IC Projects
Adam Paxon
Spondulitis Neckpiece
Collection: Cleveland International Jewellery, MIMA, UK.
IC:Innovative Craft Blog
The latest developments at IC:Innovative Craft, including contributions from a range of guest contributors:
Of human structures and other collaborations
Posted Tuesday 23 September 2008, 09:25am
Fran Priest, artist, talks to Kate Davies, curator, at the Craft Curators' day, held at Dovecot
Jerwood Contemporary Makers will open at Dovecot on 14 November
Amanda Game writes:
I’m currently spending the hours between going to bed and sleeping (approximately 15 minutes per night) in reading the Charles Leadbeater book We-Think. In a month dominated by news of the failure, or temporary shutdown, of grand scale human structures (Large Hadron Collider; international capitalism), it is reassuring to read positive stories of human structures thriving courtesy of a more collaborative, communitarian approach.
Structures, Leadbeater argues convincingly, at least by page 79, that are encouraged by the opportunities of virtual technologies. Mass innovation not mass production, as the book’s strapline has it. It’s interesting to consider the new Dovecot building in this light. In the past month we have welcomed groups of visitors from schools; German high finance; Scottish historical societies; our neighbours from Edinburgh Council and Edinburgh University; representatives of the Scottish business community, courtesy of the Art and Business reception last week and a group of specialist decorative arts curators from Shetland to East Kilbride.
The latter group joined us today at a Scottish Arts Council-sponsored networking opportunity – it was very stimulating to hear of all the creative projects being quietly steered into existence to celebrate craft and design across the country. On Saturday we end the current crop of exhibitions (last to chance to see them!) with an active participation in Doors Open Day, the Cockburn Association-sponsored celebration of architecture here in Edinburgh. We are particularly delighted to be testing the acoustics of the Weaving Floor with a 53-strong Australian girls choir.
It seems to me that mass collaboration is an active part of Dovecot – a fact that will be reflected yet again in our next pair of exhibitions, Henry Moore Textiles and Jerwood Contemporary Makers, which will open on 14 November. I think Charles Leadbeater might approve.