Keep up to date here with our recently added fabrics and latest BQFW news.
December 09
Pictures from the exhibition: Fabrication
The September exhibition and auction came and went swiftly, after (what felt like) months of steep learning as the project took shape. The things people made with pieces of fabric printed at the workshop were so imaginative, varied and well made far beyond what I could have asked for. Those who came to the auction entered into the spirit of the occasion, most expertly cajoled by John Anderson who conducted the sale.
The whole event was supported by the Arts Team in Gateshead, their cultural volunteers and by trusty friends who opened and closed the exhibition on a daily basis for 2 weeks. Would we do it again
? There's a possibility!
Recycle and Revamp Day
During the exhibition, Bqfw also ran a Recycle and Revamp day people brought a variety of items to be fettled and patched lampshades, tapestry, chairs, quilts and piano stools. The weather was glorious so we pitched a small marquee (itself in need of a patch) outside the workshop and spilled out of doors. A young man from Bill Quay made biscuits and cakes for tea and we did much problem solving and mending, with the occasional brew up.
Doing things because we want to
One of these things was the Gaza fabric piece which is a celebration of Palestinian colours and techniques which involved around 10 people over several months. The piece was sold at the auction and raised £340 which went towards the work of the Durham Palestine Education trust, which sponsors 2 university places each year.
A banner for the Wave march ( London December 5th) was printed at Bqfw by 3 young people working with the Platform2 project a collaboration between Christian Aid and BUNAC. The message read:
Platform2 Change here 4 Climate justice
It's often the hardest thing, when making a banner, to agree on the words and I take my hat off to Lizzie and Chris and Frankie who thought it through and had it written out in the time it took to make a cup of tea!
What next?
It's been a busy year, a happy exploration of what the workshop can do not always very focussed on marketing and sales, which is an area that needs working at rather than avoiding. To that end, we are starting with changes to the products pages that will reflect the variety of fabrics that have been printed at Bqfw both the House design Star pattern and the occasional Artists fabric pieces.
There will also be a Tea towel page as these have proved to be a form of light relief after printing one's way along 10m of fabric. Designs are printed in short runs (about 25 -30) , inspired by all kinds of things even brought to us by others! We have been selling tea towels at 5 shows/events this year and, from early in the New Year, we will be able to sell through the website. These changes show what has been done and what can be made - to commission, or as a collaboration and what can be accommodated within the workshop space outside, too, if the weather is wonderful.
10/08/09
Long silences...
Apologies! it's simply that the path to the website is unfamiliar territory and needs a navigator - with Paul Whitlock's skills now to hand perhaps we'll get our heads up more often and post a picture!
Most work this year has come with commissions (see below for examples) reprints of house fabric as well as new design have gone to hang in London, Glastonbury and Newcastle.
5 lengths of Fabric were also hung in the lofty Armoury at Brancepeth Castle in Co Durham during the Summer Fair – seeing a piece of fabric (which has been made with one's nose inches from it for days on end!) from a distance with its pattern running up a tall wall is a good way of letting it go and find its own place to live – only I hope not everything we print needs a castle to reside in!
There have been three work experience students at Bqfw over the summer which has been a pleasure as they bring with them news of the latest trends and techniques, but adapt willingly to the slow tech ways of the workshop.
Below right two A level students get to grips with the jigsaw method of laying out Jan Pienkowski's Zoo design (below left) ahead of the printing of the Giraffe. What we learned from Jan's design is that the 'spaces' in-between are as crucial to the design as the shapes which make it up and give it a name hope that makes sense!
Dates for your diary...
September 5th - 18th
Exhibition and Auction
To celebrate the first year in the life of the workshop, artists makers and friends are collaborating on an applied arts project by taking a piece of fabric and building it in to something of their own making. Alternately, some have created a design to be printed at Bill Quay.
Those involved so far work in a variety of ways with wood, words, threads, fabrics, books, ceramics, recycled materials. Some have been working for years and some are just considering what to do for a living all are making something to exhibit and auction in September.
Pieces will be on show at the Bridge gallery in the very new Gateshead College, Baltic Campus with a few scattered in public places across Gateshead and Newcastle.
Exhibition dates are September 5th - 18th, culminating with the auction at 7pm on Friday 18th. The gallery will be open between 12noon 6pm weekdays and 10am 12noon on Saturdays.
From August 20 there will be an online catalogue on our website, through which you are welcome to leave an early Email bid: workshop@bqfw.co.uk
Last bids accepted for inclusion in the auction by 5pm on September 17th
Please feel free to download and display a poster (A4 pdf).
September 12th 10am - 3pm
Recycle and Revamp Workshop
There will also be a workshop day at Bill Quay to Recycle and Revamp some tired, old but still loved household objects, furniture or garments. Artists with various skills and tools will be on hand to help with the revival. Free fabric remnants, bits and pieces of stuff, with the opportunity to buy some Bqfw fabrics! Bring a packed lunch but there will be good refreshments in between.
Cost per person (places limited to 10) £10 book through the Workshop
Email: workshop@bqfw.co.uk Tel: 0191 421 1503
14/12/08
Sample books
Back to marketing... and we are making sample books of fabrics to place with people and shops, as well as to send out into the world to be passed from place to place by travellers on foot, by train, ship or plane!
13/12/08
Late November... more cooking in the workshop!
Northern Cultural skills partnership brought together a collection of artists and businessy, funding and cultural sector people to work out how creative arts people have to be to operate and survive in times when money is tight. Innovation was a much used word, and it was manifest, along with resourcefulness, calm forethought and love of cooking, in the way Mike Hirst produced a sit down supper for 15 people in the back of a print workshop.
10/12/08
Girls print workshop
Having been stuck in the quagmire of marketing for weeks, October half term brought some fun and variety back into the workshop. Five students at various stages of arts courses came to print fabrics for 4 days. The place was festooned with colourful cloths drying from every ledge and hook. We also baked some bread and had large lunches. The smallest hands did some button sorting we're still finding nests of them hidden in odd places.
| © Bill Quay Fabric Workshop | Design by Michael Mortimer | Photography by Steve Conlan |
