Not merely empty buildings

Image via Instagram @barrefly

Creativity is widely known to make us feel better, there’s a feeling of joy and fulfilment when you’re making things. I know there is a wealth of creative activity taking place in homes across the world right now, and I'm sure those feelings of wellbeing are helping everyone involved feel a little bit better and stronger.

There’s another side to craft though that I’m really missing, and it’s the social interaction that craft brings. I’ve been in to New Brewery Arts regularly since lockdown to check on the buildings, and it has been hard for me to see everything empty, without all the people who fill our spaces and studios every day. I know many of our regular students see their class as a moment in their social diary as much as a learning experience. From our offices we can hear laughter and chatter coming from the studios. I often say that while we are an organisation that celebrates the importance of craft and creativity, what we are really here for is the people and our community.

I had thought that without the amazing people who come to New Brewery Arts all we would be left with is three empty buildings. But the corona virus shut-down has shown me that even with the buildings empty there’s something else, there is still a community. Each week I have been spending time (via video calls) with the craftspeople from our studios, and with the team of trustees who, now more than ever, support the organisation, I've been chatting to staff on the phone and emailing craftspeople and other organisations about future plans. I've been emailing our community to thank them for their donations of support, and for their kind words that are helping us to get through these difficult times. We might have ‘gone dark’ for a few months, but it’s merely the buildings that we have had to close, not the unique spirit of New Brewery Arts.

And its with that community in mind, with the positive comments from people who want to come back to New Brewery Arts for their social and creative 'fix' that we're making plans for the days when we can all come together again. We're making plans for special events, exhibitions and a whole programme of new and favourite classes to come back to. We’re even developing new ways that New Brewery Arts can help our wider community recover and recuperate when lockdown ends – we don’t know what people may want or need, but we’ll be here to make sure craft and creativity is available to everybody so we can all feel the joy that craft brings.

Beth Alden, CEO
beth@newbreweryarts.org.uk

I think creativity is contagious

Earlier this week I had an online chat with the craftspeople from our studios – I think Zoom is wonderful. Each week we try and make the time to chat and catch up with one-another. What I have noticed is how unstoppable they are, they are continuing to be busy making and doing.

Over Easter LoCo have managed to find time to re-start the furnaces and blow glass in their studio, determined to make work with a conscience, they are taking part in an online exhibition @ArtForCure with 50% of all sales supporting breast cancer charities. You can see what LoCo are working on via their instagram @locostudioglass.

Tracey Elphick is also working hard, today she was at her studio packing up paintings for delivery. Tracey is participating in the #artistssupportpledge scheme via instagram @TraceyElphick. Set up by artist Matthew Burrows, it’s a simple concept of artists supporting one another throughout the coronavirus crisis. Artists are invited to post pictures of their works for sale for £200 or less on instagram, every time an artist makes £1000 in sales they then pledge to plough back £200 on purchasing the work of another artist – all using the hashtag #artistssupportpledge. It’s a great scheme supporting artists in an affordable way.

Daniella is hoping to clear out a shed today – somewhere at the back of the shed is a kiln, and once uncovered she hopes she can start making from home. (fingers crossed the kiln still works). Steve has continued working onsite in his basement studio, with orders to fulfil he’s got his fingers crossed that suppliers are still open so he can keep working. Emily is working from home on commissions and orders.

There’s also lots of ‘non-work’ making going on with the New Brewery Arts studio makers. Dorothy is hoping to support the NHS by sewing scrubs. While Hayley recovers from a severe washing up injury (9 stitches in her thumb) she’s managing to do some behind the scenes work on her website, and Suzanne is itching to paint her house. Then there’s all the family making that’s going on, from Lego to cake baking, drawing, jigsaws, crafting treasure hunts and making jewellery.

Our makers here at New Brewery Arts are amazing and inspiring. I love being surrounded by crafts people, even in these adverse situations they find a way to keep being creative. I think creativity is contagious.

Beth@newbreweryarts.org.uk

The joy of couch potato craft

I have decided to revel in being a couch potato. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to engage with craft, it just means I'm going to consume it from my sofa.

A recent social media post suggested that we all take time for ‘stillness and creativity’ and I couldn’t agree more. There's a plethora of online activities; fitness classes, making, dance. Far from helping my wellbeing, I feel overwhelmed by all this activity.. Rather than add to this noise, this rush to be present online, New Brewery Arts has decided not to produce online videos or classes at the moment. To be honest, we don’t currently have the resources to do this, besides, there is so much great stuff out there already.

How To Make: BBC FOUR

Personally, I’m loving watching craft on TV. On BBC (or via IPlayer) there’s the simply wonderful Repair Shop every Wednesday evening, the Secrets of the Museum which explores the work behind the scenes at the V&A, and now there is the new How to Make with Zoe Laughlin from the Institute of Making; Episode 1 was all about the science, history, future, craft and design of the trainer. And you can re-watch the latest series of the Great Pottery Throwdown via Channel 4’s All Four. Grayson Perry will be starting an Art Club on Channel 4, he’s inviting you to send him images of what you are making #C4ArtClub . The first episode is 8pm, 16th April on Channel 4.

When I’ve had too much TV I’ll read. I have several books that I’ve yet to find the time to read. I’m going to start with ‘The Craftsman’ by Richard Sennett. I’ve been drumming-up interest in a #CraftBookClub via Twitter. My plan is that over the next 12 weeks I’m suggesting four craft books to read; if anybody else wants to read along too I’d be delighted, and we can discuss what we’ve been reading online. Let’s start with ‘Fewer, Better Things’ by Glenn Adamson.

“Things matter. So why are we losing touch with them? Fewer, Better Things invites us to reconnect with the physical world and its objects.”

Many local bookshops are selling online. The Yellow Lighted Bookshop is a a local favourite who have recently launched online, selling to get us all through lock-down and beyond.

And when I can’t keep my eyes open for TV or reading there’s still podcasts to listen to without having to leave the sofa. There are 30 episodes of Material Matters to listen to, hosted by writer and critic Grant Gibson. Material Matters features in-depth interviews with a variety of designers, makers and artists about their relationship with a particular material or technique. There’s an episode with Glenn Adamson talking about Fewer, Better Things.

Maybe in a few weeks' time I’ll feel like being creative, but reading, listening and watching TV is more than enough for me right now.

Beth Alden, CEO
beth@newbreweryarts.org.uk

The Banyan Tree Project for craft wellbeing

Resident maker Dorothy Reglar is a familiar face at New Brewery Arts, having had a studio here for over 30 years. A garment designer whose previous career took her from Bellville Sassoon to designing for royalty and celebrities, Dorothy regularly visits the Far East, working with silk producers, weavers and natural dyers to source her beautiful fabrics but, this year the trip was done for a different reason.

Dorothy visited at the request of Eleanor Viegas, a university friend who had previously lived in Birmingham with her Goan husband, Nuno. Following his sudden death some 23 years ago, Eleanor inherited some land in southern Goa where she decided to build herself a house and has subsequently lived since 2001. From an early age, Eleanor was keenly interested in embroidery, through a teenage enjoyment of clothing design, a Masters in Textiles, and a career as an art teacher. Eleanor' asked Dorothy for her textile experience to assist in planning how the embroideries of the Banyan Tree embroidery project could join to form a coherent finished piece.

Named the Banyan Tree project because of its ability to grow like India’s national tree, a mark of strength and eternal life, the project was initially aimed at creating a panel 4m x 2m. Each woman was asked to embroider a piece of fabric 15cm x 10cm, but its popularity means the finished piece will now be much larger, with more than 300 separate pieces sewn by over 200 women.

Hand embroidery is a skill which traditionally was handed down from generation to generation, and was often to be found on table linen, altar cloths and bed linen. The arrival of the sewing machine heralded the slow decline of hand embroidery, but this project aims to keep those skills alive. The Banyan Tree project aims to connect women from Goa and beyond, of all ages and cultures and continents, through celebrating the skills, creativity and therapeutic benefits of craft.

Dorothy was keen to share the “sheer joy and almost spiritual feeling of a wonderful piece of fabric that transcends the normal”, that she herself has achieved through her work with textiles. From her previous work in the Far East, Dorothy already knows the benefits these women can realise through working together and keeping craft alive; studies in the UK show that people who have participated in textile craft say it has helped them deal with depression and anxiety, given them a sense of belonging and something to look forward to. This is echoed in the comments made by some of the women involved with the Banyan Tree project; sitting quietly embroidering with a group of friends is not only keeping these ancient Indian skills alive, but improving the mental and, ultimately, physical health of a community:

“Embroidery relaxes me and I become totally absorbed. It helps me block out the tension experienced during the day”.

“So many different colours and textures of the thread give me the inspiration and passion to work.”

“Embroidery keeps my mind happy. When the work is complete, I feel a sense of achievement.”

“Doing embroidery has not only helped me forget my problems but it has given me time, solutions and strength to face those problems.”

It is expected that the panel will be hung in the hall of the new Mopa airport in Goa, or in the modern library buildings of Goa’s capital, Panjim.

Dorothy, back from her travels, can be contacted by email.