A rare and previously unseen tapestry by Eileen Mayo DBE has been made into a new large scale tapestry in collaboration with the West Dean Tapestry Studio for a major exhibition opening this season at Towner Eastbourne.
West Dean College of Arts and Conservation has launched an online course Tapestry Weaving – Learn the Basics with Philip Sanderson, West Dean Tapestry Studio Leader and Tutor. This in-depth online course comes with all the materials you need to get started with tapestry weaving. The tapestry course is the latest in a series of new online courses at the College.
During the Covid-19 lockdown, West Dean Tapestry Studio has relocated to the kitchen or loft space of each weaver, and weaving continues - albeit on a much smaller scale. Trainee Weaver Emma Straw has been creating a series of striking small tapestries inspired directly by the Empress of the Insects project that she was working on in the Tapestry Studio before the lockdown. The Tapestry is a translation of a fantastical drawing by Edward James, The Empress of the Insects at her Midsummer Night’s Ball created by James in 1983.
West Dean Tapestry Studio is one of the only professional Tapestry Studios in the UK and has been working with contemporary artists and designers to translate their images into woven tapestry since 1976. The Studio will be taking part in PLATFORM: THREADING FORMS at London Art Fair (22 - 26 January 2020 with Preview 21 January). West Dean’s Master Weaver Designer Philip Sanderson, along with his colleagues will be translating an image The Empress of the Insects drawn by Edward James on June 22, 1983.
