Preparing to weave

 I was looking forward to returning to weave and making my own warp this time. Making some yarn wraps helped me to decide on colour and proportion. I chose the blues and white as these are most dominant in my colour palette. As we are focusing on edges and decorative features i kept the warp narrow; the space in the middle reflects the sense of space and linear qualities in my visual research.

                 

                 

                                                                                    (final warp plan)

I found the process of making a warp and dressing the loom lengthy but very rewarding.

Idea refinement

I have been inspired by many aspects of the fairground and archive theme. However my research feels a bit all over the place at the moment. As this is a relatively short project I need to pin point one aspect to focus on and develop.

I will concentrate on the shapes and patterns in the architecture of the rides and in some of the archive material. Picking out the details that are only noticed when the fairground is static and looking at the edges of photographs for interesting things to draw upon. I still want to include the unusual aspects and oddities of a fairground, i will do this by distorting some of my imagery and playing with scale.

                       

                     

                           

                                         (pages from sketchbook- pen, pencil, cutwork and collage)

The challenge is how to translate these ideas visually into textiles. I will be working in weave and embroidery with a focus on passementerie. I am looking at trims and edges with the view to develop accessories such as collars or straps. Using contrasting materials and unusual textures or shapes will give a feeling of unease and incorporating wire into my work will mean i can manipulate it to become 3D. I like the sepia tones of the old photographs and the faded "arsenical green" of the flyers; i will combine these with some of the brighter colours of Blackpool pleasure beach to create a lively colour palette.

(mood board of ideas)

Belle Vue Zoo and Gardens

Another source of inspiration has been the Belle Vue archive collection, held by Chethams Library. It was a fascinating and eyeopening experience to visit the library archive and learn about Belle Vue fairground as i had not previously even heard of it.

Collections of photographs, postcards, brochures and objects are all thats left to tell the story of the once huge attraction and i find it really interesting how all the memories and experiences of Belle Vue are contained in these fragile artefacts. I am keen to bring some of what i found out into my project.

Iconic 'Arsenical green' flyer for Bell Vue

What stood out to me was the mixture of happy and sad elements of Belle Vue. It seemed to be a conflicted place. This postcard in the archive sums it up well. It reads "We had a grand day here yesterday. Some of the animals looked dreadful."

The magical world provided an escape from the drudgery of working life and industrial towns; 

people put on their sunday best and came from all over the country for a day at Belle Vue. It was a family run business with its own brewery and firework production. This make shift/ DIY attitude has a romantic notion and it made me think of travelling circuses and how they live on the edges of society.

However i think if you look closer you can see that it wasn't idyllic, there is a shabbiness to Belle Vue and it obviously became more and more run down before it closed. I want to explore the hidden details and complex layers of the place.

I am also interested in the side shows and oddities of fairgrounds. Looking through the photographs, many seem quite bizarre. There is a sinister undertone to the fairground life that is disturbing and leaves you feeling uneasy. It is this contrast of light and dark that is really intriguing to me.

Figure skater at Belle Vue (source-online archive)

Belle Vue flickr

Chetham's archive

National Fairground archive- costumes

Pinterest Inspiration

I find Pinterest really helpful to gather together inspiring images quickly and easily at the start of a project.

At this early stage i have many ideas i want to explore; i have made 3 boards of different themes to begin to make sense of my ideas and make sure none of them are lost. I will add to and edit as the project progresses.

Fairgrounds and Archives

On the edge-By the seaside

Side shows and Oddities

Unit X- Blackpool Pleasure Beach

'Fairgrounds and Archives' is the brief for Unit X; there are so many avenues to explore with it and possibilities for themes and inspiration. I have been trying to tease out the aspects that i find most exciting and begin to make links between them.

The trip to Blackpool pleasure beach was a fantastic opportunity to study the structures of a fairground. With the park empty of people the architecture of the rides, imposing on the sky line, really stood out to me. The brilliant sea side light created some lovely shadows and contrasted well with the dark, solid structures. I really liked the way the different rides seem to interweave and entwine, giving a layered effect.

The pleasure beach is made up of old and new parts; the difference in materials and scale of the old and new, side by side is really interesting. I found the older parts more inspiring actually, the peeling of paintwork and rust add life and character and show the time that has past.

I also noticed the patterns that were created by repeating units of the rides and by the rows of costumes and props in the storerooms. I thought compositionally this was really nice.