Louise Dawson
Profile
STATEMENT:
My work is inspired by the 1940s philosophies of “Make Do and Mend,” reinvented with a contemporary twist. The heavy embellishment within my work utilises discarded buttons, washers, nails, broken glass, as well as donated beads, buttons and sequins, along with those that were surplus to other projects. I enjoy subverting the traditional connotations of knitting and felting by embellishing the resulting fabrics with unexpected objects.
The re-occurring themes in my work have developed through a desire to challenge the viewer’s preconceptions about recycling. I aspire to reflect it as a stylish, contemporary way to create something new and individual, encouraging an appreciation for one-off, individual, handcrafted textiles, that are treasured, rather than being discarded as waste when fashion persuades us to buy into the latest trend.
As well as exhibition pieces, I also make textile jewellery, which encompasses the ideas I explore through larger work, becoming pieces of wearable art.
CV:
Louise Dawson
Maldon Essex,
Telephone: 01621 851342 /07907707318
Email: louisekat@tiscali.co.uk
Textile Artist/Designer
Tenant at Cuckoo Farm Studios, Colchester
Education
2005-2008 BA (Hons) Art and Design- (Fashion and Textiles) Colchester School of Art and Design
2004-2005 Diploma in Foundation Studies (Art and Design) Colchester School of Art and Design
Selected Competitions, exhibitions and workshops
* Regularly making jewellery pieces to commission
* Witham Art Trail 3rd-18th July 2010
* Work exhibited in Braintree hospital gallery April 2010- present
* Winter Lights, The Benham Gallery, December 2009
* “Present Arts” at Parndon Mill Gallery, Harlow, December 2009
* Cuckoo Farm Open Studios September 2009
* Exhibited as part of the Slackspace textiles exhibition, September 2009
* Ran a felt jewellery making workshop at Slackspace Colchester, September 2009
* Held a recycling and customisation workshop for sixth form students at The Plume School, Maldon, June/July 2009
* Jewellery exhibited with a graduate collection at Graduate Fashion Week 2009, and in Colchester School of Art and Design fashion show at the Minories, Colchester
* Solo exhibition, titled “Reinvention,” at The Minories Colchester, May 1st-June 12th, 2009
* Selected to exhibit at Courtyard Arts, Hertford, July 2009
* Selected to exhibit at “Design East” April 3rd-5th 2009
* “Threads” Joint exhibition at The Reunion Gallery, Felixstowe, Feb 17th-March 14th
* Exhibited with Colchester School of Art and Design at Premiere Vision, Paris Feb 2009
* “Designer Crafts at The Mall,” selected exhibition with the Society of Designer Craftsmen, Jan 10th-18th, 2009
* Open studios and tenants exhibition in the Benham Gallery at Cuckoo Farm Studios, November 2008
* The Knitting and stitching show, Alexandra Palace, London, October 2008
* Open studios and tenants exhibition in the Benham Gallery at Cuckoo Farm studios, September 2008
* Awarded the Cuckoo Farm Studios Graduate Award 2008- a studio at Cuckoo Farm rent free for a year, £750 and a solo exhibition in 2009
* Awarded Licentiate membership with Merit to The Society of Designer Craftsmen, July 2008
* New Designers, The Business Design Centre, Islington, July 2008
* Colchester School of Art and Design Fashion and Textiles Graduate show, June 2008
* Nominated for Texprint 2008