FoQ 2013 - Part 1

Ok

It's about time I did a little report on FoQ 2013 - but where to start?  For as always, in August Birmingham becomes the centre of the known universe!

Well, actually the decision is quite simple.  It has to be with Through Our Hands - the wonderful gallery of work curated by Annabel Rainbow and Laura Kemshall.

You can read all about Through Our Hands on their website here so I won't go into too much detail.  However I am sure that Annabel and Laura will not mind me sharing their poem with you (it is not clear who penned this - but I do love it.  If anyone knows do let me know).

 “When the flush of a new-born sun fell on Eden’s green and gold,

Our father Adam sat under the tree and scratched with a stick in the mould;

And the first rude sketch that the world had seen was joy to his mighty heart,

Til the Devil whispered behind the leaves, “It’s pretty. But is it Art?"

I was blown away.

On the Sunday I also had the privalege to meet Eszter Bornemisza, a hungarian textile artist who, most intriguingly, used to be a mathematician.

I cannot tell you how much I loved her work.  She was selling a book - a catalogue of her output to 2010 - I bought a copy!

The labelling on the gallery was not wholly clear so I cannot tell you the names of these pieces (not Annabel's fault!) so please just enjoy the work and research Eszter on line (or see if you can also find a copy of the book - it is simply called Bornemisza 2010).

I can tell you a bit about this- recycled papers stitched using soluble fleece or film. 

And of course Annabel was showing a range of her 'Life' quilts.

And she also 'set up her studio' in a corner of the stand - complete with half eaten choccy digestive and a tea bag!   The clutter made me feel better - you should see my creative space (actually I would rather you didn't!)

10 artists were on show, but I must confess that Eszter and Annabel did it for me.  Having said that I will also add these two quilts by Dianne Cevaal (I follow her blog but had not quite appreciated what a respected artist she was - it does not come across in her blog so well).

I would show you more, but I actually did not manage to take so many photos.  I was concentrating so hard on the work.

Of course Laura and Linda also had work showing in the gallery.  I omitted to photo any of it (apologies to them) but they are good at sharing so I suggest you pop over to their own blogs to see some better images.
Laura is here; Linda is here and they are also involved with Six and Friends here.