Revolutionary Post War Fabrics and Furniture: Shirley Craven and Hull Traders @ Kings Lynn Arts Centre.
the exhibition today celebrated the career of textile designer shirley craven and her partnership with the hull trader, the visionary company that printed her textiles. the exhibition also included 'tom tom' furniture, also produced by hull traders - bright, playful and made from giant cardboard tubes. the fabrics and furniture encapsulate the exuberance of the swinging sixties with big bold abstract designs in eye popping colours.
'strongly graphic and visually inventive, Craven's designs are impossible to pigeonhole. more like paintings than conventional furnishing fabrics, their bold composition, gigantic repeats and inspired colourways are unique in the history of pattern design.'
'Launched in 1957, Hull Traders was co-founded by - and named after - Tristram Hull, a publisher and editor, in partnership with Stanley Coren. Initially acting as agents, hand screen-printed textiles soon became their main focus and so Time Present Fabrics was born.
In 1959 Peter Neubert took over the company and appointed Shirley Craven as art director.
In 1959 Peter Neubert took over the company and appointed Shirley Craven as art director.
Although modest in industrial terms, Hull Traders was a visionary enterprise where creativity flourished out of all proportion to its size. Artists and designers contributed in equal measure and on equal terms. The pool of freelance designers was constantly refreshed.
Sculptor Eduardo Paolozzi and photographer Nigel Henderson, collaborating under the name Hammer Prints, played a prominent role at the outset, along with textile designer John Drummond. Artist Ivon Hitchens was another notable early contributor.
The 1960s was a golden era for Hull Traders, with ambitious, ground-breaking designs by Shirley Craven and other gifted artist-designers, such as Peter McCulloch, Doreen Dyall, Roger Limbrick and Trinidadian-born Althea McNish (Britain’s first and most distinguished black textile designer).
Sculptor Eduardo Paolozzi and photographer Nigel Henderson, collaborating under the name Hammer Prints, played a prominent role at the outset, along with textile designer John Drummond. Artist Ivon Hitchens was another notable early contributor.
The 1960s was a golden era for Hull Traders, with ambitious, ground-breaking designs by Shirley Craven and other gifted artist-designers, such as Peter McCulloch, Doreen Dyall, Roger Limbrick and Trinidadian-born Althea McNish (Britain’s first and most distinguished black textile designer).
Although Hull Traders closed in 1980, their fabrics still look as fresh and exciting today as when they first appeared.'
margaret cannon and roger limbrick for hull traders.
possible theme exploration;
- design inspiration; looking at observational drawings from nature and the landscape as inspiration for fabric designs.
- pattern and print; looking at the relationship between fabric design and painting. particularly abstract expressionism, op art and pop art.
- design goes pop; looking at the sixties aesthetic and use of colour, pattern and shape in the home; fabrics and furniture.
(OP ART: is a style of visual art that makes use of optical illusions.)
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