After
visiting The Whitworth, I noticed the Shop Two more than Shop One because it
targets families with children. I was
drawn by the strong partnership and the balance between the connection of the
gallery and the colours of each products link together.
My target
audience are also families with children, because it allows me to use simple
designs with more vibrant colours. The products were also more fun and playful.
I am hoping
to create something that would lead to educational activities. This is to inspire the children to think
outside of the box. I did some research on the birds at the Whitworth Park,
there are many other birds apart from magpies and pigeons. I thought of my idea
is to bring in the connection of the collection, but creating something that
Whitworth shop does not have. It involves the outdoor already existing
products, such as the make your own magpie kit. I believe that there is some
gains to be made from completing the collection of birds for the education of
children.
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Figure 1:
Make your own Magpie Kit, Donna Wilson.
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Wilson’s kit
is priced at £20, which I think is reasonable because it’s affordable for
families with children.
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Figure 2: Leaf shaped key ring
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£2.50 per key ring.
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Figure 3: Bridegroom's
pouch, 1960-1989. |
I have been inspired by the collections to work with a
mixture of patchwork and fabric so I am hoping to develop textile techniques
within the collection. I want to
constrain myself to working with textiles, and these bags inspire me to work
with hand embroidery. I am working with the Flailing tree idea that links both
time and nature. The story of the dying
tree to rebirth is one that I can use as inspiration within this work.
Aside from the shop, I am also interested in the collection
for the hand embroidery.
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Figure 4: Bag, 1845-1855 |
There is an overwhelming oriental and Japanese feel to the
collection. I picked up a guide to all things green, for children by children,
it asks questions that trigger the imagination, such as Think of the colour
Green, write down and draw what it means to you.
The Whitworth logo is a zigzag stitch that is places on the
collections. This allows me to link my
textiles work to the collection.
My major source of inspiration is from the Green booklet,
but I am aware of the seasonal changes of the gallery and therefore have opted
to look for a longer term cause to hinge my work upon as long as it sticks
within the overall theme.
I like the idea of using the colour green to link to some of
the exhibition that are green, such as the Flailing Tree, by Gustav Metzger.
And link to reduce, reuse and recycle. Whitworth Park is a green area and also
has an oriental inspired outdoor space.
As in the past, I used found fabrics instead of working on
brand new fabrics, I enjoys patch work and embroidery.
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| Figure 5: Flailing Tree, by Gustav Metzger. |
