Output details

Future Craft Research Exposition, curated by Sally Reaper

Parry-Williams practice-based research project, 'Craft: Industry interface', investigates the intellectual and creative tension between studio and industrial woven textile production systems.

The Future Craft research exposition was a component outcome of the DJCAD, Dundee University’s five-year research project Past, Present and Future Craft Practice, where Parry-Williams was awarded a 2008-09 ‘Past, Present and Future Craft Practice: Craft Research Commission’ as a case-study practitioner. The project sought to explore craft as a process, product, experience and service and as a means of nurturing and understanding innovation in craft, thereby presenting craft practice as a diverse, but inherently intellectual, cultural phenomenon. Other exhibitors included: Georgina Follett, Gilly Langton, Geoffrey Mann, Drummond Masterton, Sally Reaper, Lara Scobie, Frances Stevenson, Fiona Thompson, and Louise Valentine.

A collection of four prototype apparel fabrics, contextualised through supporting presentation of literary, visual, and audio-visual documentation of the (greater) project were exhibited. The research sought to explore how engagement in an extended process of deep reflection and applied inter-contextual practice knowledge, might inform the design, development and creation of original craft textiles. The methodology employed included: exercising knowledge of (and towards application with) specialist industrial production systems, realised by hand-weaving, and employing a broad, systematic approach of rigorous testing, investigating structure, density and finish applications to exploit or subvert inherent characteristics of materials. The work has been recognised as making an important contribution to specialist field knowledge and practice philosophy evidenced through citation and reference including 'Textiles: The Art of Mankind' (Schoeser, 2012); and RCA PG research project (Green, October 2013). Further related outputs: in March 2010 (Symposium paper) 'Past Present and Future Craft Practice Commission', Future Craft exposition, University of Dundee; (Exhibit) 10/June-9/July/2010, 'Knowledge Through Making', Dundee Contemporary Arts:VRC, Dundee; September, 2008 (Conference paper) 'Craft-based design' (Crafticulation and Education), University of Helsinki, Finland www.helsinki.fi/kktl/crafts/

www.futurecraft.dundee.ac.uk/

www.dundee.ac.uk/djcad/exhibitions/exhibitions/future-craft/

www.dundee.ac.uk/djcad/news/2011/article/future-craft-1324-september