The Challenge


Stephanie Tristam on behalf of Shetland College of Textiles and Design, Lerwick
project Partner to On the Edge 18.12.01
www.ontheedgeresearch.org

 


"Makers ⁄ Knitters are important to Shetland and are about what Shetland is in a social and cultural sense. We are interested in valuing tradition, using traditional methods but with contemporary materials bringing about a transformation so that we become more aware."

 
The artist's response


Susan Benn, Director of Performing Arts Labs (PAL)
www.pallabs.org

 


"As the Director of PAL I create, with lots of other people, an environment in which new thinking and ways of working happen through collective chemistry, It is what I call ‘the pressure cooker’ factor. Certainly in the beginning there is a lot of discomfort and dislocation that make people ask questions about their practice, about their place in the group, their core values as a person.

The collaboration with Shetland College aims to bring contemporary hand and machine knitters of the Shetland Islands together with a group of artists and academics, from a range of disciplines, to stimulate new work and new ways of working. This creativity should extend into the building of appropriate infrastructure so that new works find viable markets through the support of organisations such as Shetland Enterprise Company.”

 

What has happened?
The Maakin Lab (Maakin - Shetlandic for making and is synonymous with knitting)

  • Individual participants from Shetland and further afield were nominated by Maggie Marr, Stephanie Tristam, Susan Benn and the On the Edge research team, including lace knitters, traditional hand and machine knitters, representatives of the craft sector, education as well as artists and designers interested in the issues.

    People were selected on the basis of the experience and skills they could bring to the lab and an interest in developing their own work through the shared experience of the lab. The skills included creativity in art, craft and design; technical knowledge and skills; knowledge of the industry; knowledge and skill transfer through education, cultural and historical knowledge of Shetland knitting and practice-led research in art and design.

  • An eight day residential pilot lab took place 16–23 May 2003 at Burrastow House in Walls then at the Department of Design and Textiles, Shetland College, Lerwick. A range of ideas emerged to be further developed, produced, exhibited, published and marketed.


  • The Lab participants met together again in 3rd September 03 and 16th and 17th Febuary 04 to reflect on the experience and plan the next stages.


  • The ongoing development of prototype ideas, ranging from knitted garments to an educational resource for use in education, continues. (link to lab outcomes).
 
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