IT’S BATHTIME FOR DESIGNER JANE’S COLONY OF MOTHS!

Textile designer Jane Deane has a ready supply of silk to create her work – she raises her own colony of moths in the bath at her Devon home!

Jane from Tavistock uses the tub to house a number of different varieties of moth including the Bombyx Mori, which is recognised as producing the best quality silk - but she also has a variety of wild silkmoths that she uses in her creative work.

All the moths are allowed to complete their short life cycle and it is the discarded cocoons, from where the silkworm caterpillars emerge as moths that Jane uses to make a variety of textile products.

Jane’s passion for silk moths began when she had the opportunity to attend a 10 day course with the leading artist weaver Sue Hiley-Harris.
“Moths are quite extraordinary creatures and I became fascinated with the way they begin life in an egg the size of a pinhead, emerge as a caterpillar and then spin a cocoon in which to metamorphasise into a moth, “ said Jane, a resident artist at Duchy Square Centre for Creativity in Princetown.

“It is such a short life as they immediately mate and lay eggs for the next generation before dying. It is a quite magical process though and even after all these years of keeping silkworms I still find witnessing their life cycle as awe inspiring as when I first saw it.”

By spinning the silk instead of reeling it, Jane can ensure her moths are able to live out their natural lifespan. Reeling the silk would involve using the cocoon before the moth had emerged as it requires the single thread from the cocoon to be unwound intact.

To spin the silk, Jane removes the protective gum the caterpillar excretes to harden it by boiling it in soap flakes with a little washing soda. She then stretches the softened cocoon over a plastic pudding basin and allows it to dry before dyeing it and then spinning a thread.

Alongside her own products, which she creates using natural and synthetic dyes, Janes offers talks on the silk moth processes and workshops in spinning, weaving and dyeing. All these are her main disciplines, she also does paper-making, batik, embroidery, knitting and braiding.

She was recently invited to join the Society of Dyers and Colourists and is also a member of Frayed Edges Weaving Group, formed in 2004 for the graduates of Bradford College of Art and Design, which exhibits nationally.

Opened in March and supported by a number of organisations, including The Duchy of Cornwall and Devon County Council, the Duchy Square Centre for Creativity offers low cost workshop space on two floors and is helping boost the local economy by connecting local businesses with other key industry sectors.

The artists and creative practitioners take part in workshops organised by the centre, but also stage their own sessions with smaller groups in their own studios. Anyone wishing to find out more about all the workshops on offer should telephone the centre on (01822) 890828 or visit the website www.duchysquare.org where contact details for all the artists can be found.

MOOR GIFTS TO CHOOSE FROM AT LATE NIGHT FESTIVE SHOP

The Duchy Square Centre for Creativity is getting in the festive spirit with a late night Christmas shopping event where scores of creative gift ideas will be available for purchase (Thursday 26 November 10.30am -8.30pm).

More than 100 people turned up to the recent launch of the Moor Presents exhibition, and Thursday night marks a wonderful opportunity for visitors to the Princetown centre to buy unique gifts with an artistic and creative flavour.

All the gifts are one-offs and have been created by the resident artists and creative practitioners at Duchy Square, as well as other talented makers living and working in the Dartmoor area.

A whole range of present ideas will be on display, including, furniture, jewellery, paintings, weavings, textiles and quilts, with many at affordable prices.

Philippa Smith, Gallery Manager at Duchy Square, said: “Visitors will be able to shop at the centre right up until Wednesday 23rd December, but this Thursday marks the only date dedicated to late night shopping, so we are expecting a busy night.

“It is a great opportunity for visitors to find everything from small stocking fillers to larger items created by some of the most talented artists working in the Dartmoor area.”

Late night shopping will be followed by a fundraising coffee morning Saturday 28 November (10am -1pm) in aid of the Help for Heroes charity then on Thursday 3 December (5pm -7pm) by a festive filled Christmas singsong by pupils from Princetown Primary School around the Xmas tree at the centre.

The event is an opportunity to thank villagers and local traders for the support they have given Duchy Square over the year and there will be plenty of minced pies and mulled wine on offer.

There is also the chance to book places on a variety of workshop sessions to be held by resident artists and other creative practitioners based on Dartmoor. Sessions include a rag rug course, textiles, weaving and dyeing, silver clay jewellery making. Bauble making and a Christmas wreath making sessions will also be available to give the workshops programme a proper festive feel.

For full details of the Christmas events calendar and to book places on the workshops, contact Duchy Square on (01822) 890828 or visit the website www.duchysquare.org where contact details for all the artists can also be found.

Opened in March and supported by a number of organisations, including The Duchy of Cornwall and Devon County Council, the Duchy Square Centre for Creativity offers low cost workshop space on two floors and is helping boost the local economy by connecting local businesses with other key industry sectors.

The artists and creative practitioners take part in workshops organised by the centre, but also stage their own sessions with smaller groups in their own studios.

WEBSITES:
www.duchysquare.org
www.integria.net

‘TIS THE SEASON TO BE ARTY WITH MOOR GIFTS TO CHOOSE FROM

Christmas is coming early to the Duchy Square Centre for Creativity where visitors can enjoy a whole variety of events in the run-up to the festive season, beginning on Saturday 14 November.

The central theme of this year’s festive calendar will be the Moor Presents exhibition, where visitors to the Princetown centre will get the opportunity to buy unique gifts with an artistic and creative flavour.

It is a rare opportunity to purchase one off gifts created by the resident artists and creative practitioners at Duchy Square, as well as other talented makers living and working in the Dartmoor area.

There is something for everyone with a whole range of gifts on display, including, furniture and floristry, jewellery, paintings, weavings, textiles and quilts, with many at affordable prices.

Philippa Smith, Gallery Manager at Duchy Square, said: “The emphasis is on quality presents available at a range of prices, which means there will be something for the casual buyer, the serious collector and anyone with an interest in contemporary art.

“Visitors will be able to find everything from small stocking fillers to larger items created by some of the most talented artists working in the Dartmoor area.”

Alongside the Moor Presents, the upstairs gallery at Duchy Square will be hosting an exhibition to showcase the talents of members of the Tavistock Embroiderers Guild, which will be on display from 11th to 21st November.

There is also the chance to book places on a variety of workshop sessions to be held by resident artists and other creative practitioners based on Dartmoor. Sessions include a rag rug course, textiles, weaving and dyeing, silver clay jewellery making. Bauble making and a Christmas wreath making sessions will also be available to give the workshops programme a proper festive feel.

There is a late night shopping evening on 26 November and December 3rd will mark a high point in the festive events as Duchy Square hosts a carols and mince pies evening to thank the local community for its support. There will be a festive singsong around the Christmas tree and children from Princetown Primary School will also be performing.

Visitors will be able to Christmas shop at the centre right up to Wednesday 23rd December.

For full details of the Christmas events calendar and to book places on the workshops, contact Duchy Square on (01822) 890828 or visit the website http://www.duchysquare.org/ where contact details for all the artists can also be found.

Opened in March and supported by a number of organisations, including The Duchy of Cornwall and Devon County Council, the Duchy Square Centre for Creativity offers low cost workshop space on two floors and is helping boost the local economy by connecting local businesses with other key industry sectors.

The artists and creative practitioners take part in workshops organised by the centre, but also stage their own sessions with smaller groups in their own studios.

WEBSITES:
http://www.duchysquare.org/
http://www.integria.net/

Enjoy Arts And Crafts

If you are looking for a way to enjoy a little relaxation or perhaps to spend a couple of hours with friends, think about making arts and crafts a part of your life, here at Duchy Square Centre for Creativity, in the heart of beautiful Dartmoor.

It is true that arts and crafts is a broad, non-specific thing. But that is the beauty of it. Basically, taking time to explore new arts and crafts means you get to be creative and have fun in any way you want to.

One of the best ways to learn new arts and crafts is to sign up for a class. There are many arts and crafts courses and workshops covering a whole variety of topics on offer at Duchy Square.

Are you interested in learning how to paint, knit or weave? Or maybe you would rather learn to make your own jewellery. Regardless of what kind of arts and crafts you want to explore there should be a class that fits the bill. If you have no idea what you want to do, perhaps it would be good for you to start exploring the world of arts and crafts by looking first at the classes that are offered and then simply choosing one.

Spending time doing arts and crafts of any kind is a great way to relax. We all know how busy work and home become. It is so easy to get swept into the routine of all that needs to get done that we forget to take time out for ourselves to enjoy something new and fun. Arts and crafts are a great way to sneak away for a while, and make something you will want to treasure at the same time.

Doing arts and crafts together with friends and family is a great way to spend quality time while doing something everyone enjoys.

Is there an important holiday or a special event coming up that you need to remember with a gift? If so, use arts and crafts to make the perfect present. Think about the person you are making the gift for and then use your free time to relax and enjoy arts and crafts. There is never a better gift than one that was made with love.

Click here to find out what classes and workshops are coming up at Duchy Square Centre for Creativity.

Sonny Jim Saves the Night!

Sorry I have not been in touch recently. I have been away and came back to problems.

We had a bit of a fright last night. Sodoff and Buggeroff - the Geese, where late going to their house, which is the island on the pond, and Mr Foxy who was looking for his tea nearly had "catch one get one free"!





But Sonny Jim the Shetland pony was very brave, and galloped to the rescue and saved the night.

Must go as stile work to do. A pigs tidying is never done!


Dave.

Interested in Arts And Crafts on Dartmoor? Click here to visit our website.

Autumn at Duchy Square Centre for Creativity

Welcome to the autumn season of exhibitions and courses at Duchy Square.

We have had our Royal visit and think HRH Like what he saw. We certainly enjoyed meeting him and his party.

As life settles down to the season of ‘mist and mellow fruitfulness’ we hope to have something of interest to you.

Our next exhibition in the Main Gallery @ Duchy Square comprises the award winning work of a collection of pewter craft makers. Some are recent graduates of South Devon College and some more established metalworkers, all of them very gifted... Come along and be amazed at the beautifully crafted items on display.

In the Upstairs Gallery @ Duchy Square we are very proud to present the watercolours of local wildlife artist Jennie Hale. Her diaries may be well known to some of you, but few of us have had the pleasure of seeing large original watercolours by Jennie. To accompany this we have a collection of new ceramic pieces also on display.

Our courses are taking off and we have a very varied collection. Everything from wreaths, dyeing and weaving to feltmaking and rag rugging. Come and give it a go!

For more information please visit our website www.duchysquare.org

Meet Dave!

Jacqueline Welby is a resident crafts maker at the Duchy Square Centre for Creativity in Princetown, Dartmoor.

Jacqueline would like to introduce you to Dave!

Let me introduce my self ; my name is Dave and I am told that I am a Kune Kune pig.

I was born in September 2003 and my mummy's pig name is Rose, and my daddy's is Freezer.

When I was 10 weeks old I went to live at Watergate Chapel, which is the only home I can remember. I have a very nice Peggie home which is green with a floor, door and back window, and have lots of yummy grass, roots, as well as the fruit, veg, sugar beet and oats that my human family give me each day.

I have to go now as it is feeding time and I must get my share. I will introduce you to my friends later.

Dave.

Telephone Jacqueline on 01364 631221
Mobile : 07881456608
Email : moorsewing@yahoo.co.uk
Website : www.moorsewing.2day.ws

Click here for more information about Duchy Square Centre for Creativity.

DEVON’S COUNTRYSIDE AND COAST ARE THE INSPIRATION FOR HEIDI

Prints and paintings inspired by Devon’s amazing countryside and beaches will be the focus of an exhibition of new work by Heidi Koenig at the Duchy Square Centre for Creativity (3-26 Sept, open daily 10am-5pm)

Heidi’s contemporary abstract prints and paintings will be on display in the downstairs gallery at Duchy Square in Princetown, which is also playing host to one of a series of taster exhibitions by members of Devon Open Studios in the upstairs gallery.

Devon Open Studios is the largest open studio event featuring the work of more than 230 artists and makers across 11 venues between September 5-20 , including the five taster exhibitions.

Along with Heidi’s exhibition, around 30 members of the Open Studios event will have their work on display at Duchy Square, which joins Exeter Phoenix Galleries, Kennaway House, Sidmouth, the Flavel in Dartmouth and Great Torrington’s Plough Arts Centre as the venues for the taster exhibitions.

Born in Germany in 1964, Heidi, who lives in Exeter, attained a first class honours degree in Fine Art Printmaking at Brighton University, before going on to study for a Postgraduate Diploma of Fine Art Printmaking at Slade School of Fine Art.

She has staged a number of solo exhibitions over the last decade, including the CCA Galleries in London, Oxford’s Inspires Gallery and at a number of venues in the Westcountry –the Viewpoint Gallery at Plymouth College of Art and Brownston Gallery in Modbury in the South Hams.

Influenced by the works or Rothko, Frankenthaler and Matisse, Heidi is recognised as one of the strongest artists to graduate from the prestigious Slade School and her enigmatic and energetic images are in demand worldwide.

“Inspiration for individual pieces is driven purely by observation and physical experiences,” said Heidi.

“When I set out to paint I don’t have a conscious viewpoint of how I want it to turn out -the image evolves as I paint, taking me back to the places that I have been and the sensory information that I have absorbed.”

Opened in March and supported by a number of organisations, including Duchy of Cornwall and Devon County Council, the Duchy Square Centre for Creativity offers low cost workshop space on two floors and is helping boost the local economy by connecting local businesses with other key industry sectors.

The artists and creative practitioners take part in workshops organised by the centre, but also stage their own sessions with smaller groups in their own studios. Anyone wishing to find out more about all the workshops on offer should telephone the centre on (01822) 890828 or visit the website www.duchysquare.org where contact details for all the artists can be found.

WEBSITES:

www.duchysquare.org

www.integria.net

AUTUMN’S THE SEASON FOR GETTING CREATIVE

There’s a chance for young and old to get artistic at the Duchy Square Centre for Creativity.

The resident artists and creative practitioners based at the centre in Princetown have drawn up their Autumn programme of workshops, to give people of all ages the opportunity to unlock their creative flair.

The autumn programme follows on from the hugely successful summer series of events at Duchy Square, which included a special bunting day community workshop, when people helped give the centre a bold splash of colour.

Once again, the new programme offers a varied selection of artistic and creative disciplines and gives the people the chance to tap into the skills and knowledge of some of the centre’s creative practitioners.

There’s the chance to learn contemporary card-making with Doris Smith Rolli on Sept 18th, followed by a Big Draw Masterclass on October 10th.

Two mosaic making workshops, one using everyday objects people can find and bring in, are part of the ongoing schedule and there’s also silk painting, dyeing, precious metal clay jewellery making, weaving, printmaking, quilting and embroidery on offer. Get into the festive spirit too with a ‘Baubles for Christmas’ workshop.

Tracy Hill, South West Regional Manager for Integria Ltd – which operates and manages Duchy Square – said the workshop sessions had proved a popular way to help locals and visitors alike to feel part of the centre.

“There is a real buzz around Duchy Square at the moment and the workshops are really contributing to that buzz,” said Tracy.

“It’s a chance to learn a new creative skill, but also helps local people in particular feel a real part of Duchy Square and what we are doing to connect businesses and breathe new economic life into the village and surrounding Dartmoor.”

The one-day workshops cost from as little as £10 to £35 and will mostly be held between 10am and 4pm.

Opened in March and supported by a number of organisations, including Duchy of Cornwall and Devon County Council, the Duchy Square Centre for Creativity offers low cost workshop space on two floors and is helping boost the local economy by connecting local businesses with other key industry sectors.

Anyone wishing to find out more about the workshops on offer and to book a place should telephone the Gallery at the centre on (01822) 890828 or email gallery@duchysquare.org

WEBSITES:

www.duchysquare.org

www.integria.net

The Story of Duchy Square Centre for Creativity (so far!)

A short (but perfectly formed!) video to explain how and why Duchy Square came about.




For more information, please visit our website at www.duchysquare.org or telephone 01822 890828.