Dress Block: Jo Cope Fashion Workshops
Block Party: Contemporary Craft inspired by the Art of the Tailor
16th June – 2nd September 2012 (This exhibition is now closed)
New Walk Museum & Art Gallery
Curated by visual artist Lucy Orta in partnership with the Crafts Council, Block Party reveals the contemporary applications and creative possibilities of pattern cutting. It is timely to unearth the techniques of pattern cutting as we witness a renewed interest in, and perception of the bespoke.
The exhibition features work of 16 practitioners for whom pattern cutting forms the basis of their practice, yet whose output results not only in garments, but a variety of innovative forms. Works poetically reveal the tradition, history, and skills of the pattern cutter and tailor, in a variety of contemporary media.
Designed by architecture studio Carmody Groarke, the exhibition includes sculpture, moving image, collage and textiles by the likes of established artists Shelley Fox, Charlotte Hodes, Dai Rees, Yinka Shonibare, Simon Thorogood and emerging artists such as Hormazd Narielwalla. www.blockparty.org.uk
A Crafts Council Touring Exhibition.
Jo Cope & DMU Fashion Design
On now until 2nd September (This exhibition is now closed)
New Walk Museum & Art GalleryInspired by and presented alongside the Block Party
exhibition is a conceptual fashion installation and a specially commissioned
film created by Jo Cope, Fashion Lecturer, De Montfort University
(DMU) and six of the university’s fashion students.
The film, directed by Jo Cope, features the work of BA
(Hons) Fashion Design students Beatrice Mabvuto, Yasemin Chin, Kira Parsons, Amy Crofts, Sophie Binns and Francesca Halligan.
The students worked with Jo Cope and Amber Brierley to develop
their designs, resulting in unique, thought provoking pieces.The work is displayed alongside Jo Cope’s new conceptual
fashion installation, which includes a life-size solid wood body
sculpture created using traditional hand carving craft and referencing
old
millinery techniques.
This blocking tool has been used to
hand form wool felt, creating a unique sculptural fashion garment
which eliminates traditional pattern cutting methods associated
with the usual dress making process.
www.jocope.com
Conceptual Fashion Workshops with Jo Cope
11th August - 25th August
New Walk Museum & Art Gallery
Explore the Crafts Council’s exhibition Block Party and be inspired by Jo Cope’s
commissioned piece to investigate unconventional pattern cutting techniques.
These workshops offer the opportunity for development from one to the other, building knowledge and understanding, providing the opportunity to work towards a credited Arts Award.
Workshops are open to anyone between the ages of 12 – 17 years who is interested in fashion, art or design. Offering an exciting opportunity to experiment and be inspired by a conceptual designer, using materials on the body in original new ways. No experience needed, just enthusiasm!
Workshop 1: Concept Driven Fashion
Saturday 11th August
Learn how to build concepts, design, develop and translate ideas into 3 dimensional prototype garments. Work with alternative construction materials
and use methods similar to architectural and product design, to build sculptural forms around the body.
Workshop 2: De construct Re construct
Saturday 18th August
Using old garments to consider how clothing can be up-cycled, create new and
aesthetically inspiring artistic outcomes on the body. Exploring methods of deconstruction and reconstruction to repurpose function and detailing with a
focus of composition and layering.
Workshop 3: Fashion as Sculpture
Saturday 25th August
Be inspired and learn how to work with pattern pieces on the body in a new unconventional way. Using 2D and 3D design development methods, explore and
experiment with flat patter n pieces to generate new and altered scales of patterns
to create personal sculptural responses.
Workshops take place at New Walk Museum & Art Gallery from 11.00am - 4.00pm.
Pre-booking essential, limited places so early booking recommended.
To book your place, call 0116 223 2065. £5.00 per workshop or £15.00 for all three workshops. No concessions as this is a subsidised rate.
