Kaffe Fassett Exhibition 2014 at the American Museum, Bath

The colourful collections of Kaffe Fassett have been on exhibition at the American Museum in Bath all summer, in a detached building set away from the main museum at Claverton Manor.
When I visited in early autumn, the building was partly hidden behind a large tree covered in textile ‘lanterns’ and shrouded in mist. It was a mystical treasure waiting to be discovered.
Entering the building I felt an immediate assault on my senses of COLOUR!
The main theme running through the entire exhibition was colour, colour and more colour detailing the knitting, needlework and patchwork of Kaffe. His mind must be in a constant whirlwind of colour.
Although I found his large pieces stunning and the level of stitch and design involved in their creation fascinating, some of my favourite pieces were his mood board displays, detailing his journey of ideas, from initial inspiration through to the final designs and collections.
Here are some of the photos from the day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poppies at the Tower of London 2014


Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red.
Created by ceramic artist Paul Cummins, with setting by stage designer Tom Piper, 88,246 ceramic poppies have slowly filled the Tower’s famous moat over the summer, the last poppy being planted on the 11th November 2014 as part of the Armistice Remembrance Day. Each poppy representing a British and Commonwealth military fatality during WW1.

I visited on a day when the sun was shining. It was a sight to behold seeing a glinting sea of red. The expanse of the installation is breathtaking and quite moving when one thinks of its significance.

Dismantling of the display will start after Armistice.  A portion of the installation will tour the UK and later go on display at London’s Imperial War Museum. Each poppy has been sold off to raise funds for Service and Military Charities.
Here are some of the images from the Tower of London.

 

 

Each poppy sits on a metal stake, placed firmly in the soft earth
The Wave Display
A glinting Sea of Red

 

 

The second of two Weeping displays

 

One of the two Weeping displays

 

Poppies laid on the ground

 

 

Volunteers laying the last few poppies
Here are some panoramic shots I took.
I wanted to remember the expanse of the display and the huge crowds of people.

 

 

A Day in London at Tate Britain – The long awaited Folk Art Exhibition

I had been waiting for this exhibition for over a year – and I wasn’t disappointed. British Folk Art Exhibition celebrated work covering every medium from textiles, metal, leather, paint to carved wood – some were 18th Century shop signs…. I was in heaven.

Bootmakers sign
Bottle full of lace bobbins
Cockerel made from Bone by French Napoleonic Prisoners of War
Signage painted onto planks of wood
Boody Mosaic from Northumberland
Quilts made from Army uniforms and cottons

The exhibition has now moved to Compton Verney where one of the largest collections of British Folk Art is held.

…Then it was off to the Tate Cafe for a well deserved coffee and cake (my brain was buzzing) – Oh, the Lemon and Clementine Tarte was tasty…. then home.

 

The Spiral staircase near the Cafe
Pimlico Underground Station on the way home