Cloth 100 Artists
Contemporary and Heritage Techniques
Lena Corwin
Abrams
Background information on the author
Corwin is defined on any search as a ‘visual artist’. She works and has an interest in many mediums, this book showcases this via its multi topic contents. She has studied both design, fashion and arts practice - again this shows through this publication. She is also the author of several other titles, all covering one big topic, such as printmaking or the idea of making with ones’ hands. She unselfishly enlightens us to other artists who represent the subject well of whatever topic she is covering.
My first thoughts
Due to this books in my mind ‘coffee table’ vibe, I was not expecting the inner content to have projects as well as artist profiles….so if that is my first thought…what is next? Read on…
Content and style
To make this review, I am working off a download of the book, so I cannot comment on the size, layout or stye of the actual hardback book. So this time I am looking at the content only.
I just love the organisation of this book, it has all the visuals of a coffee table, ‘let’s be proud’ interior design book or such like. Yet this one is a ninja, as it has all the content any good textile arts book will have, yet in such a royal format. This is in my eyes, a book to be proud of.
That was a very general thought, however as to the detailed layout and what you will come across, there are four big sections, each on a different topic and all having two projects in each. So there are eight active projects in total.
Other parts of the book - an introduction section and ending.
Projects
The ones taught in this book are so approachable.
For example in the section under the title Print and Dye, there is a project under the theme of tea dyeing.
The simple nature of the projects, links in well with the quiet, restrained and what I would call ‘intelligent’ art which illustrates this title.
Artists involved
They are all ones’ who really create work either founded on heritage or reinventing the culture etc. Corwin has endeavoured to break barriers in country, gender and race and even history - no judgements here!
In her introduction, she is open about her own values and what she has tried to focus on. Family and our own history is such a part of our lives and if we lead an arts life too and love it for all it is worth, the whole 360 of our lives gets knotted together, woven and combined. So often in this title you will learn about the artist themselves as well as the art they make or are known for.
At the beginning of the four main sections, I should add that attention has been given to describe the methods we will learn about and are used by the artists for that particular area. For example, in the section for sewing, we learn what they can be, its traditional value, its culture, it’s style.
Final thought
The author should be proud of this publication. It sits with flair, yet is not fancy or flimsy in value; it may have all the looks from the outside of being just a beautiful cover, yet this author has done something not often achieved in my mind - married the aesthetically pleasing with the intelligent.
This is no lightweight.