thursday 9th December 5pm - 10pm. All welcome.

Exhibition: 9th - 16th December
open from 10am - 7pm on weekdays and from 10am till 6pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Stockton Christmas Trail. Illustrations.

2010-11-18T18:51:00.012Z

A job illustrating Stockton Sparkles Christmas Market Trail for children.

No.93 - finished canvas, painted at Fjellstad

2010-09-28T21:52:00.008+01:00

No. 91 - so named after the mixed veg and cashew special from Jades Cantonese in the village. I think this is kitsch enough to grace most Chinese Restaurant walls. The finch has a gold leafed beak...details below.

Meanwhile... Stockton: 'Wedding dress' - Burnett + Catt project

2010-08-30T14:52:00.003+01:00

Meanwhile... Stockton - Burnett + Catt project

2010-08-30T14:48:00.002+01:00

A Little Red - ink

2010-06-10T23:01:00.000+01:00

New inks

2010-05-28T13:13:00.003+01:00

Shadow puppets

2010-05-20T23:05:00.008+01:00

Mondays shadow puppet session at Little Horton Primary School with reception and year 2.

Ellar Carr Pupil Referral Unit -painting project

2010-05-13T23:03:00.004+01:00

For the last few weeks I've been doing short sessions with Ellar Carr pupil referral unit. They've been mark making and painting to music. Today was my last session with the 5th and final group - here is some of their work.

just a doodle - mad bird in the wood

2010-05-10T20:48:00.002+01:00

just a doodle using up the inks on the palette left over from my carnival designs ....

Carnival designs

2010-05-10T20:43:00.008+01:00

Its carnival time again! These are my designs for SIRF 2010, Stockton Carnival parade - my section is based around relaxation and leisure - hence the pets + gardening type themes.

And another one from Norway

2010-04-07T08:11:00.002+01:00

Another 'troll' / non specific bird combination - all i know about trolls is that they're supposed to have xmas trees growing out of their heads (tho I may have been misinformed on that too) so I'm daubing like those medieval artists who'd never actually seen a lion (or a non specific bird) but drew one anyway. This tr...oll is avoiding being shat on by wearing what looks eerily like a post-op/ post life Michael Jackson mask.

Painted at Fjellstad

2010-04-06T21:20:00.003+01:00

Gallery II, University of Bradford : Feast for the Eyes exhibition

2009-11-26T22:41:00.005Z

I have a few pieces of work in this exhibition, Handbags for nuns, Black Narcissus Thankas, Grandad Bills chair along with a few other bits and pieces. Its been sumptuously put together by Caroline at the Gallery and is really worth a visit. I took some photos of mine and other artists works at the preview below.

Gallery II, University of Bradford
A Feast for the Eyes
Preview 26 November
Runs 27 Nov - 18 Dec
Mon - Fri, 11 till 5pm, Thurs till 6pm

covetable objects d'art... glass textiles jewellery ceramics painting prints interior decorations

17th century dutch still life meets Harvey Nics!
http://www.brad.ac.uk/gallery

Grassington Festival Curlew Auction

2009-09-01T22:45:00.004+01:00

Our birds from the Grassington Festival public art project (Frieda Curlew and Curlicue) will be auctioned off on Thursday night along with all the other gorgeous birds. See the poster above for details.

Burnett & Catt - Recycled Costume - reposting

2009-08-11T16:29:00.012+01:00

This is a costume constructed of recycled materials which we designed and created between March and May last year (2008). We were pretty proud of it at the time. It was commissioned by a Theatre company, although we were given free rein to interpret the theme as we wished. They use it at events promoting recycling. We thought that we'd come up with a quirky and original idea. The 'powdered' wig is constructed entirely of recycled knits/gloves etc. The dress itself is embroidered carrier bags stitched over recycled fabric. There are all sorts of odd bits and pieces, toys and offcuts of fur etc, nestled amongst the embroidery. Her fans are embroidered carrier bags and detergent bottles. These photos were taken on the night we finished the costume and are taken without the full underskirts so unfortunately its not so easy to catch all the detail in them. This is the probably the most viewed collection of images on the blog, 'recycled costume' being,understandably, a very popular search term. Please see more of our costume and carnival work on my website.

http://www.morwennacatt.co.uk/#/costume-carnival/4535101442

Stockton Carnival Parade 2009 - carnival artist

2009-08-05T01:53:00.035+01:00

I've been really busy for the last few weeks working as a carnival artist on this years Stockton Carnival Parade,apparently its the second biggest in the country. Each of the five artists commissioned was responsible for a section of the parade based around the theme, "Small wonders, Big world". My section was "play" so I had a great time helping my groups with their costumes and structures. Above are a set of toy soldiers from Teeside Positive Action with a very glamorous drag queen 'Crystal Decanter' in a Rainbow Frock stitched by Anthony (just peeking around Crystals shoulder above).

Stockton Parent Support became dancing Snakes and ladders, using a giant Snake and some Ladder backpacks in their routine. They did a fabulous job in the finale.

St Johns Primary School made toy cars and trains, slightly collapsed in the rain which poured for a few hours before and during the parade.

Play Wrensfield made Chess head-dresses and tabards. They also had two King and Queen backpack costumes. The Queen didnt have enough 'hair' fringing so I ended up improvising with some giant rollers.

Play Hardwick were Pacmen and Space Invaders and made some big space invader standards to carry.

Downs Syndrome North East managed to negotiate a giant bear, a huge doll, a smaller bear backback and a large helter skelter covered in sliding teddy bears through a rainy town centre. All while wearing plasterzote bear helmets and blowing bubble guns.

Navrang Arts are a Bollywood dance group that became a flock of Bollywood Birds for the afternoon.

Colouring Outside the Lines Exhibition - preview images

2009-06-26T00:42:00.020+01:00

Images from the exhibition preview this evening.

Images of my Phrenology and Crow works in the show below.

I loved Carolyn Mendelsohn's work (below). The black boxes open to reveal magical lightboxes with accompanying sounds.

Helen Musselwhite is showing incredibly intricate and beautiful papercuts set in bell jars.
I also loved these birds by Abigail Brown, especially the owl...

Colouring Outside the Lines Exhibition

2009-06-22T21:07:00.006+01:00

I have work exhibiting in a group show starting this week:

Colouring Outside the Lines

Friday 26 June - Friday 24 July 2009

Preview: Thursday 25th June. 5pm till 7pm

Gallery open: Monday to Friday, 11am - 5pm and Thursdays until 6pm
Other times by arrangement

This group exhibition showcases contemporary British female artists working beyond the bounds of the cultural mainstream. The Colouring Outside the Lines exhibition is a curatorial collaboration between Rachel Kaye from Gallery II and Melanie Maddison from the fanzine Colouring Outside the Lines, which interviews, promotes, encourages, and inspires contemporary female artists from across the world.

Left to right: Wolf by Morwenna Catt, Sailor Blue (White) by Louise (Art and Ghosts), Hedgerow birds by Helen Musselwhite

http://www.myspace.com/colouringoutsidethelines (external link to MySpace)

Gallery II, University of Bradford, Chesham Building, Bradford, BD7 1DP

http://www.brad.ac.uk/admin/gallery/lines.php (gallery link)

Grassington Festival Curlews - Burnett & Catt

2009-06-22T21:00:00.004+01:00

After the Lord Mayors Carnival Parade and our refreshing hour and a half sleep (!) we went over to Grassington to find our Curlews. It had turned into a lovely sunny afternoon. This is Curlicue and Frida parked in their new homes. There are about 25 curlews dotted around Grassington, all decorated by artists for the festival.

Lord Mayors Parade - final nights work

2009-06-22T20:00:00.009+01:00

We spent the night before the parade constructing the floats. Helpfully, it was really windy and poured with rain for most of the night. By 4am in the morning we were gaffa taping foil to our legs to keep the cold out. The photos are taken as dawn approaches (so a bit dark - like our mood) as we were still feverishly sliding around on the wet floats and up ladders applying ruffles of net and shiny things. We finished at about 5.30 - just in time to get an hour and a halfs sleep before the parade.

If it sits still, give it a ruffle! This is Oscar in the workshop - he used to live in a circus so he's unphased by a bit of frou-frou.

Burnett & Catt - we've been busy, carnival 2009

2009-06-17T03:09:00.019+01:00

We make costumes and floats for the Parade but we're also in it. Duncan will be 'Miss' Milky Way this year - this is him testing out the chopper / wide brimmed flying saucer hat configuration.If you look through the telescope you can see the Earth bobbing around on a bit of wire - just like the real thing...

I'll be navigating the Sun costume through the parade. With its backpack it's about 10 ft tall & has a good 'wingspan' with its cloak rods outstretched so I'm hoping for low winds.

The moon costume is also rodded in the cloak, originally the wearer was going to carry the large moon on a stick seen in an earlier post but it's too difficult to negotiate the cloak rods and the pole so now she'll have a bearer to carry it in front of her.
The 'smash' alien will sit in the moon balloon float, I've given him a potato masher, think the other claw needs a fork and a potato.

Miss Milky Ways dress had to be more minimal cos 'she' has to navigate down the parade route on the telescope bike. We still went to town on the embroidery though.

First and second incarnations of milky ways head dress. We preferred the space ship with the sparkly alien look to the crusty comet above it.

Burnett + Catt - Carnival in progress

2009-06-11T02:47:00.010+01:00

We've started stitching the large costumes for Bradford Lord Mayors Parade, the Sun and Moon are well on their way with ridiculous amounts of embroidery being applied late at night to massive swathes of cloak - wearing silly furry heads relieves the cold and the monotony.....

The sun head dress just needs attaching to its back pack - easier said than done as its about 5ft tall. The little dog behind the pink hammock is Tilly.
Tonight I made a start on the 'Smash' Robot who will sit in the basket of the Moon Balloon float. His eyes are way too small at the moment, probably mirroring our late night 'pisshole in the snow' squints. I think I'll give him a potato masher and some old forks to hold in his claws.

Burnett & Catt - Flight of Fancy - Grassington Festival Curlews

2009-06-01T13:19:00.006+01:00

In honour of the Curlews that flock to Grassington every spring, the festival team have arranged for artists to decorate fibre glass birds to adorn the village throughout the festival. All the birds will be auctioned off at the end. We've had a couple of them nesting in the workshop. This is Curlicue (complete with rollers) and Frieda Curlew (day of the dead), hanging from the workshop ceiling waiting for an extra coat of varnish, all very undignified. They're now fully fledged and waiting to be legged and planted somewhere in Grassington. Please look at the website and see what else is happening at the festival.
http://www.grassington-festival.org.uk

Burnett & Catt - Carnival continued....with a special preview of Miss Milky Ways 'chopper' in progress

2009-06-01T13:08:00.007+01:00

More images from the workshop - 3 weeks to the carnival. We're especially excited about ''Miss Milky Way's" telescopic pushbike in progress - think we're going to have to rethink her crinoline though and maybe go for some diamante cycling shorts.

Burnett & Catt Floats - Moon Balloon & Silly Planets in progress

2009-05-23T01:29:00.007+01:00

Workshop images of the latest work on the carnival. We've been burning the midnight oil making bizarre asteroids and planets for the 'big bang' float and have made a start on the moon balloon float that will transport the 'moon hare' around the parade circuit. The strange dalek looking structures on the second set of pictures are the moon balloons telescopic eyes (one for each side).

Burnett and Catt - workshop images, floats in progress

2009-05-20T17:02:00.003+01:00

work in progress for the Carnival Parade.

Burnett & Catt Lord Mayors Carnival Designs Bradford 2009

2009-05-20T16:35:00.005+01:00

Its Bradford Lord Mayors Carnival on June 20th. This year the theme is Astronomy /space to coincide with International year of Astronomy. Here are our initial drawings for this years floats and costumes. The bottom graphic will be the carnival logo.

Minor Repairs, Exhibition at Brahm Gallery - flyer

2009-04-20T16:13:00.003+01:00

Brahm Gallery Exhibition - Minor Repairs

2009-04-20T15:21:00.012+01:00

I have at new exhibition opening at Brahm Gallery in Leeds on Wednesday. Here's some new textile work which will be in the show. Will hopefully get some better shots when the work is hung.

Burnett & Catt, Primrose High School campaign workshop

2009-04-20T15:13:00.006+01:00

We spent a day at Primrose High School in Leeds working on a campaign of the students choice. The day was organised by Thackeray Museum. Our group were fantastic and chose to make a piece about bullying. They worked really hard and produced a huge wall piece / installation with some large scale aticulated 'puppets'. We're converting their work into poster sections and hopefully these will be displayed in the museum soon.

Holmfirth Tiger mosaic images

2009-04-20T14:47:00.002+01:00

The Holmfirth mosaic telling the story of Fenella the tiger was unveiled last week. I made it to the opening. It was a lovely do with circus cakes and tiger shaped helium balloons although I failed miserably to get any decent photos of the finished piece. So here are some sectional shots of it before I delivered it.

Poison Exhibition at Cartwright Hall Art Gallery

2009-02-23T17:26:00.005Z

10 March - 13 September 2009

Poison: Morwenna Catt

All toys earn scars from children’s careless love, but these bunnies tell stories of more purposeful abuse. Provoking adult empathy Catt’s Tim Burton esque stuffed toys are explained in her ‘Poison’ series of acrylic and hand stitched canvases.

Morwenna Catt was a prize-winner of the recent Flesh exhibition held at the Yorkshire Craft Gallery. Late opening night Friday 17 April.

Cartwright Hall Art Gallery
Lister Park
Bradford
BD9 4NS

telephone 01274 431212

Opening Times

Tuesday - Saturday 10am - 5pm Sunday 1 - 5pm Closed: Mondays

http://www.bradfordmuseums.org/cartwrighthall/

Holmfirth Project, Fenella the Tiger

2009-02-18T21:07:00.010Z

I'm working on a project with Huddersfield Arts and Libraries to produce a piece of artwork for the interior of Holmfirth Library based on Fenella the Tiger. Fenella moved to Holmfirth when the Second World war broke out. She was brought to England by a circus family and lived in their house like an oversized house cat, she was best mates with a carthorse and liked a walk round Holmfirth being patted by the local kids and a nice bag of chips from the local chippy. So far I've I've worked with the reception and year 1 classes at Holmfirth Primary School to produce their own mosaic called 'tiger tales' to put on the wall in their school. The children became tigers for an afternoon and photos of their tigery faces will be used behind glass as a border in the larger piece I'm making for the library. Theres a rough sketch of the piece I'm producing above, it combines mosaic, photographs and painting. At the top theres a photo of Fenella lounging on her favourite sofa.

Burnett & Catt - Middleton Youth Inclusion Murals

2009-02-03T19:36:00.004Z

Burnett & Catt project with Middleton Youth Inclusion, Leeds. We worked with local teenagers from Middleton to produce five 8ft by 4ft paintings on panels to cheer up the exterior of the centre. The results are above.

Projekt Dodai images - Burnett & Catt

2009-01-03T21:25:00.005Z

A composite of images of artist works from the Projekt Dodai Exhibition, Ljubljana and (top) our Burnett & Catt stitched print exhibit. Further details of the exhibition in a previous post. Please click on the link to participate.
http://www.brida.si

New work for exhibition - Unit 9 Artists Collective

2008-12-17T21:23:00.009Z

New work for the Xmas group show by Unit 9 Artists Collective. Each artist from Unit 9 produced new work which created a domestic interior. I made 'Grandad Bob's Chair' - an armchair dedicated to my Great Grandfather who died on Christmas day a few years ago. I've embroidered all my small memories of him on the chair, realising as I did it how little I actually knew about him. I also made him a pair of embroidered 'China' dogs for the mantle. The exhibition is at Unit 9 from the 6th to the 21st December.
http://www.southsquarecentre.co.uk/index.php?/centre/units/2/

Burnett & Catt - participating in Project DoDai at Škuc Gallery, Ljubljana

2008-12-17T19:19:00.004Z

Project DoDai

Project conceived and coordinated by BridA/ Sendi Mango, Tom Kerševan, Jurij Pavlica, Cesare Pietroiusti & Alenka Gregorič.

Artists: Elena Bajo, Dafne Boggeri, BridA / Sendi Mango, Tom Keršvan, Jurij Pavlica, Morwenna Catt / Duncan Burnett, Beatrice Crastini, Vuk Ćosić, Emilio Fantin, Dušan Kirbiš, Warren Neidich, Luigi Negro, Sally Noall, Giancarlo Norese, Slobodan Peladić, Cesare Pietroiusti, Therese Sunngren, Miha Štrukelj, Giorgio Valvassori, Marcela Vanzo,

The project is on from December 17, 2008 till January 13, 2009 at Galerija Škuc and you can also contribute to the project at http://www.brida.si.

You are kindly invited to attend the closing of an exhibition on Tuesday, January 13 at 8 pm. 2009 at Galerija Škuc.

Irrespective of the hysteria of the last few months of the financial crisis, which is imbuing all pores of economic, political and social life, of all the guessing about how the situation which has arisen is going to impact upon the different spheres of our lives, the present exhibition provides, when speaking about art and its market orientation in the Slovenian space, the résumé, respectively, the result of the confrontation of the views of the various actors within the domain of modern art and its market orientation - a pressing theme also within the local space during the last few years. We have initiated the creation of the project together with the artists of the BridA group (Sendi Mango, Tom Kerševan, and Jurij Pavlica) about a year ago; however, the initial steps of the project were aiming at completely different goals. Our discussions, in which the artist of Italian origin, Cesare Pietroiusti (with whom Galerija Škuc has already worked), has been taking part upon the ulterior invitation of the artist, were most frequently focused in particular at questions focused on the marketing of the modern art, the advantages and weaknesses generated by the latter, and where Slovenian art has been located in this context.

In particular, the view from outside, where we can expose the point of view of Pietroiusti in the actual communication, who not only is not acquainted with the specificities of the Slovenian (non-)market of modern art, but is so much more acquainted with the specificities of the far more advanced Italian market, and whose practice is founded just on anti-marketing oriented artistic production, has well installed the course and implementation of the exhibit project DoDai - Add. First of all, the discussions generated questions about so-called "art" tourism, the production mechanisms, as well as the positive and negative market outcomes concerning modern art. We have established parallels between great international manifestations of modern art – biennale, triennial, document (“grand tour” - from Venice via Muenster and Kassel to Basel) to the juxta-position with trade fairs, which (at least some of them) strongly parry to the spectacle of the large non-market manifestations of modern art. We have not searched for great answers with which we could draw a conclusion and write down what is right and what is wrong, better or worse, more or less harmful, authentically binding for modern art’s production. Just the opposite, the answers have launched new questions and dilemmas, which have not however been presenting any novelty in the local environment, and even less in the international environment.

Likewise the question of audience, respectively the general public, played an important part in the creation of the exhibition project, that is, the part of the system which should present to every acting subject in the public sphere one of the most important articles of our activity. If the general public does not play an important part, then we should ask ourselves why should we act in public, why should we spend public financial assets, and why should we conduct our activities in public premises? Nevertheless, the most important audience of modern art is the general public, who are being encouraged by artists through their works and using the means of various artistic methods and practices, to reflect, respectively, confront everyday routine. If this factor is not in the forefront of the activities of a modern art public institution, then quite soon we can approach the logics of commercial galleries, whose principal motivational power is capital in the hands of a handful of individuals who provide for the survival of these premises.

For some people the presentation, assuming the image of a public gallery presentation, is rather simple, perhaps even naive and non-spectacular. And this is just about it. We did not wish the seeming spectacle, which should dictate answers to pressing issues, but we were searching for the way in which we could address, respectively, encourage the general public in the best possible manner to take an active part in the project via the internet, by visiting galleries, thus contributing through the means of such general public engagement to the designed final form.

For this reason the artists of the BridA group and Cesare Pietroiusti invited about twenty artists from different countries who they have made friends with, respectively, whose artistic work they are acquainted with and respect, and consequently wish to present to the general public. For this reason the exhibited works have no conceptual framework through which we could expose questions or theses; there is only one moment uniting these works – the works in the gallery as those contained in the website are waiting for the audience to respond with comments, interpretation, critique, or any other personal effusion. There is no financial reward for writing, yet there is a possibility that the artist either from enthusiasm, or from any other personal impulse, will gift his work to the writer of text, who according to his opinion will touch the core of his work. The social capital of an individual is the only component by means of which the project operates, since it is going to be a guideline for the possibility of possessing the artistic work presented in the gallery. The writer of the best texts following the judgment of the artists, the majority of whom will participate in the closing event, will be gifted with the works of artists without ceremonies and speeches on the last day of the exhibition.

The decision, however, is the exclusive right of the artist and therefore the works might not pass to another owner and will return to the artist's ateliers, cabinets, shelves, hard discs, etc.

Alenka Gregorič

Project is supported by Ministry of Culture of Republic of Slovenia and City Council Ljubljana-Cultural department.

For further information contact Alenka Gregorič on + 386 1 251 65 40 or galerija.skuc@guest.arnes.si.

Cartwright Hall Table commission / Early Years workshops

2008-12-06T12:59:00.006Z

Images of artwork produced in workshops with early years children at Cartwright Hall Gallery and Museum a few weeks ago. Work was based on the museums glass collection. I was commissioned to make a table which could be used for activities by children visiting the space (pictured above). It has glass mosaic inserts, traceable sections for drawing & wipe clean perspex inserts that the children can draw onto and wipe off.

Saatchi online critics choice

2008-10-13T10:36:00.002+01:00

MORWENNA CATT: SAATCHI ONLINE CRITIC'S CHOICE BY ANA FINEL HONIGMAN

As my mother would say: Morwenna Catt is "not a happy bunny." Nor are the embroidered cloth rabbit sculptures she makes in order to 'take recognizable artefacts and tales from childhood and subvert them into something malformed, battered and bruised; to evoke that darker side of childhood experience.'Like the anthropomorphised playthings children clutch, Catt's rabbit heads are more human than animal. They have long floppy ears but human sculls and basic, pretty, feminine features. They also are covered in ragged embroidery, resembling elaborate tattoos or bruises.
All beloved toys earn scars from children's careless love. But these bunnies' debased appearance belies more malevolent and purposeful abuse than the normal wear and tear. Catt's stuffed toys provoke adultempathy. And she explains the bunnies' sad sagas in her 'Poison' series of acrylic and hand stitching canvases. In these Tim Burton-like paintings, Catt establishes the bloody, tragic back-story for her stuffed toys' trauma.
More common is the mildly distressingly, yet still disillusioning, childhood experience Catt evokes in her series of X-ray photograph-on-light-box works. In these, she exposes the corrupted innards of stuffed animals, as they might appear when passing through an airport X-ray. Children traveling are often upset when separated from a cherished stuffed toy, whose trip into the X-ray underscores its existence as an inanimate object different from its empathetic owner. Airport security searches toys for drugs, weapons and other counter band but Catt's toys contain messages aimed at the adults who tamper with children and childhood symbols. One such horsey hides a key and padlock, along with the words "betrayal," in its belly. Here, as in her other work, Catt's creatures' pain is palpable but as inarticulate and heartbreaking as all childhood hurts.

Ana Finel Honigman

ANA FINEL HONIGMAN is a critic, PhD candidate in art history at Oxford University and Senior London Correspondent for the Saatchi Gallery's online magazine. She is Style.com's Arts correspondent, Arts Editor of Alef, a Berlin correspondent for asmallworld.net and contributes regularly to such publications as Artforum.com, Art in America,TANK, Dazed & Confused, Sleek and British Vogue.

http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/blogon/2008/10/saatchi_online_critics_choice_23.php

carnivore

2008-09-30T01:24:00.008+01:00

New Painting (120cm x 120cm) - not the finished version but in the top photo it's nearly in its present state. Bit different from my usual - a combination of 70's polaroid, wallpaper and fangs. Now its finished it reminds me, maybe too much, of those snooker playing dog prints.

New Painting - Weeping Woman

2008-07-31T06:34:00.004+01:00

I haven't painted for ages and it probably shows. This is a new stitched painting - currently in the Unit 9 Gallery group show till the 26th August.

Burnett & Catt - Bradford Lord Mayors Parade

2008-07-31T05:46:00.016+01:00

Bradford Lord Mayors carnival parade

music costume

music float

Tea & cakes float

Madame Flotsam recycled costume

Tea Djinn & float

The Love, Dance, Art, Friendship Float

Some of our costumes.

The Tea Djinn

Jackie from Q20 Theatre in the paintbrush gown

We've (Burnett & Catt) made floats and costumes for the Bradford Lord Mayors Parade for the last 3 years. This years parade was in June - photos by fantastic Bradford based photographer Tim Smith, please see his website at the link below - there's some really stunning work there.

http://www.timsmithphotos.com/site.html

Ship of Fools - new work for exhibition

2008-06-01T18:19:00.004+01:00

This is my piece for the 'ship of fools, ship of hope' exhibition at Yarra Sculpture galley in Australia. Artists were sent a simple plastic boat in kit form and asked to respond to the theme (see previous post for details of the exhibition). Mine is a military camoflage textile boat, the sail is stitched from sections of military safety slide film found on a skip.

Ship of Fools - exhibition

2008-06-01T18:02:00.005+01:00

ship of fools
ship of hope
one world

curated by Julie Collins
Trish Semple - Northern Ireland
Roxanne Brousseau-Felio - Canada
Michael Markham - Canada
Marsha Pels, - USA
Yvonne Kendall - Germany (ex Australia)
Cliff Burtt - Washington, USA
(ex Austraila)
John Kelly, Ireland (ex Australia)
Julie Collins - Australia
Derek John - Australia
Lea Tomson - Estonia
Frederic Boulleaux - France
Martine Kaczynski - USA
Jack Fisher - USA
Shana Kohnstamm - USA
Morwenna Catt - England
Kelly Strachura - USA
Ralph Essex - England
Jessica Levy - Ireland
[OD]: Rui Aço, Fernando Vidal,
Freitas Cruz– Portugal
Pennie Steel - Australia
Anette Kristiansen, - Norway
Lucas Richard Stephens - Norway
_8_0_8_
Sandra Minchin - Ireland
MonTana - Netherlands
Patricia Sea - Germany
Helen Masacz - England
Srdjan Markovic - Serbia
Takaki Hashimoto - Japan
Louise Gains - Wales
Elizabeth Presa - Australia
Lee Boyd - Ireland
Otto Holler Druckgrafik - Germany

OPENING WEDNESDAY 18 JUNE 2008 6-8PM
EXHIBITION 18 JUNE - 6 JULY 2008
YARRA SCULPTURE GALLERY
117 VERE STREET ABBOTSFORD 3067
MELWAYS REF:10K
OPENING HOURS WED-SUN 12 - 5.30
TELEPHONE 9419 6177

INFO@YARRASCULPTURESPACE.COM.AU
YARRASCULPTURESPACE.COM.AU

YARRA SCULPTURE GALLERY
Presents

SHIP OF FOOLS
SHIP OF HOPE
ONE WORLD
Gallery 1,2 & 3
35 Artists from 13 countries respond
to global warming.
Many international artists are courtesy of spreadart.net
To partake in the interactive forum during opening
email rsvp-virtual-state@8-o-8.org
Curated by Julie Collins

Burnett & Catt - Recycled Costume Commission

2008-05-05T00:55:00.010+01:00

Burnett & Catt: Finished Recycled Costume commission. 'Powdered Wig' made of recycled knits. The dress, cuffs and fans are recycled polythene bags, sweet wrappers, soft toys and other assorted rubbish, embroidered and stitched.

Mr Tumnus Head dress For Narnia

2008-05-05T00:39:00.003+01:00

Finished Mr Tumnus head-dress commissioned for Narnia Production.

Burnett & Catt - Head-dress for Ice Queen

2008-04-05T02:39:00.003+01:00

A last minute commission from a Theatre Company to deliver by Sunday. Head-dresses for Narnia Ice Queen and Mr Tumnus. Tumnus isnt complete yet and Ice Queen may become a little more bejewelled tommorrow. We're sleeping on it.

Phrenology (grandma) old enough to know better

2008-04-05T02:09:00.004+01:00

The third phrenology head from the Red Riding Hood trio - terrible photographs unfortunately, taken in bad light before I took it to New York. The three have been to Scope Art Fair now and are now on exhibit at Jack the Pelican in Brooklyn.

Fibreart review of 'Pricked'

2008-03-22T01:18:00.004Z

American Textile Art magazine 'Fiberart' review of Pricked:Extreme Embroidery. Click on the image to enlarge text.

Phrenology - (Red Riding Hood) Small Enough to be Eaten

2008-03-22T00:49:00.006Z

The second head in the new Phrenology series of 3 for Scope Art Fair in New York.I'm taking the heads to New York myself on Monday so now I'll have a chance to see the rest of the exhibits. Will post photos when I get back.

Phrenology - (Wolf) Big Enough to Eat You

2008-03-20T04:27:00.007Z

This is the first in a new series of Phrenology pieces. This one is based on a wolf, the other two in this new set are rabbits. I'm adding final details to the others but will post them soon. I'm working against the clock - but hopefully these will be showing at the Scope Art Fair in New York with Gallery 'Jack the Pelican Presents'. The first Phrenology series will also be transferring to 'Jack the Pelican' when the 'Pricked: Extreme Embroidery' exhibition closes on the 28th of April

'we make money not art'

2008-03-17T20:06:00.003Z

Just a quickie. I love the 'we make money not art' website and they've just done a great review of the 'Pricked: Extreme Embroidery' exhibition. Please click to see the review and have a look around the fantastic site.
http://www.we-make-money-not-art.com/archives/2008/03/pricked-extreme-embroidery.php

scraps for phrenology

2008-03-12T22:56:00.003Z

I'm working on another set of phrenology heads - each head is stitched into and appliqued with printed texts and images from my sketchbooks. This is part of a set of sketchbook pages I'm using for the current work.

Burnett & Catt recycled costume commission - designs

2008-03-11T18:49:00.005Z

We've been commissioned to design a new costume made of recycled materials to help promote recycling. This is the initial design sheet. Its based on a late Baroque Madame Pompadour/ Marie-Antoinette style character with a powdered wig created from old knitwear. The main part of the gown to be created from used carriers and foil packaging, embroidered and woven onto
a fabric backing. The shape of the dress is based loosely on tree roots - carrier bags wrapped around a padded framework of spiralling curls. The bodice can be heavily stitched and patterned. The wings to be attached to fibre rods, we're imagining a loose and delicate filigree of stitched plastics. The gown to be sleeveless but finished with a set of heavily embellished bands at the forearm and a sash of flowers created from plastics (bottle bottoms/ carriers etc). A pair of fans will finish the outfit and enable the actor to create shape and character. As far as possible we will will limit the palette, we're imagining white with greens and maybe a touch of purple / blue, but this really depends on what materials we find. There is also scope to create little creatures, birds/ butterflies etc, and hide them within the wig and folds of the dress to add interest. We'd aim to make the costume look sumptous and baroque, with closer inspection revealing the nature of the materials used to create it.

sheep unveiling

2008-03-02T02:22:00.008Z

The sheep was unveiled today. We had a clown, a band, donkeys and the deputy Mayor came to do the honours in her jewellery, releasing helium balloons to a countdown. Even the sun came out! The council produced some sustainable sheep shopping bags to hand out to the crowd - 'a very ewesful bag'.

public art - installing the sheep

2008-02-28T00:17:00.013Z

The sheep is being installed in the town centre. Its a tight deadline as the unveiling is this Saturday the 1st of March. So far we've had freezing temperatures, gale force winds, torrential rain and the odd earthquake, along with various cuts, bruises, aches and pains, coffee burns and a cement filled eye. If whoever it is in charge of the weather happens to glance at this tonight can we have a few days of sun please? There's been alot of interest from the public - alot of good comments and a few bad - including concerns that we're planting a devil opposite woolies. Anyway there are a few photos above of the last couple of weeks progress. Some shots of the iron umbrella from its beginnings in the Old Forge Foundry through to its welding into the site. A detail of the mosaic before the mesh was applied to the plinth and fantastic support artist Kath who's been out in all weathers.

Public Art Project in Progress (Sheep)

2008-01-05T22:37:00.002Z

These images show the development of a current project to create a sculpture for a town centre space. Last year I was commissioned to undertake the consultation with the general public and make sure that local people had a say in the final piece. The local community decided on a sheep sculpture in stone, with a realistic/comic element and the final theme was voted on as - a shopping sheep. Later I was commissioned to design and create the final piece. Anyway the pictures show a few of the stages of the design process - from sketchbook roughs through to my maquette to it's current stage, also pictured is the life size version in clay which will be used to create the mould for the cast stone to be fabricated locally by Martin Bond.

pricked: extreme embroidery exhibition pictures

2007-12-31T01:32:00.000Z

Well I didnt take many photos at the opening and when I went back the next day I was only allowed to photograph my own work in situ. But here are a few snaps anyway - and a link to a review in the New York Times.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/28/arts/design/28embr.html

Myartpace Interview link

2007-11-19T11:05:00.001Z

I'm back from New York - it was a great experience and i took pictures of the Pricked: Extreme Embroidery exhibition. Can't post images here at the moment though as my own computer is in storage till I move house. Meanwhile though, I was interviewed by myartspace - the interview is at this address:

http://www.myartspace.com/blog/2007/11/art-space-talk-morwenna-catt.html

Pricked: Extreme Embroidery

2007-10-30T21:22:00.000Z

Still not having any chance to update my blog but I'm showing my Phenology Heads as part of the Pricked: Extreme Embroidery exhibition at The Museum of Arts & Design, 40 West 53rd St, New York. The show opens on the 8th November and runs until the 9th March 2008.

Please see press release below:

Samplers, table cloths, tea towels, and party dresses often spring to mind when the word “embroidery” is invoked, but the forty international artists highlighted in Pricked: Extreme Embroidery tell a very different story. Pricked is the Museum of Arts & Design’s latest exploration into how centuries-old handcraft traditions are rejuvenated in the mainstream of contemporary art and design. The artists are both men and women from 12 countries as diverse as Transylvania, Egypt, Wales, Mexico and the Netherlands, as well as the U.S. Chosen to showcase the diversity of approaches to this standard needleworking technique, the works in Pricked: Extreme Embroidery also convey powerful and personal content that ranges from subjective dreams and diaries to controversial politics in today’s world. The works are individually arresting, provocative, satirical, and humorous.
Pricked Extreme Embroidery follows the success and international acclaim of the Museum’s exhibition Radical Lace & Subversive Knitting, which premiered earlier this year at MAD and is now on an extensive tour to other art museums. Like Radical Lace, this new exhibition is poised to change the way the public views the contemporary evolution of an ancient art.
Works by artists of the caliber of Maira Kalman and Elaine Reichek are shown alongside works by emerging artists such as Andrea Deszo of Transylvania, who records aphorisms and warnings received from her Transylvania mother in a series titled “My Mother Claimed That…” In addition, works by designers such as Mattia Bonetti document the use of embroidery techniques in the sphere of design.
In addition to fibrous materials like cotton and wool, artists and designers employ the unexpected ranging from stone to digital prints to human hair and skin. A North Carolina artist, Nava Lubelski, explores the contradictory activities of spoiling and mending by stitching over spills, stains and rips she finds on tablecloths, napkins, and canvas. The artist uses canvas stretchers as her embroidery loop, and the wooden strips are often visible through the mended tears.
The artists in Pricked use embroidery as a means to reflect, both internally, and on the outside world. Dutch artist Tilleke Schwarz stitches the subconscious; dreamlike scenarios, fleeting thoughts, and imaginative imagery recorded on cloth. In Fast Machine, 2006, Benji Whalen embroiders tattoos onto a wall-mounted, stuffed arm. For the exhibition, the artist has created a large installation of hanging tattooed arms, each with imagery alluding to alternative culture and art.
The exhibition is accompanied by an illustrated, full-color catalogue published by MAD that includes an essay by chief curator, David McFadden; illustrations of works by each artist, along with short biographies; and an index. For more information about ordering the catalogue, please call The Store at 212-956-3535 x157.

art for nothing - Slovenia

2007-09-22T10:58:00.001+01:00

Art for Nothing

Square Bevkov trg in Nova Gorica

on Saturday, 29 September 2007, 11 am

The BridA Art Collective from Šempas, the Art Gallery »Mestna Galerija Nova Gorica« and SGP Gorica d.d., in collaboration with the Hoxton Square Gallery (London, UK), are organizing a special art event, ART FOR NOTHING, which will take place in the Square Bevkov trg in Nova Gorica on Saturday, 29 September 2007, 11 am.

ART FOR NOTHING is the second in a series of events that the Hoxton Square Gallery is planning to put in place throughout Europe. The first of these events was held in London in June of 2007.

On the initiative of the BridA Art Collective, the next event is to be held in Slovenia at the end of September. More than 30 artists from Slovenia, Italy, Great Britain, Ireland and Germany will gather together in the Square Bevkov trg in Nova Gorica to give away their works of art free to passers-by.

The event will mark the 10th Anniversary of the Art Gallery »Mestna galerija Nova Gorica« and the 10th Anniversary of the BridA Art Collective. The construction company SGP Gorica d.d. has established its important role in the town over the past 50 years. The company's new administration board has decided to contribute to the higher quality of life in the town by supporting this event.

The organisers are donating to the town and its inhabitants this interesting project, in which artists will be creating their works in a public place, and will be giving them away to passers-by for free. (Performances, fine art, etc.)

Altogether, there will be more than 30 participating artists from 6 countries present in the Square Bevkov trg.

Slovenia:

BridA (Sendi Mango, Tom Kerševan, Jurij Pavlica, Klemen Brun)

Gaja Zornada

Žiga Koritnik

Jernej Forbici

Helena Angelski

Jure Poša

Blaž Erzetič

Breda Čuk

Maja Zorec

Nataša Šiško

Metja Stritmar

Andrej Mivšek
Vedran Vražalić

Bojana Križanec
Jadranka Ivačič
Kristina Kompan

ARWA (group for experimental motion)

United Kingdom:

Kirsty Harris

Dawn Kolpin

Richard Maddalena

Morwenna Catt

Duncan Burnett

Lyndsay Officer

Loz Taylor

Sally Noall

Stuart Robinson

David Porter

Teresa Mills

North Ireland:

Lee Boyd

Canada:

Roxanne Brousseau-Felio

Germany:

Otto Holler

Pedi Matthies

Italy:

Katia Ceccarelli - Koshka

Marina Brumat

Marica Vicari

Denis Tomasini

Michele Lugnan

sows ears - carnival boar in progress

2007-09-02T00:45:00.001+01:00

I started making the boars head for the carnival - still loads to do - in desperate need of fibre rods so i can get on with the 'dancing ' body part of the thing.

carnival 2007 sketches - its all deeply symbolic!

2007-08-20T00:19:00.000+01:00

I havent posted on here for ages because I havent had time for my own work in between projects. Life isn't all rabbits and stitched mouths you know! (unfortunately). Anyway - at the moment we're (Burnett and Catt) busy working on this years Bradford Carnival Parade, themed appropriately (but not necessarily usefully) on 100 years of Bradford Lord Mayors. So with a distinct lack of miserable sketches to sling up - heres a few sketches of floats we'll be constructing - and a tongueless boar (it is deeply symbolic in Bradford!) as a kind of dancing dragon type thing. Really looking forward to making that one. We're also making some big build costumes - a very glamorous stork and a magician with golden knitting needles - knitting a new Bradford from the ashes of the old! (see him clicking his needles above)