Beauty of basketry
Over 500 people have visited basketmaker Mary Butcher’s studio at the V&A since the start of her Crafts Council and V&A craft residency in July 2009.
The 15 open studio days and three workshops held so far have enabled hundreds of visitors to learn more about the craft of basketry. Open days have allowed visitors to see and handle new work that Mary Butcher has been working on, see the variety of materials she uses, including threads, wires, barks, inner barks and willow, and find out more about her craft. Visitors have also been encouraged to contribute to the 3D visitor’s book Mary Butcher has created; by signing a length of paper string tape that is then knotted to an elegant net piece on the studio wall visitors can record their visit and help create a striking piece of woven art. Mary Butcher will also be exhibiting a new large-scale piece called ‘Drawing on the Collection’ in the foyer of the Sackler Centre from 20 November to January 2010.
In celebration of the residency basketry was also the focus of an exhibition at Origin: the London Craft Fair this year. The Origin Intervention included giant birds-nest structures built on the exterior of the Origin pavilion by Laura Ellen Bacon and a basket walkway covering a corner of the Somerset House courtyard by Lee Dalby. Further striking examples of modern basketry were on display inside the pavilion along with the interactive project ‘Hybrid Basketry’ where over 22,000 visitors could try their hand at basketry.
The craft residency forms part of the Crafts Council’s programme of development for mid-career and established makers. The craft residency is part of the V&A’s Museum Residency Programme which is supported by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.
Mary Butcher’s six-month residency ends in December and includes four more open studio days; 20, 27 November and 5, 6 December, offering the chance to visit the studio of one of the UK’s most prolific and skilled basketmakers.
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For further information and electronic images please contact Jill Read, Press Officer, Crafts Council, Tel: 020 7806 2549 or Email: media@craftscouncil.org.uk
Notes to Editors
• The Museum Residency Programme enables visitors to learn more about the creative process of making work and actively engage in making
• Mary Butcher also developed an Emerging Makers Development Programme with the Crafts Council for new basket makers that ran at the Crafts Council and V&A in November
• Mary Butcher will be teaching a three day course during the V&A Summer School from 14 to 16 July 2010. For more information visit www.vam.ac.uk
• The Crafts Council’s goal is to make the UK the best place to make, see, collect and learn about contemporary craft
11% of the UK population visited a craft exhibition in 20089/09, and 17% participated in craft activity in the same year (DCMS/ACE Taking Part data update August 2009).
We believe that craft plays a dynamic and vigorous role in the UK’s social, economic and cultural life.
We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to make, see, collect and learn about craft.
We believe that the strength of craft lies in its use of traditional and contemporary techniques, ideas and materials to make extraordinary new work.
We believe that the future of craft lies in nurturing talent; children and young people must be able to learn about craft at school and have access to excellent teaching throughout their education.
• For further information about the Crafts Council visit www.craftscouncil.org.uk
• The Crafts Council is supported by Arts Council England. Arts Council England works to get great art to everyone by championing, developing and investing in artistic experiences that enrich people’s lives. As the national development agency for the arts, it supports a range of artistic activities from theatre to music, literature to dance, photography to digital art, and carnival to crafts. Between 2008 and 2011, Arts Council England will invest £1.3 billion of public money from government and a further £0.3 billion from the National Lottery to create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country.
