Preview and weaving workshop: Wednesday 3rd September 2015. Exhibition 4th Sept – 9th Oct
Following on from her acclaimed film ‘Cheesy Rituals’, based on our cultural fascination with pizza, exhibited as part of PLY’s launch exhibition, acclaimed US based textile artist, Kayla Mattes, is returning to PLY with her first solo UK exhibition – User Interface.
Renowned for her Neo ‘90s knitwear collection, cartoon CATZ created from ASC11 art (or text art to the rest of us), neon LinkedIn jewellery, woven pizzas and now tapestries inspired by a world where smartphones and computers are commonplace, Kayla has more than a few strings to her loom.
The exhibition plays to Kayla’s signature strength in taking some of the most traditional crafts and bringing them in right into the now with her use of colour, technique, imagery and a huge nod to pop culture and modern technology. Her collection for PLY features 14 large scale, eye popping woven tapestries incorporating computer generated images that we use and respond to day to day, sometimes without even registering.
Kayla’s first ever solo UK show follows exhibitions and residencies in her hometown of Portland Orgeon, San Francisco and LA, and workshops at ACE Hotel and the Rhode Island School of Design and she is kicking it all off with a very special weaving workshop on the opening night.
Attendees will learn how to weave on a simple frame loom, with a focus on colour and pattern and leave the workshop confident in techniques such as warping, plain weave, horizontal and vertical striping, fringe, and tapestry.
The class includes all materials, tools, a How-To Book, and a frame loom that can be taken home for future projects.
PLY’s Brand Marketing Manager, Beki Rymsza, says: “Kayla has an immense talent for pulling the ‘brand new’ out of traditional craft techniques and we love how her work takes all manner of forms – from womenswear, to jewellery to the woven work produced for User Interface. She’s a really exciting artist to be welcoming to the venue and her work will fit perfectly into PLY.”
Tickets for the launch workshop are available here. Places are strictly limited to 15 and ordinarily cost £65. On this occasion, PLY will be subsidising the session and there is just a minimal cost of £8 per person to contribute towards the cost of materials. Kayla’s sessions always sell out so be sure to book soon if you’d like to take part! The launch event is open to all with free drinks being provided by PLY’s arts partner Absolut, AND guests will have the opportunity to get their hands on a pizza her first exhibition – as she’ll be selling off the woven pizzas from Cheesy Rituals.
For more information on this and other exhibitions/events:
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