Michelle Griffiths

DESCRIBE YOUR APPROACH TO TEACHING

Michelle is an enthusiastic and energetic teacher, utilising hands on samples and digital images to support students understanding and knowledge of both contemporary and traditional shibori techniques. Techniques are demonstrated and described in detail with reference to extensive notes which are presented to students throughout the course. Reference books and textile samples are also available to support further study. Students are encouraged to take an experimental approach once they have gained a basic understanding of the techniques involved.

WHAT WILL STUDENTS GAIN IF THEY COME ON ONE OF YOUR COURSES?

Students will develop an understanding/knowledge of a wide variety of traditional and contemporary shibori techniques, accompanied by some understanding of the history of the development of the technique. For those studying “Shibori For Pattern” they should develop a good working knowledge and understanding of indigo dyeing. Hopefully students will gain a passion for all things shibori.

ARE THERE ANY PARTICULAR TECHNIQUES/PROCESSES YOU USE IN YOUR TEACHING?

Shibori is the Japanese term for what we recognise on the high street as “tie-dye”. Contemporary 3D garments also use the same basic shibori techniques. A broad range of shibori techniques are covered on these courses utilising stitching, binding, gathering, manipulating and folding methods either for shibori texture or for shibori pattern with indigo dye. Where indigo dye is involved students will gain the experience of working with an indigo vat.

WHAT INSPIRES YOUR OWN WORK?

The main body of my fine art work lies within her Endogenous Series. Endogenous, meaning ‘from within’, refers to my own Endogenous Depression, but also to the act of giving my inner-most feelings a physical form. This series of sculptures has become the means by which I externalise my continuing battle with depression. Whilst the sculptures represent my inner self, bound by the constraints of depression, their inherent purity and beauty are a testament to the new confidence and inner peace I have gained through my art. The act of hand stitching and binding the fabric is as important to me as the resulting sculpture. The concept of “the hand healing the mind” is a significant aspect of my work; the repetitive rhythmical action of stitching or binding the cloth being a meditative one. The creation of the latest piece in this series Foetal Position provides me with a virtual safe haven where I may imagine myself curled-up in a foetal position when unable to face the day. Cross Pollination series has not only been inspired by images of flower heads, seed pods, and magnified pollen (pollen images generously loaned by the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and the Danforth Plant Science Center, Missouri, USA), but also represent a single frozen moment in time as the Arimatsu artisans of Japan bind their cloth in execution of the Kumo Shibori pattern (Spiderweb pattern). My work records the actions found within shibori; stitching, binding, gathering, manipulating and folding - not through the expected dye process, but purely as texture and form. It was whilst in Japan as part of my Embroiderers' Guild mature scholarship studies (May/June 2002) that I first observed the artisans who had spent their entire lives manipulating cloth prior to its being dyed. As a trained musician, I was fascinated to see that the repetitive shibori actions were not only represented on the cloth as pattern and texture, but were also imprinted upon the artisans hands and minds. I wished to learn more about these traditional techniques in order that these skills would not be lost with the passing generations, whilst at the same time developing my own personal shibori vocabulary suitable for the 21st Century. The new “Anti-Gravity” and “BubbleWraps” ranges of textile jewellery and wearables explores contemporary shibori techniques in conjunction with modern fabrics.

WHERE CAN STUDENTS SEE EXAMPLES OF YOUR WORK?

Flickr: Michelle Griffiths Shibori Facebook : Michelle Griffiths and on my website

WHERE DID YOU GAIN YOUR TRAINING/EXPERIENCE? (INCLUDE ANY QUALIFICATIONS)

Embroiderer's Guild Scholarship (2001) Supporting shibori study tour in Japan Extensive shibori studies in Uk, Japan and America City & Guilds Dressmaking B. Mus Hons, David Lloyd Prize (1988) Post Graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) (1989) Dame Oliver Wheeler Prize For Education (1989)

WHAT TEACHING EXPERIENCE HAVE YOU HAD?

Guest lecturer/artist University of Wales Institute Cardiff, Contemporary Textile Practice Degree - “Live - 2nd year project” (2008) Part time tutor, Visual Arts Department, International Baccalaureate College - Atlantic College, St Donats Castle, South Wales, specializing in surface design (2001 – 2007) Visiting tutor/lecturer to a variety of colleges, schools and textile guilds throughout the UK including: - West Wales School of the Arts, Carmarthen / Swansea Metropolitan University / Embroiderer's Guild Headquarters, Hampton Court Palace / Embroiderer's Guild and the Guild of Weavers Spinners & Dyers Summer Schools Facilitator/co-ordinator of workshops by Aranya Natural Dyes (India), and Hiroshi Murase (Japan) at the International Quilt Festival and Knitting & Stitching Shows (2006) Chief juror (UK) and co-ordinator for the juried graduate/undergraduate international “Design Shibori” competition hosted by Ecole Nationale Superiere des Arts Decoratifs, Paris and Takeda Company exhibition facilities Arimatsu, Nagoya 2008 Instigator, co-ordinator and curator of the “Shibori Road” at the National Festival of Quilts, Birmingham NEC on behalf of World Shibori Network (2005 - 2007) Curator of World Shibori Network exhibits at the Knitting & Stitching Show exhibitions Alexandra Palace London, International Halls Harrogate, RDS Dublin (2002 – 2007) Assistant curator to Yoshiko Wada responsible for three major exhibitions integral to the International Shibori Symposium – Europe Tactile Dimensions (International Exhibition) / Shibori Community of Japan / Shibori in the UK - Alexandra Palace, London / RDS, Dublin / International Halls, Harrogate Six years experience as Head of Music Department in Secondary Education.

IS YOUR WORK IN ANY PUBLIC OR PRIVATE COLLECTIONS?

National Botanic Gardens of Wales Private Collections

HAVE YOU WRITTEN ANY BOOKS/HAD ARTICLES PUBLISHED?

Dathlu deng mlynedd/Celebrating Ten Years Fibre Art Wales 1999-09 2009 Published with Arts Council of Wales funding (MG pp28-31) GCSE Design & Technology – Textiles Technology 2009 Lonsdale Essentials Revision Guide (MG pp58,94) Arimatsu Shibori, Kozo Takeda and Yoshiko Wada (publ. Graphic-sha, Japan) 2008 MG featured international contemporary shibori artist (p149) Chemins de couleurs teintures et motifs du monde 2008 Published by musee du quai Branly – Francoise Cousin curator of textiles. To coincide with International Shibori Symposium (p172) Crefft Issue 121 Cross Pollination (p9) Aug/Oct 2007 Shibori - Textile Catalysts Tama Arts University, Tokyo Japan 2005 “Visions in Textiles” From Tradition to Textile Art/Design of Tomorrow 2005 European Textile Network juried exhibition - Izmir Turkey(front/back covers, pp 5, 56, 151) Embroidery Magazine. Article on children's international shibori project May 2005 Selvedge Magazine Issue 2 – The Architecture Issue Sept/Oct 2004 Image of “Endogenous V”used to illustrate Returning To The Fold by Bradley Quinn (p61) Senshoku Alpha Magazine (Japan) Feature article on MG and her work Aug 2003 Textile Forum Magazine (ETN) image of MG’s work & a summary of her role at the symposium March 2003 Embroidery Magazine Memory On Cloth (Yoshiko Wada) – published review by MG Nov 2002 Embroidery Magazine Arimatsu Shibori - Article by MG Nov 2002 Computer Textile Design Group Magazine Article by Michelle Griffiths and Mark Cleghorn Oct 2001 Creating Contemporary Images To Aid Promotion Of Work (Incl. front cover.) World Of Embroidery Magazine Article featuring MG & Embroiderers’ Guild Scholarship 2001 Sept 2001 ‘Fibre Visions’ co-editor on behalf of Fibre Art Wales 2001

DO YOU BELONG TO ANY PROFFESSIONAL GROUPS/SOCIETIES?

World Shibori Network Representative (UK/Ireland) Fibre Art Wales (Chair) Embroiderer's Guild.