Rawhide Crown
I was invited by the Marfa Book Company to present some of my work towards the end of my recent time in Texas. The exhibition included some of my existing designs as well as some more speculative pieces which I’d developed whilst in Marfa.
Photo - Ada Smith
Some of the new objects on show; a crown of rawhide just creeping into frame on the left, a shepherds’ sling in braided goatskin, a loop of shin-dagger fibres. The Sconce - my gold-leaf and leather candle holder - is up on the wall.
For those people who know me as a handbag designer I’m conscious that these objects might be a surprise or seem like a big jump from my usual work. Prior to dedicating myself to leatherwork some eight or nine years ago I had a background as an artist. It seems that side of things wants to bubble back up. These objects aren’t quite functional nor are they purely sculptural, they sit somewhere in between. The best term for them that I’ve come up with so far is ‘speculative objects’. While my main focus will always be the functional objects such as handbags I’ll continue to explore this more playful and experimental terrain.
This object was made some years ago during my residency at F.I.T. At that point I was thinking about the emotional component of my work, about the heart which I try and invest into all my commissions. I began wondering if there was a way to distil this heartfullness into simpler objects. Perhaps by selecting an object with no aim, no utility, it might be free to carry this heartfulness more completely?
The ring is made of a single skein of wool unwound from end to end, bound at regular intervals and ready to be cut when the time is right. A sharp knife slicing through the plumpest point of these bound wool balls releases a series of pompom charms. On the opening evening they were cut and distributed to the guests, shared out like seeds to be sewn.
A crown made of rawhide, leather’s strange step-sister.
A shepherd’s sling braided in goatskin.
Photo - Ada Smith
The Sconce, a special project released last year. Cow-hide, pure gold-leaf, forged iron and beeswax.
Special thanks to Tim Johnson for the invitation and Ross Cashiola for his efforts in bringing the space together, to Van Hanos for his kind help leading up to the show and to the many guests who brought their interest and enthusiasm on the opening night.