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Jo Barker - Tapestries (Solo Exhibition)

A successful proposal for funding a period of research and development of new work was secured from the Scottish Arts Council (now Creative Scotland). The project involved a study trip to Cairo to research ancient Coptic weaving in the Coptic Museum and to also observe traditional studio practice at the Wissa Wassef art centre, Harrania, Egypt. I have an interest in the traditions of the skills of tapestry weaving combined with the use of digital technology as a design tool. At this time the area of digital technology used in this way seemed to be under-explored in general within the field, but also within my own skill-base. The focus of the new body of work was on the integration of digital design and photography with traditional design techniques of drawing, painting and collage and the subsequent translation into hand woven tapestries using the Gobelin (C15th medieval tapestry) technique. As part of the SAC funding proposal, an invitation to have a solo exhibition at the Scottish Gallery Edinburgh – a gallery with an international reputation - had been secured. A series of 5 tapestries were made using fine gauge wool, cotton and silk yarns; an investment of over a years work. Further funding was secured from the Inches Carr Trust and the Theo Moorman Fund for Weavers to make a full-colour catalogue to accompany the exhibition. The exhibition was reviewed in 3 peer journals and as a result of the exposure the work went on to be exhibited in 8 further venues in the UK and USA . The work featured in 2 specialist textiles books accompanied with a profile feature: Soroka.J, 2011, Tapestry Weaving – Design & Technique, Shoeser. M., 2012, Textiles - The Art of Mankind.