Explore the rich potential of modern tapestry at new Willis Museum exhibition (From Basingstoke Gazette)
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Explore the rich potential of modern tapestry at new Willis Museum exhibition
1:50pm Monday 21st January 2013 in Leisure
Barbara Rae Fishpool Lacken 2010 credit Antonia Reeve Photography
AN EXCITING exhibition celebrating the rich heritage of Dovecot Studios and their continuing influence on innovative contemporary weaving practice is currently showing at The Willis Museum in Basingstoke.
Over the last century, Edinburgh based Dovecot Studios have produced more than 800 tapestries and rugs, ranging from the more traditional, finely-woven hangings to experimental textile art. Their broad range of visual and technical weaving styles has established Dovecot’s reputation as a world centre for excellence and innovation. Collaboration with the world’s leading artists lies at the very core of the Studio’s work. Dovecot has become renowned for its highly creative collaborations between artist, weaver and commissioner. The weaver interprets, rather than simply translates, a design into textile.
Dovecot Studios were originally founded in 1912 by the Marquess of Bute, a patron of the arts. The first weavers came from William Morris’s Merton Abbey workshop and the first commission was for a series of monumental tapestries for the Marquess’s own home at Mount Stuart on the island of Bute.
In 2012, in celebration of the studios 100 year anniversary, an exhibition curated by Dr Elizabeth Cumming was mounted which was the largest Dovecot tapestry exhibition to be presented in the UK. As the tour comes to a close, The Willis Museum have been fortunate enough to secure a special showing of Dovecot’s more recent works.
The selection presented in Basingstoke represents Dovecot today and the stunning pieces the Studio has co-curated in the last 20 years, offering visitors the opportunity to explore the rich artistic potential of modern tapestry.
On display will be contemporary tapestries and rugs by Elizabeth Blackadder, Alan Davie, Claire Barclay, Barbara Rae and Ian Hamilton Finlay alongside a new 2012 Centenary commission by Sir Peter Blake.
