On our first attempt to visit the newly refurbished William Morris Gallery we arrived on a Tuesday to find it closed!! Note to self: always find out opening times before going anywhere!! So for anyone planning on going it's open from Wednesday through to Sunday.
The new gallery is looooveeeellllyyy with lots more of his designs, wallpapers and textiles on display, which are my favourite. There are lots of deep drawers below glass cabinets filled with a whole host of work in amazing colour combinations i've not seen before. It's like visiting the gallery for the very first time!!
It's the infamous Art Trail in Walthamstow at the moment and outside the gallery is one of Morris' quotes:
Inside is a lovely etching from Anna Alcock of Inky Cuttlefish, of her daughter in the pose of this years theme 'bestow'.
The books in the gallery are an illustrators dream! The painstaking detail gone into them is amazing. Also on display is the working drawings alongside final prints, so it's really good to see how they changed parts that didn't quite work and shows that by developing your work is key.
Sections to keep the kids entertained.....
Grayson Perry's Walthamstow tapestry.....
The tapestry charts man's passage from birth to death, with references to consumerism, branding and advertising in Perry's quirky style. Offered as a tribute to Morris, one of his heroes, the tapestry draws on Morris's
ideals and brings contemporary arts and crafts back to his home. The colours are extremely vibrant and pop as soon as you walk into the room.
For this years Art Trail i'll be at Queens Road Adult College this Saturday along with fellow tutors and students so if you are passing by pop in to see the work and say hello. Also for any of my students who wish to display and sell some work pop along at 10am to drop off your work.
Hope to see you there,
Sharon
