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Free Family Crafts: New Ashgate Summer Workshops in Gostrey Meadow

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Date/Time

Sunday 30 July 2023 - Monday 31 July 2023 - 12.00 - 17.00

Location

Gostrey Meadow

We believe in providing High Quality Crafts and a skill developing experience to all. In partnership with the Farnham Town Council, we are delighted to present an exciting drop-in craft programme this summer, including the following events:

Coronation Cross Stitch with Jane Browne at the Corotation celebration, 6 May, 12-5

Participants will creating a cross stitch coronation themed motif. For instance, a crown or Union Jack. All materials will be provided and finished pieces can be taken home in a box.

Jane Browne was selected as the Surrey Artist of the Year in October 2022 by the New Ashgate Gallery in partnership with the Surrey Artists Open Studios and Contemporary Art Fairs. Jane is a Farnham based textile artist who uses a great variety of different yarns, mainly wool but also cotton, linen and rafia, blending thick and thin, course and fine together to gather the effect. Jane studied at the West Surrey College of Art & Design (now University for the Creative Arts) specialising in tapestry weaving. She was taught by the late eminent tapestry weaver Archie Brennan and Jane is now an art educator herself.

Textile Card Winding Mandals with Charlotte Karin at Music in the Meadow, 28 May, 3-5

We will be creating colourful yarn wrapped mandalas from left-over yarn and materials that would otherwise end up in landfill. Gostrey Meadow; the materiality and colour from plants and Farnham in Bloom will also be our inspiration. We will use a variety of supplied and found materials to wrap, in geometric ways, round a circular disk to achieve a mandala, a dream catcher or a star like creation to hang against the light to produce ever-changing shadows and shapes or to be used as a decorative piece of artwork.

Charlotte Karin is a designer specialising in woven constructed textiles. She lives locally and has a degree from the UCA Farnham. Charlotte’s work explores a sense of harmony between contemporary aesthetics and the natural world creating timeless, sustainable, transitioning textile art.

Textile Collage with Natural Dye and Eco Fabrics with Charlotte Karin at Sustainability Festival, 11 June, 12-5

We explore vibrant colours through nature, making collages with different materials and creating small vibrant fabric compositions to take home. We will learn about natural colour, recognising the plants and fruit can be used to extract colour form – some of these plants can be found around Farnham during Farnham in Bloom.

Charlotte will prepare dye baths in advance and will provide a range of fabrics for the children to play with. The children are welcome to bring old fabrics, including T-shirts, tote bags or tea towels. Each child can choose which technique to explore from tie dye/shibori, dip dye and eco print methods. Some of these might take some time to dry however they can be admired almost instantly and will dry quickly in the sun.

The World of Weaving with Elizabeth Murton at Proms and Pop in the Park, 25 June, 12-5

This workshop is an introduction to weaving on a basic cardboard tapestry loom. We will learn about the history of weaving and fibre: how we have woven since the stone age, and what yarns would have been traditionally used (instead of cotton) which are more eco-friendly. Each participant will be shown how to warp up a loom, and then how to weave (under/over) so they can continue at home. The finished piece could be a small wall hanging.

For the finale of the day – all will be invited to take part in being part of a ‘Giant Weave’ performance where they can try the actions of the loom. The fabric will become the warp and weft. The performance is subject to a non-rainy weather and min. 6 participants.

Elizabeth Murton’s art practice explores the stories we tell ourselves to make sense of our complicated and awe-inspiring world – whether through religion, philosophy, or science. The work reveals the dynamic nature of life’s entanglements through abstract drawings and sculptures. She is currently a fellow at Digswell Arts but grew up in Farnham. Elizabeth has always interested in weaving as part of the Farnham Craft Town historically and current activity. In the 16th and 17th Century, Farnham the wool cloth industry was important for the town. The Roman Villa found in Farnham would have had weaving, too. New Ashgate and Craft Study Centre are known for their world class textile exhibitions. There is a spinning wheel in the Museum of Farnham (used to spin yarn like wool and flax) that we will refer to.

Musical Note Cross Stitch with Jane Browne at Music in the Meadow, 20 August, 3-5

Participants will be creating a small cross stitch motif, for instance, a musical note. Colourful yarns will be supplied along with all other materials. Motifs can be taken home in a box.

HOW TO TAKE PART:

All craft activities take place in Gostrey Meadow as part of the Farnham Town Council’s events and festivals. The address is Weyside, Farnham GU9 7RH.

Neither booking nor previous craft experience is required. Admission is free. A parent or a guardian will be asked to attend with the child / children.

New Ashgate workshops are supported by South Street Trust and Farnham Town Council.

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