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‘Maker in Focus’
in collaboration with the Gloucestershire Guild of Crafts.

SIT is curating a short series of focus exhibitions of lead artist’s work called ‘Makers in Focus’ in the new gallery ‘Guild at 51’ based in Cheltenham. �

Maker in Focus – Mary Butcher

Date: 7 January – 28 February
Venue: The Guild at 51, Clarence Street, Cheltenham GL50 3JT

Mary Butcher is a mixed media sculptor and one of the foremost willow specialists in the country. Mary is based in Canterbury and in 2009 was the Crafts Council designer in residence at the V&A. She writes:

“I was originally a willow specialist, learning local, traditional work from apprenticed makers. I increased my repertoire and researched basket history, a little recorded subject. Widening contacts, with both UK and overseas basketmakers, and a Fellowship in Basketmaking at Manchester Metropolitan University, gave freedom to explore creative possibilities, and generated other ways of making. My techniques and materials now vary from the traditional to the contemporary using natural stems, leaves, bark, wire, plastics, vellum, paper, lots of colour
My research interests centre on our basket history, so far little recorded but now being actively explored. I have enjoyed spending time with traditional makers and recording their work, both technical details and their changing practice in response to consumer demand. It gives a good record of changing economies and industries and the nature of basketmaking today.”

�www.guildcrafts.org.uk

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