Lace in Place
Bedford’s rich history of lace uncovers stories of imprisoned queens, child labour and a cottage industry that tried and failed to outwit the machines; its stories intertwine a delicate art form with tough times and speak of women and war, beauty and poverty and a once booming trade that is now the preserve of the dedicated few.
Bedford-based but internationally known artist Arabel Rosillo de Blas www.rosillodeblas.com has been inspired by the rich history of lace making in Bedford. Specialising in site-specific installation Arabel will create a large lace sculpture in the town. Collaborating with local lace-making group, The Aragon Lacemakers, she hopes to inspire a new generation of Bedfordians to claim lace as their own.
Audio Visual artist Kathy Hinde (www.kathyhinde.co.uk), recently commissioned to generate a sound map of Bedford www.echo-location.org, will respond to Arabel’s work, working with the public to develop musical scores from the patterns of lace which will form part of the public presentation.
Public Presentation: 5th May
Location: To be announced!
Please see below for more details or follow #lacebedford on twitter.
Conversations in Lace
Come and share your samples, pictures and stories of lace with artist Arabel Rosillo de Blas. Bedford Museum will have samples of lace on display; local lace experts will be on hand to identify samples of lace brought in by the public and lace-makers will be showing their work. Your contributions will feed into the artistic process that will culminate in a large lace installation in Bedford.
Venue: The Tourist Information Centre, St Paul's Square, Bedford MK40 1SJ
Date: 25th February
Time: 1.00 -4.00
Cost: Free
Simply drop in.
Large Lace
Artist Arabel Rosillo De Blas www.rosillodeblas.com will help you to experience lace as you have never seen it before. You will become human pins and bobbins to create lace on a massive scale. Participants do not need any special skill or ability to attend. We will be filming this event.
Come and reclaim this Bedford tradition.
Venue: Bunyan Meeting Mill Street, Bedford, MK40 3EU
Date: 24th March
Time: 1-4
Cost: £3
For: Open to all (most suited for ages 8+)
To book: call 01234 818670 or email info@bedfordcreativearts.co.uk
Music Box Lace
Discover the hidden melodies in patterns with audio-visual Artist Kathy Hinde (www.kathyhinde.co.uk). This is a hands on workshop in which you will punch patterns into images of lace to create a musical score. The holes trigger notes when the score is wound through the music box – creating unexpected melodies. You do not need any special skill or ability to attend.
Venue: 123 Midland Road, Bedford, MK40 1DE
Date: 13th/ 14th April
Time: 1-4
For: Open to all (most suitable for ages 8+)
Cost: £3 per person
To book: call 01234 818670 or email info@bedfordcreativearts.co.uk
Sounds of Lace
Come and experience lace through the medium of sound. The patterns in lace will be used as a musical score by audio-visual Artist Kathy Hinde (www.kathyhinde.co.uk) which will enable participants to experience the visual through sound. Specifically commissioned software will allow participants in this workshop explore the intricacies of lace through music – whether they can play an instrument or not. Participants do not need any special skill or ability to attend.
Venue: 123 Midland Road, Bedford, MK40 1DE
Date: 27th/ 28th April
Time: 12.30 – 4.30
For: Open to all (most suitable for 14+)
Cost: £3 per person
To book: call 01234 818670 or email info@bedfordcreativearts.co.uk
