Getting to grips with basketry

Susan Early in her studio

Our Kickstart placement Charis, was asked to choose a workshop she’d like to do. This blog post is her reflection on the workshop and the craft.

”Basketry is (can you guess?) the process of making baskets.  

It is an ancient craft, and one that has a history in most countries around the world. For centuries, people crafted baskets from strong, pliable native plants; bamboo, grasses and willow were common choices. The type of material then informed which techniques could be applied: looping, knotting, plaiting, coiling, weaving, twining or assembling. These vessels were a convenient way to contain, store and transport goods. Quicker and more reliable to make than clay pots, they were a household essential. 

The fact that we no longer need woven vessels does not detract from the joy of making and owning them. Basketry is a rewarding craft which engages the senses and connects you to the world and a rich heritage; or at least that’s how I felt. 

My willow basket

I recently tried willow weaving with Susan Early here at New Brewery Arts. Susan has been making baskets and sculptures for over 30 years. she is an enthusiastic and encouraging tutor, which is why we ask her back year after year.  

Needless to say, this was no exception; it was a fantastic day. After the initial under-the-breath counting of ‘over two under one, over two under one', I was able to succumb to the movement and allow my mind to wander. I transfixed by the colours; the reds, greens, purples and yellows. I got lost in the smell, reminiscent of picnics by the Sandwich Quay as a child. Unanticipated but very welcome was the almost immediate uplifting of my well-being. I’m someone who thrives on seeing results, and my basket came together quite quickly. Having achieved such a bygone skill made me feel oddly self-sufficient. I don’t imagine I’ll be making the switch from tote bags to willow baskets to do my shopping any time soon, but it’s nice to know I could. And it was freeing to think that I was creating something that wouldn’t become a drain on the planet – may help it, even. By the time my basket is old and broken, it can join the compost and feed back into the earth. 

Stories of homelessness

Today is World Homeless Day and at New Brewery Arts we believe that housing is a basic human right. Unfortunately it is not always treated as such. The problem with common misconceptions about what homelessness is and looks like, is that it generally places greater value on the economy than human life. Homelessness isn’t an economic problem. It is absolutely a social one. 

There’s a stigma around homelessness, a belief that it is the result of – to put it nicely – poorly prioritized life choices. The fact is, homelessness can be the result of many different factors: a decline in health, an unexpected bill, a death in the family, eviction because a landlord wants to sell; in these instances, homelessness looks like staying in temporary accommodation, booking a B&B or hostel or sofa-surfing. 

When COVID hit, there was a rise in homelessness. Lockdown measures to stop the spread of the virus, meant people didn’t have the option to sofa-surf with friends and family. Thankfully, a forward thinking, proactive solution quickly emerged: what if we open up the otherwise-closed hotels to people made homeless due to the pandemic?  

Throughout lockdown, as part of the ‘Everybody In’ initiative, New Brewery Arts offered The Barrel Store to individuals and families negatively affected by the pandemic. By providing a temporary home, we could help alleviate some of the stress associated with becoming homeless. It was a creative solution – but temporary. 

Creative thinking is something we need if we hope to motivate substantial, long-term social change. Shoes Have Names, our upcoming exhibition for early 2022, was inspired by this very concern - thinking creatively to change perceptions of homelessness. Housing and homelessness charity Shelter joined forces with conceptual fashion designer Jo Cope to create Shoes Have Names as part of London Craft Week in October 2020 at their wonderful flagship Shelter Boutique shop in Coal Drops Yard.

Elisabeth Thorsen - Missie’s story
Shoes Have Names

Shoes Have Names features a collection of handmade artworks inspired by the personal experiences of real people facing homelessness. Ten international artists, shoemakers and designers were paired up with a person that Shelter has helped through its frontline services. From shoes made out of an old sofa, to the use of the latest CAD software and 3D printing, you can explore the project journey at the Shoes Have Names blog.

Opening on 29th January 2022 (save the date!) Shoes Have Names is another way for New Brewery Arts to prompt a shift in attitudes and effect positive social change.

Alongside the exhibition we’ll be working with those who have experienced homelessness and those who work with public services and charities to support their communities. If you want to get involved either as an organisation or somebody working with homelessness, or as somebody who works with a local charity shop, we’d love you to get in touch with our participation team to discuss how you can be involved with Shoes Have Names.

Stories of homelessness have never been told like this before.

The craft of modern calligraphy

One of the many perks of my job is that, from time to time, I get to attend a workshop and write about it. This month was Modern Calligraphy with Emma Barnes of Emerald Paper Design.

I love words. I love reading, writing, phonetics, stationery. Despite this affection, my own handwriting has always been, well, inconsistent at best. Maybe it’s to do with being left-handed, but I could never make my writing slant and loop in that old-fashioned sort of way. And on the rare occasion I did manage it, you can bet that it would smudge as I moved my hand across the page. So imagine how excited I was when given the opportunity to participate in a calligraphy workshop here at New Brewery Arts. 

I won’t give you a step-by-step breakdown of the session; you can find that out for yourself. But I will give you some of the reasons why I think you should consider calligraphy: 

1. It’s good for mental (and physical) health 
   Calligraphy requires concentration. All the time you are focusing on the pressure of the nib, the curve of a line, planning your next letter, you don’t have time to be thinking of anything else. You can’t pander to intrusive thoughts or check off all the things you need to do when you get home. And when your mind is settled, your body settles too: your breathing is deeper and slower, your heartrate drops (not dangerously so, don’t worry!) Personally, it’s the only time I’ve successfully practiced mindfulness.

2. A sense of connection 
   To me, a letter adorned with calligraphy would make me feel thought of and valued by the sender. It may be my fondness for written word, but I romanticise calligraphy. Writing beautifully used to be the standard. It demonstrated attention to detail, effort and care. 

3. A useful craft 
   All crafts are useful – no one is superior to another; they are all different and all have a unique appeal. But I can’t think of a craft with a more diverse application. You can use it to write letters to friends, decorate Christmas cards, for luggage labels (any kind of label/organisational system), home-made wedding invitations or place settings, to give your sketchbook a bit of extra flare.

4. It’s inclusive 
   I believe anyone can take part in, enjoy, and be successful at any craft. Yes, some people may have a natural talent, while others will have to put in more effort to achieve their goals. But everyone is capable. You might not agree, and perhaps it has stopped you giving craft a go. But let me assure you, anyone can take up modern calligraphy. Unlike traditional calligraphy where there are strict rules, uniformity is key and everything has to be just so, modern calligraphy celebrates individuality. Imperfections can be hidden and if you struggle with a particular letter, change it to suit your style – now you have a niche! You don’t even have to have good handwriting because it’s a completely different approach to writing. It’s also inexpensive. All you need is a pen/holder, nib, ink and bleed-proof paper; all of which can be purchased for under £20. So really, anyone can do it. 

The particular workshop I was on was perfect for beginners or those wanting to brush up their skills and ask questions. We progressed from tracing lines to writing whole words freehand in as little as two hours. Of course, as with any craft, it requires practise and refinement; we were by no means ready to start up a bespoke stationary business by the end of the session. But it is comparatively quick progress. Emma, our tutor, had planned the workshop perfectly, was knowledgeable and encouraging, and made it a wonderful experience. 

If I’ve inspired you to try your hand at calligraphy, look out for the next workshop. New Brewery Arts runs a varied programme throughout the year. See what’s coming up here: https://www.newbreweryarts.org.uk/workshops

A catalyst for change

The past year and a half has been a rollercoaster, to say the least. We all experienced the pandemic differently. But it would be safe to assume that for most of us, it has been an opportunity to reassess our priorities.

Graphic from the Straits Times

Do you recall the newspaper article that circulated last year about the top 5 non-essential jobs? 'Artist’ featured at the top of that list. It turns out the survey only asked 1,000 people, and the article was for a Singaporean newspaper. Not exactly representative, however it caused many of us to question how much the arts were valued in our society. After all, what would life have looked like last year without music, books, films, without anything creative to break up monotony? Suddenly, people everywhere seem to have a renewed appreciation for the arts. Potted plants and crafts. That’s how we occupied ourselves.

And a brave few actually went beyond experimenting with long-neglected hobbies. They made a real go of it, took to Instagram to showcase their work, and forged the career they had always dreamed of but hadn’t previously had the time to cultivate.

Performance by the UceLi Quartet to 2,292 potted plants at The Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona

It wasn’t just the arts that welcomed a revival, many other aspects of life were thriving in our absence. Waters became cleaner, wildlife prospered, the air became less polluted. In an unexpected way, life got better. The pandemic allowed us a glimpse of what life could be like, both good and bad. I do believe that it has made us all more thoughtful, caring and conscious of the impact of our actions beyond the here and now. Although for many things we had to resort to online shopping - at great cost to independent businesses, some of which were unable to recover - with gradual increases in freedom, many more people are choosing to support local traders. All of this is what New Brewery Arts has been striving for since the start: supporting local, independent makers, living sustainably, celebrating joy in creativity. And we are elated that it’s a responsibility people are now keen to share. Living well is far more attainable when you’re united.

I read a book recently that said “our world runs in lagging parallel to fiction.” Between the lessons we have learned over the pandemic, and shifts in attitudes, the innovation and creativity that continues to emerge, this period of tribulation may actually serve as the catalyst for a sustainable, creative, better future. 

We still have a way to go. Even with Freedom Day behind us, we need to practice caution and consideration. New Brewery Arts – as with many places – is experiencing reduced staff due to NHS pings. And while this is frustrating for the organisation and the public, as with everything else in life, there are silver linings where you choose to look for them. For the team at New Brewery Arts, we are all having to lend a hand elsewhere to ensure every aspect of the charity continues to run smoothly. We are learning new skills, discovering strengths we didn’t know we had, and realising what it is like to live in a colleague’s shoes. For you, it might be that you always attend a particular class with a particular friend, but this week they have to stay home. It may be that someone else takes their place, and just like that you’ve met someone new and made another life-long friend through a shared joy of crafts. 

It is important we all remain open-minded; remember what we have learned, and continue to grow. And together we can create a better society.