Textile Report From the UK

Just wanted to share a few things I experienced textile-wise on a recent trip to England. The British Museum is a vast iceberg in a great sea of history which I viewed only the tip of. The main lobby had an exhibit of birth and death through the eyes of different cultures. One of the pieces was a long weaving of all the medications taken in the lifetimes of a man and a woman. Both pieces were encased in a glass-covered table probably about 40 ft. long or more so it was very hard to photograph it in its entirety. I include a section of weaving and the explanation. Also pictured is a very large hanging papier mache piece with globe and skeletons made for Day of the Dead.

Wells Cathedral, although very old (we're talkin 1400's) had some recently made textiles on exhibit including this alterpiece I liked very much. It appeared to have actual twigs and thorns sewn to it but I think they were actually pieces of leather strips that were woven together.

I stayed with friends in Bristol, a good sized city with a harbor. The latest thing for artists all over Europe is to rent a storefront for a week or 2, fix it up and sell your work. I include photos of one that I thought was well designed with some interesting paintings, cloth banners and sculpture with quite a bit of commercial appeal. His window was silk screened in white allowing good visibility for what was inside.