Penny Burnfield’s Japan – introduction

Penny Burnfield is a fellow member of the 62 Group of Textile Artists and has a keen interest in gardens and gardening . Here she tells of her recent trip to Japan to help hang the 62 Group exhibition.

pennyburnfield

I’ve wanted to go to Japan for most of my life. One of the first gardening books I bought was “The Gardens of Japan” by Sima Eliofsen. I remember reading it from cover to cover. I longed to go and see these wonders for myself. So when an opportunity arose at the end of 2013, I took a deep breath and said “I’ll go”.

I belong to the 62 Group of Textile Artists and by dint of persistence and good fortune we were able to send an exhibition out to Tokyo. So the primary reason for the trip was to help our Japanese member, Atsuko Yamamoto, to “hang” the show.

Those people who visit art shows but have never been involved with their organisation, can have no idea how much it involves: unpacking – arranging a disparate selection of work into a harmonious whole – lugging moveable boards and display…

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Some Things never Change

The Knitting and Stitching Show is nearly upon us and I shall be travelling to London for the first show at Alexandra Palace next week. I am helping to install the 62 Group of Textile Artists’ ‘Package Tour’ exhibition and will also be on our Stand TGJ3 on Thursday afternoon.

My work ‘Some Things never Change’ can be seen in the exhibition. For more information about this work click on the “Some Things Never Change’ link above.

I am looking forward to seeing how fellow members of the group have risen to the challenge of fitting their work within a box of a set size. As I usually present my own work on a stretcher and sometimes frame it I decided to make my work as a hanging and roll it up to make it fit into the box.

It will be great to meet lots of new people at the show and there will be the opportunity to buy the 62 Group book, RADICAL THREAD, on the stand at a special Knitting and Stitching Show promotional price of £15 which is a saving of £4.50 on the recommended retail price. The book which celebrates our 50th Anniversary, is a great read.

A Good Read

What a stimulating day it was yesterday. First my copy of the new 62 Group book RADICALTHREAD dropped through the letterbox, closely followed by my copy of SELVEDGE magazine. Nether disappointed me.

Audrey Walker MBE, Alice Kettle, Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn, and Tilleke Schwarz are all in the RADICALTHREAD book which profiles 57 current members of the 62 group, including myself and gives an insight into the innovation and the creativity of the group which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.My piece Family with Fish is featured on page 112.

Preview the book
Order a copy of the book

I spent last night reading it and I can tell you it is a great read. Let me know YOUR thoughts on the book.

SELVEDGE magazine is an equally good read this month. My favourite article is written by June Hill and is called Strong Influence. It outlines the influence a good teacher has on their student. It was of particular interest to me as I was lucky enough to have been taught at Goldsmiths by Constance Howard, Christine Risley and Eirian Short who are featured in the article alongside Audrey Walker and Alice Kettle who are fellow members of the 62 group.

There is also a great article called Thouroughly Modern Mode which champions the allure of demure clothing.This definitely appeals to me. I gave up exposing any body parts in public years ago!