The SVA Residency
Last week I did a live tufting residency in the John Street Gallery at the SVA in Stroud. It was such a learning curve, tufting in front of two huge windows leading onto a street full of the public wondering by is way more nerve racking than I first thought. At the time I was asking myself why I decided to do this but looking back on it I can see why and would even do the event again!
I had a purpose built 2m x 1.5m frame which needed sand bags on it to keep it sturdy as it was freestanding and so tall!
My huge 93 decibel(which seems to have got louder with time), 1000l compressor was chugging along while I tufted my two runners. My tufting gun uses an air compressor which is why the pile very dense and luxurious.
I intended to make something very intuitive with a colour selection I had brought with me but I very quickly realised that it was a bit too much pressure on myself. So on the second day I decided to change up what I was tufting and I stretched a new frame this time I decided on making two different runner rugs. Im so glad that I went with my gut and started a fresh with out worrying about failure or the fact that the guys who work in the computer shop opposite had seen my first attempt not work out. I will be fishing the first rug at some point but in private and not in front of a window.
For the new designs I kept the colour pallet and inspiration of the initial rug and decided on a more neutral take on the second runner. Being now a day behind where I wanted to be I picked up the pace and did some ‘panic tufting’ which is what I describe as really going for it and tufting very large sections until my arm aches too much, at that point it’s time for a little break. I find a lot of satisfaction in seeing the rug grow and a sense of accomplishment so I actually really enjoy working in a ‘panicked’ way.
I ALWAYS misjudge how long the finishings take, its often easy to think Im done once I have finished tufting but the finishings often take the same amount of time as the tufting! I actually pulled a couple of midnighters to get myself a bit further along in the process but still spent the first day of the show with my scissors and shearing machine out!
Putting the show up was a dream, I have had this salon style wall in my head for a while and it was amazing to see what was in my head become reality!
The Nasturtium Rug
The first runner I tufted was the Nasturtium rug inspired by the garden outside my studio and the jewel like quality of the flowers agains the sea of green which is there leaves.
I wanted to use colours of all different Nasturtium varieties Dark purple, red, orange, yellow and more coral colours. I went with my ‘sunset’ design for both the rugs.
The Overnight Oat Rug
I wanted to have the same design on both rugs, almost like a trick that to passers by it was going to be one big rug until the second background colour was tufted.
This rug is more neutral in tones. I used the idea of greyscale in the designed blocks. I especially think the white gradient block is effective. I wanted a more natural colour combination to compliment the graphic monochrome colour which is why I went with warm oaty tones.
My Plan vs What happened
Day 1: Set up and start tufting
Day 1: Set up
Day 2: Tuft design
Day 2: Start tufting
Day 3: Tuft background 1
Day 3: Change to new design tuft elements of design
Day 4: Tuft Background 2 and Latex both
Day 4: Tuft background of runner 1
Day 5: Glue and do all finishings
Day 5: Tuft background of runner 2 and Latex both rugs
Day 6: Hang exhibition
Day 6: Finishings glue backs, shear rugs and trim edges.
