My objective was to create a road map for the materials and manufacturing processes and to shine a light on the principles of the Circular Economy for the Yorkshire Sculpture Park’s visitors to understand. I wanted to make visible all of the processes (shearing, scouring, spinning, dyeing and weaving) that the wool from the sheep at Yorkshire Sculpture Park had to go through in order to be made into woven textiles, blankets, tapestries, furniture, and a floor runner. All incorporating my designs inspired by the flora and fauna at the Park.
This was filmed by Paul Wyatt in real-time as the project progressed and the film, The Fabric of the Land’ was shown throughout the duration of the exhibition.
‘Where there is muck there is brass’ this is the industry’s famous saying, nothing goes to waste in the scouring plant at Haworth’s, everything extracted is taken off for re-use, the oils extracted have a multitude of uses from beauty products to Vitamin D, even the nutrient rich dust (shoddy) is used in agriculture. The shoddy in this case, was returned to the Park in early November and we planted a Rowan tree completing a full life cycle of the wool for this project.
I have so many collaborators to thank:
Starting with Retail exhibition & Programme Manager Amanda Peach, who helped me make it all happen! YSP Chief Gardner Terry Lee, and Hayley Barrett designer from Camira Fabrics, furniture designer Julian Mayor, Marketing Manager Lorna Haigh from Alternative Flooring, Peter Ackroyd From Campaign for wool, and Graham Clark & Haldi Kranich-Wood from British Wool, Tim Booth from Atlantic Yarns and, filmmaker Paul Wyatt & RSA Fellow, Tim Cox and Sheridan Coakley of Coackly Cox Furniture Manufacturers. For my wallpapers inspired by the flora of the Park, a big thank you goes to 1838 wall coverings sister company to Surface Print and to Fiona Fouhy and Susan Clarke of East London Print Makers
