WASPS Open Studios 28th & 29th October

WASPS Open Studios 2017

When: 28th & 29th October, 12noon—5pm on both days
Where: 2nd, 3rd & 4th floors Meadow Mill, West Hendersons Wynd, Dundee, DD1 5BY

I will have my new Dundee Delights cards, enamel pins and tea towels available (and hopefully some screen prints)

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Sneak Peek into Dundee Creatives Studios

wasps open studio 2013

Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th October 2013, from 12 noon – 5pm

I would like to invite you to the Dundee Meadow Mill Wasps Artists Open Studios on Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th October from 12noon – 5pm.

My studio will be open with a range of Bargain Boxes with scarves, cards and prints and you can see some of the new things I’ve been working on!  I’m on the 4th floor, in studio 404! (there is a lift!!!).  I have the lovely Sooz Gordon sharing my studio who styles funky eclectic interiors, makes Dundee inspired cushions and offers Style Surgeries for others to learn about interior design.

Lots artists will be taking part all under the one roof from a wide range of creative practices – painting, ceramics, illustration, textiles, jewellery, installation, interiors, photography and much more.  It’s a chance to have a look inside the creative spaces.

As well as the usual amazing array of artists and makers welcoming you into their place of work, this year we have a programme of FREE events in the Gallery Space on Saturday and Sunday (see below).  There will be a cafe and a group show of tenants work in the cafe area and Project 2 on the 4th floor. This year we will have a shop curated by Lovely Things with some of their product alongside work from artists and makers.  I will have a selection of things in there too, it’s on the 3rd floor, in studio 316.

Saturday 19th
12-1pm Creative Writing with author Zoe Venditozzi (maximum of 8 people)

1:30-2pm The Museum and the Whaleback City – Poetry Reading by Andy Jackson.

Fife-based poet Andy Jackson reads from his poetry collection The Assassination Museum and also from Whaleback City, the new anthology featuring six centuries of Dundee poetry, of which he is co-editor. Expect quirky, accessible poetry on themes as diverse as Daleks, dancing and conspiracy theories.

3:30-5pm Best Bits of Pecha Kucha Dundee (screening).

Sunday 20th
12:30-1:30pm – Meet the Inkers – Vanilla Inkers new intake.

2-5pm TRiGGER : Connectivity @ WASPS 2013 – TRiGGER is holding a participatory drop in afternoon on Sunday 20th October at WASPS Meadowmills Gallery space from 2-5pm. We will be inviting visitors and studio artists to contribute to an informal reflective visual response to WASPS Open Studios weekend. The afternoon is a relaxed and interactive experience with participation welcome from all visitors.

(These events will take place in Project 1 on the 4th floor.)

Ms Battenberg’s Travelling Tea Room will provide a veritable cornucopia of delectable treats. Sit back and relax with some homemade treats and a cuppa. Available throughout the weekend.

Come and try on my scarves and enjoy my colourful patterned studio!  Come and see the creative talent Dundee has to offer!  For a map please link here.

Please spread the word to others you think may be interested!

Where I Make

I was asked to write a feature with some photos for This Is Central Station on where I make.  You can also see other Scottish artists and designers too.

Welcome to my wonderful patterned world where I capture the drama of Scottish wilderness with nature at the heart of my surface designs.

Everything happens here in my studio in bonnie Dundee – colour studies, developing ideas, playing with scale and pattern, paper designs, cutting stencils, screen printing, painting, collage, fabric samples, mixing dyes, planning schools and community workshops, sewing and the list goes on…

All these steps help me create my surface patterns for a range of products and applications.  I’m on a mission to cover the world in my designs from wallpapers, wellies, ceramics, and murals to Land Rover Defenders – the possibilities are endless!

I have a playful approach and mix together delicious colours, juxtaposing scales, energetic repetitive marks, to create my distinct rhythmic signature.

I love my cosy space where I surround myself with colour swatches, drawings, fabric samples, old coffee pots of brushes, wooden printing blocks and random things I’ve collected.  I like nothing more than getting my hands dirty in the studio.  It’s not too flash but being surrounded by all my inspiration is really important and keeps me focused.

I am part of the Dundee WASPS artist’s studios and I’m in a temporary space on Airlie Place for 6 months while my studio at Meadowmill is being refurbished.  I really like it, it used to be a students bedroom so it has a homely feel with a fireplace and a sink.  I settled in quickly after a quick lick of white paint.  I like the location as it next to the DJCAD and I can see a tree out of my window.  I like being part of WASPS as I’m surrounded by other fellow creative’s from a range of art forms from printmakers, jewellers, sculptural textiles and painters.

I love being in my studio and being playful and creative!

Goodbye Meadow Mill and Hello Airlie Place!

I’ve moved temporarily to Airlie Place for 6 months while the refurbishment goes on at Meadow Mill.   I’m loving my new space at Airlie Place, which used to be Dundee University student residence.  I’ve settled in really well, it’s a great location, love having a sink in my studio and a fireplace to sit my brushes.

WASPS provide cheap studio rent for artists and are refurbishing all 3 levels of the mill – heating, improving the windows, gallery space, some wifi and a common area for all those creative collaborations and including a lift! The unused space on the 4th floor is going to be made into studio too. Here’s what it look like now.

I think it was a really good process to have a good clear out, sort through years of clutter and box ever thing up.

Here’s my new view from my window

There’s some great views from the corridors of the river Tay and Law hill.

Think I’m going to enjoy my time at Airlie Place! For lots of creativity – playing with colour, pattern, textures and silhouettes.

Collections looking for good home!

I’ve been gutting out my studio, having bit of a spring clean and getting ready for the Meadow Mill Wasps refurbishment.  I’ve been sorting lots of copyright designs back into collections – geometrics, florals, paisleys, menswear shirting, patchwork and embelishment.

From August 1999 to 2007 I worked freelance as a commercial textile designer creating fabric samples following current trends and selling the copyright of my designs to fashion houses and fabric convertors worldwide through agents (David Lee Design Ltd and Lewis and Lewis). Fashion houses such as Debenhams, Etro, East, Nougat and John Kaldor have used my designs as part of their collections.

I love generating ideas and working to briefs.  The collections I still have, I own the copyright and they available for sale, please email me if interested: hello@louisekirby.com

Collections fo applique, embellishment and hand painted designs

Collections of geometric designs by Louise Kirby

Collections of floral designs by Louise Kirby

Crafts Bursary

Studio at Duncan of Jordanstone in 'The Room'

Being awarded the ‘crafts bursary’ has really got me thinking about the big picture.  I’m very good at being busy all the time and not taking time to reflect, so this is a great opportunity for me and my practice.  Another great thing is that I have a mentor, Josie Steed that I can bounce ideas off and get advice every few weeks.  There’s such a great buzz at the art college and it’s an very inspiring place to work.  I’ve a space within the textile department , that i’ve surrounded myself with mind maps, images and fabric samples.