Reflective Stitch: Time and place in Textile Art
Claire Wellesley-Smith
Batsford
Introducing this title
As humans we all yearn for a place in the world, to know it, to live it, to enjoy it. We long generally, to settle, to ground ourselves in our little plot of this life. Life can be unsettling at times, yet many have found certain practices and rituals to live by to support themselves. In this title, Smith uses personal narratives as well as those experiences by fellow practitioners to outline how the aspects of both time and place can add richness and depth to your own creative practice. Connection comes to the fore in this title, with ideas and suggestions on making out own. Hand stitching is the authors trademark and this will be what you see on the printed page.
Introduction on the author
Claire is a writer, artist and author. She works with many themes, including arts, heritage and well-being. She is the author of two books, also published by Batsford. She works heavily in research practice, which is evidenced in the quality of her outcomes.
The subject matter
You may be familiar with the authors previous books - we have had Slow Stitch, Resilient Stitch - now we have Reflective Stitch. Reflection allows for pause. A chance not to freeze, but plan how to move forward. In this title, the author without calling this a self help or a wellness book, naturally makes space for a better ‘us’ and a better world, a better way of living. Gentle processes are explained, with no hand and fast rules. Some of the ideas surround:
Naturally based dye methods
Couching as hand stitching method
Making a stitch journey
Collecting materials for means of grounding
Subtly if we practice this book, use it for what it is there for, we will be internally crafting ourselves - I believe coming away from reading feeling in a better place.
Selected contents
There are four separated areas - Gathering, Time, Place and Reflection, each lasting around thirty pages.
The last few pages hold a conclusion, the usual credits and list of all the artists who have been involved by the author in the books contents.
I will concentrate on a few of my own highlights.
On page sixteen the author advises us to ‘Start where you are’. We are bombarded by advertising and that extends into our textile practice. The need to visit the shows, an annual offering of colour, light and newness. What about staying home and appreciating the now? We, I know speaking for myself too here are all too keep to push forward, which can be positive, yet negative on our mental state never mind our bank balance. So why not just stop and stare, look around. If you do not have it, okay buy it. But if you have a version but not the exact version, could you use that instead? The inner happiness from familiarity in my own experience can be a rewarding thing in itself.
Connection thematically pervades and permeates the pages of this book, it is there, it is, it is not longed for or tried for. This makes us realise what a natural thing this should be for us. Then when uncertain times come, for example during Covid-19 (see page 19) we will have a safety net to settle within. A community, our tribe.
Page 58 titled ‘Unpicking place’ brings the garden as a source for artistic direction. Nature gives us gifts, we just need time to learn how to use them. Learn more by reading on.
Capturing colour on wool (Page 80 onwards) really inspired me - there are so any gentle suggestions in this book which spark my mind to wander on - no pressures, just nice little thoughts to push at my own making. This leads me to realise how smith really is both a clever artist and teacher - she gives us the ideas, the support, quietly, just enough for us to want to do something about it. She extends ideas which I love, for example with this marking of wool, on page 81 under ‘method’, number 5 bullet point projects the idea of Stitching marks onto the dyed wool of the landscape, to deepen our connection with the piece. Lovely photo here of the piece in its ‘home’ of the flowers it came from.
The conclusion brought a tear to my eye - her writing is very personal and very like hearing an audio narration - yet it never goes too far. Here on this page when talking about the places textiles is observed, she brings to light a few - the ‘urban environment to the difficult spaces of hospital waiting rooms’ - in other words, we are never too ill, too busy for our vision to be uplifted with art and textiles. They make the world a better, more lovable place - wouldn’t you agree?
To purchase
