Category: Art
Illustrator Jack Teagle is just one of the exciting artists who have been commissioned to take part in the first Foundation: Rug Addicts exhibition in the Dray Walk Gallery at the Truman Brewery. He got in touch to tell me about the project:
'11 artists have designed hand knotted rugs, which were woven in Cairo, Eygpt. It's been a great project that has helped out young people, by taking them on as apprentices to give them skills for work that they wouldn't otherwise be able to gain. Here's a photo of my half finished rug.'
Foundation Rug Addicts exhibition Anthony Burrill.
I love prints for the wall but putting artwork to good use can be even more exciting, and rugs provide the perfect surface to display big bold images – something which artist and designers are fast picking up on – Serge Seidlitz featured hand woven rugs in his exhibition Serge vs Spaceship Earth last year. Curators Mark Hanlon and Nick Hartwright have commissioned only one hand-woven rug of each design, which have then been produced on a centuries-old loom process in Egypt, so you'll be paying big prices for these pieces: ironically they may end up on the wall rather than the floor after all.
Featured artists include Anthony Burrill, Paul Insect, Pete Fowler, Present, Tomato, Alexone, Jack Teagle, Natasha Law, No Days Off, Si Scott and Yann Brien. 'These rugs have been a labour of love and have all taken around a year to make; from the creation of the artwork by our artists, to the many months of hand weaving on the looms in Cairo. The carpets will finally land at our exhibition in November. Because of this process each rug has become a unique masterpiece in its own right.' says Mark. 'We work with and support a local charity that helps kids in the slums of Cairo to get off the streets and into education,’ says Nick. ‘A percentage of our profit from every rug we sell goes directly into the project – we use only local, ethically sourced materials – so we wanted to give something back to the community. I’ve worked in the handmade carpet business for many years and the craftsmanship, knowledge and integrity of the loom operators, is second to none.'
This launch event showcases the first of many collections, each of which will feature a range of exciting artists and will make an equally vital contribution to the wellbeing of the communities of the Cairo slums. Find out more on Foundation: Rug Addicts website. The Private View is on Thursday 1st November, 6pm-10.30pm