Email correspondence between Angharad and I.

Here is the full conversation of emails that Angharad, Barbara and I sent to each other to organise our project visits.

On 25 Feb 2014, at 19:32, Elizabeth Kidner wrote:

Hi Angharad!  

It's Liz here, one of the students from Huddersfield Uni. I'm just enquiring to find out what days you will be at Lee Mills next week and whether it is okay for a small group of us to come along?
5 of us have chosen the Archive brief set by Claire and we have some ideas and investigations we would like to discuss with you all at the archive. 

 Look forward to hearing back from you soon and many thanks
 Liz 

On 25 Feb 2014, at 19:41, Angharad Thomas <angharadthomas@cooptel.net> wrote:

Hi Liz, thanks for getting in touch.

Barbara and I will be at Lee Mills this Friday, 28th and then Tuesday 4th and Friday 7th next week. Are any of those days good for you to visit?

We are usually there between 10am and 4pm,

 Best wishes

Angharad

On 26 Feb 2014, at 14:17, Liz Kidner wrote:

Hi,

Thanks for your reply, if okay with you we would like to come both days? We will aim to be there around 11.30 on Tuesday, is this okay with you ?

Many thanks

      Liz

From: Angharad Thomas <angharadthomas@cooptel.net>
To: Liz Kidner <elizabeth.kidner@btinternet.com>
Cc: Barbara Smith <b.m.smith04@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, 26 February 2014, 14:24
Subject: Re: Archive visit

Yes that sounds fine. Do you know the way or do you need instructions? How are you getting there? Bus or car?

You will need to bring a sandwich as we have lunch there, or go to the shop for something. Wear warm clothes!

We have tea and coffee and some biscuits though.

My mobile is 07815778252 if you need to call enroute.

Best wishes

Angharad

On 3 Mar 2014, at 20:59, Elizabeth Kidner wrote:

Sorry for the late reply,

We have visited before so we know where we are going, but will give you a ring if we get lost!

thanks a lot and see you tomorrow

Liz

On 3 Mar 2014, at 21:04, Angharad Thomas <angharadthomas@cooptel.net> wrote:

Have you any ideas what you might want to look at? And be ready to do some pattern sorting!

All the best and looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow

Angharad

On 3 Mar 2014, at 21:15, Elizabeth Kidner wrote:

We all want to study completely different things to put together in a timeline collection of the archive to then write about in a magazine article.. we shall try and explain a bit better tomorrow that doesn't really make sense! 

I'm hoping to come along with at least two other group members, other members of the group are yet to get back to me but hopefully will be able to get hold of them tomorrow.

Best wishes see you tomorrow 

Liz

On Sun, Mar 23, 2014 at 8:52 AM, Angharad Thomas wrote:

Dear Liz,
I will be at Lee Mills as follows in the next few weeks:
Tuesday next 25th March
Friday 28th (and Maureen)
Friday 4th April
Tuesday 8th April (and Barbara).
Friday 2nd May
and then back to Tuesdays and Fridays I think.
Let me know if you plan to come.
Liz, will you pass this info on to the others, thanks. See you Tuesday.
Best wishes
Angharad

From: Barbara Smith <b.m.smith04@gmail.com>
To: Angharad Thomas <angharadthomas@cooptel.net>
Cc: Elizabeth Kidner <elizabeth.kidner@btinternet.com>; Maureen Wheeler <maureen@mandawheeler.freeserve.co.uk>; Wendy Wilcock <dandwuk@tiscali.co.uk>; Ruth Gilbert <plainweave879@btinternet.com>
Sent: Sunday, 23 March 2014, 10:06
Subject: Re: At Lee Mills

I will also be at Lee Mills on Tuesday & Fridays after 8th April, if
anyone else is available to go.

Barbara

On 30 Mar 2014, at 09:11, Angharad Thomas <angharadthomas@cooptel.net> wrote:
Dear Liz and Wendy,
Just to let you know I can only be at Lee Mills for the morning on Friday 4th. So I will get there about 10 and aim to leave about 12.
I hope that you can come for that time.
Liz, if you can let the others in your group know that would be really helpful.
And if you can let me know if you expect to be there that will be good too.
Thanks a lot, and best wishes
Angharad

On 30 Mar 2014, at 09:30, Liz Kidner <elizabeth.kidner@btinternet.com> wrote:

Hi Angharad,

Yes we would like to visit in Friday morning, looks as though it will only be myself, Abbey and Meg though. We are putting together a few questions to ask you about our time with you and want to ask them on Friday, hope that's alright with you. 
See you then
Liz 

On 30 Mar 2014, at 09:46, Angharad Thomas <angharadthomas@cooptel.net> wrote:

That sounds fine. Will try answer. C u then. Angharad

Last Visit For The Project To Lee Mills- Abbey Price

For our last visit to the archive we each decided to concentrate on our own interests and subjects to gather information for our end articles and reports. I chose in this visit to help sort out the knitting patterns and also look at more archives to use in my own drawing work.

I found the book Wild Knitting by author Angela Jeffs had interesting drawing images of knits which I would like to use as inspiration in my own drawing work towards this project. : 

I think in my own drawings I will try and develop them into this kind of style and use a range of materials that showcase this type of bold imagery. 

Overall in this last visit to the archive for this archival interventions community project I feel I've gathered enough evidence and research to put towards my final article and also my final report. 

World culture inspiring knit design

I first visited Lee Mills in November 2013, my aims that time were to explore the archive to find something to influence design for knitwear garments. I thought that it would be good to include this within my article, as it shows more engagment that has occurred in the archive showing how our university likes to get involved with community archives. Also the items in the archive that influenced me were some Peruvian hats so its show my engagment into world cultures and how they can influence knit design. 

The wonder of my world, Kaffe Fassett

Showing my enthusasium for Kaffe Fassett to Angharad lead to showing me the fine collection of Rowan Knitwear they had designed by him. I was so excited to see some of his garments as I have only ever seen them pictured and I was interested to see how fine a quality his knitting was.

Absolutely fabulous if I do say so myself, the patterning and designs are so intricate and beautifully knitted. I thought that looking at Kaffe Fassetts work would be further research into my area of interest, as I know from reading his Autobiography that his influence in colour comes from world culture.

WORLD CULTURE'S INSPIRING BRITISH KNITTING

On the 8th of April, we took our last trip to the Lee Mills Archive, my aims were to discover patterns or garments in the collection that had been inspired by a different culture.
Barbara showed me a selection of knitted items that had been bought by Coats from around the world. She said that these items were bought to reconstruct into knitting patterns for Patons. This shows what I am investigating very well as it shows a knitted company bought items from around the world to be inspired by. Barbara is going to send me copies of these patterns which I am going to include into my article and as part of my personal investigation for this project I am going to knit swatches of each pattern repeat in each pattern.

LATVIAN MITTENS

FAIR ISLE GLOVES

Although Fair Isle is still British, it is pretty much the most northern part of it, these gloves are another example that Barbara showed me that have been used to inspire a Patons pattern.

 

TRADITIONAL VIENESSE JACKET (AUSTRIAN)

I thought that this Traditional Jacket was beautiful design and decorated, unfortunately they don't know whether there is a pattern made from this one. But because I showed must interest Barbara said that she would have a look through the PSD of the Patons patterns for me. What a star!

 

German Leopard 1 Tank

In April 2013, a German Leopard 1 tank stands in front of the Museum of Military History in Dresden, Germany. The tank is covered with knitting made by the Dresden citizens called “Attack! Knitting for peace. Taking a stand against war and violence with a cross-generational handicrafts project.”

Amy Cheung

Amy Cheung has created a full sized wooden ‘Toy Tank’. I find the material choice to be a loaded choice to resemble a symbol, which to this day is so potent. Inside this toy tank, the artist pushed the boundaries even further by letting the visitors to crawl inside the vehicle, submerged in darkness. Inside are video screens and joysticks, which let one navigate and unleash gunfire within the gallery. She has pushed the boat further by having realistic sound effects to create a haunting atmosphere.

David Cerny

David Cerny made a name for himself in 1991 by painting a WWII Soviet tank pink. The tank remains today a historical monument but Cerny was arrested briefly due to what the public called ‘hooliganism.’  He usual creates quite shocking and controversial work that can spark a wide debate with the public.  He loves to make his work large, brash and really pushes the boundaries to make a political statement.  The tank was a memorial for the day that Russia ‘liberated’ the Czech Republic in 1945. Cerny has always created pieces of work that respond to current political discourse in the Czech Republic.

Looking through most of his work, I can understand if people feel a sort of outrage towards his rebellious work. I see it as if an artist has a very specific intention for creating shocking art; he has made that choice to affect his work. I like the way he seems to poke fun at “safe” topics like nationalism or consumerism.