artsbeat Magazine Derbyshire October 2018

Dairy Cow with 5000 used labels & pins

Dairy Cow evolved following the collection of 20,000 used labels, gathered from garments identified as rags. The research was centred around identity and consumerism, also a realisation of how much we need and rely on cattle. The 1.3 metre canvas attracted much media attention and won the £2000 prize at Weston Park Open Exhibition, Shropshire in 2011. It has since been the focus of several solo exhibitions and site specific window installations. 

Dairy Cow has been admired by many, viewers often returning for a second or third viewing to contemplate my technique. I am delighted to say that today Dairy Cow was sold to an extremely happy customer and now resides in a new home in Derbyshire. 

Homespun Australian Designer Edge

Thrilled to be featured in Australian Homespun monthly magazine, June 2017 issue, page 22. 

Homing Pigeon at Cley-next-the-Sea

Norfolk
Window Exhibition of WW1 Homing Pigeon by special invitation. Crabpot Books, High Street, Cley-next-the-Sea, Norfolk. NR25 7RN. Antiquarian and specialist interest in bird books.
22nd October - 18th November (including Remembrance Sunday 13th).

NEWS LETTER August 2016

DERBY MUSEUM
Thank you to those who have visited The Queens portrait at Derby Museum. The exhibition runs until 25th Sept 2016.

FROM SAVILE ROW to WIRKSWORTH FESTIVAL
Exciting news…The Bespoke Merino will be exhibited from 9th – 23rd Sept in the window of AIRR Clothing, 2 Market Pl, Wirksworth, Matlock DE4 4ET.

The Wirksworth Trail weekend is 10th & 11th September, this is when the town comes to life with more than 100 artists showing wonderful art in historic buildings, gardens, courtyards, shop windows and churches. It is a great weekend when you can complete the Art Trail, or just enjoy the town. I will be in and around the shop all weekend with the Merino, pop by to say hello.

WESTON PARK
The WW1 Homing Pigeon was selected for this summer Exhibition, (supported by ACE). Exhibition runs until 30th August 2016 at Weston Park Art Gallery, Shropshire, TF11 8LE.

LONDON
Winston Churchill’s portrait tours to the three bespoke collaborators: -
September 12th - Lock & Co Hatters, 6 St James's St, London. SW1A 1EP
October - Henry Poole & Co, 15 Savile Row, London. W1S 3PJ
November - Turnbull & Asser, 71-72 Jermyn Street, London. SW1Y 6PF

BROMLEY HOUSE LIBRARY COMMISSION
To celebrate 200 years of Bromley House Library, Nottingham, more information to follow. 

MILITARY BOOTS
For those who participated in The Military Boots project by stitching a name.  I have received a few enquiries about purchasing Limited Edition prints of the Boots, please let me know if you are interested and I will forward the details. 

Weston Park Private View 7th Aug 2016

Had a lovely afternoon with Artists and guests at The Granary Art Gallery PV, Shropshire.

The WW1 Homing Pigeon received a lot of interest regarding technique and concept.

Weston Park Fine Art Open

Thank you to Weston Park for selecting the WW1 Homing Pigeon as part of their Fine Art Open Competition. The exhibition runs from 1st - 30th August 2016 at Weston Park Art Gallery, Shropshire, TF11 8LE.

Includes the names of 466 men who lost their lives in WW1. #ACEsupported

LABEL OF SUCCESS Erewash Borough Council

LABEL OF SUCCESS read article here  PAGE 4

An archive of the High Street.

Artist-in-Residence at Erewash Museum 11th September – 31st October 2015. This residency provided an opportunity for me to present a body of work to the specific community that generated the material to produce it. The response was overwhelming and over the seven-week period I received over 600 visitors.

For 15 years I have gathered used labels from local charity shops, unpicking labels from the neck of rag garments. The 30,000 used labels in this collection have all been gathered from the High Street; therefore local residents were once walking around in these garments. This 15-year project proved an excellent way to engage a local audience, both in terms of presenting my work and in supporting their local Museum.

The work allowed visitors to reflect on historic local garment manufacturers such as CHARNOS and DAKS, also shops that no longer occupy the High Street including Burton, Woolworths and Adams. Context lies within the detail of the work. Not only in the design of superseded labels in which we can observe the passage of time, but also in the unexpected detail which tells a story.

The award winning ‘Dairy Cow’ made up of 5,000 used garment labels, was on display in the window at Sue Ryder to accompany the exhibition. At age eight Sue Ryder was given two Jersey cows and subsequently began her own dairy herd, which grew to twenty-four. Young entrepreneur Sue sold the milk and butter from the door and scrubbing her dairy was her favourite job.

What would Sue Ryder think of this Dairy Cow assembled from 5000 used garment labels, all generated through charity donation on the High Street? ‘Dairy Cow’ has been described as ‘an extravagant rescue of fashionable waste’ and in the current global milk crisis offers the viewer a strong sense of community.

Joy Pitts.