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Men
in EmbroideryI've just been accepted onto the Masters Degree Fine Art course at Nottingham Trent University, to start in January 2004. My work includes making images of fractals using cellular automata programs in needlepoint. I find that the digital nature of the processes I use translate easily to this medium; pixels on a computer monitor are analogous to stitches on canvas. There are some precedents for this type of thing (mainly Muslim), and it's the marriage of old technology with relatively new images that I like.
I don't know anyone else, let alone men, who 'sew', but I have heard of Kaffe Fasset and Jean Lurcat. Because I'm 'arty', it doesn't surprise people much that I'm doing this, but I suspect that if it wasn't for the fact that I'm doing it for art, a few eyebrows would be raised.
I'm trying to find people/organisations who would be willing to assist me with my research, either financially or with any useful information - can anyone help?
May
your stitches be tidy
Guy
Guy Birkin guybirkin@yahoo.co.uk
Some men write into the World of Cross Stitching and Cross Stitcher magazines. Maybe if you approach these magazines you could put out an appeal. There is also a chat room on www.cross-stitching.com where we have men! But be warned... we talk about all sorts as well as stitching! You could also try going to the Craft and Stitch shows around the country. Many men are involved in running the stalls. Also you could try speaking to Adam Spiers who owns a cross stitch shop called 'Cotswold Needlecrafts'.
Susan Weatherilt
Men
and beadworkI'm researching a completely different area - beadwork in the Straits Settlements - for my thesis at the Australian National University. I am interested in the gender question in a different context (ie Straits beadwork). I have met a few men who do beadwork, but largely on a professional rather than personal level.
Fen, cheah.hwei-fen@anu.edu.au