On Saturday we were delighted to invite local weaver Agnis Smallwood into the Archive to talk about her practice, her collaborations with Sunny Bank Mills and her passion for sharing her weaving knowledge with others. This was the inaugural event in our new ‘Weaving Voices’ programme here in the Archive.
Funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, for which we are incredibly grateful, Weaving Voices presents a series of events over the next 12 months presenting talks by people from varying backgrounds, artists, historians, digital creators and more but with one thing in common – they have all been inspired by the Archive. The programme aims to prove that the Archive is not just dusty old stuff!
Agnis intertwined and made connections between her work and objects within the Archive as well as a weaving demonstration explaining how the loom works and the process of weaving, bringing the loom to life.
She gave us an insight into her Woven World, how weaving offers limitless possibilities when weave structure, colour and fibre choice are intertwined together.
She shared the inspiration behind her own collections of work, both for exhibition as well as products for home interiors and wearable accessories, and how at the heart of her work is her obsession with colour. Agnis’ love of the traditional technique of weaving is woven throughout the projects she curates and delivers.
Agnis brought lots of samples of her work and generously allowed us to get really hands on with it. We were also able to have a go at weaving and spinning with a drop spindle.
After the talk everyone was free to wander and explore the Archive and see for themselves how much it has to offer proving the point thats its not just old stuff!
If you would like to attend some of the other ‘Weaving Voices’ events be sure to visit the Collection at Eventbrite here where you can book tickets. At present we have events confirmed until March 2023, with more to be added soon. So whether you want to find out how the Archive has influenced glass blowers or digital media artists watch this space!
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