Weavers Guild of Aberdeen Award Winner - Matt Russell

On Thursday the 10th of November I was invited to an intimate awards ceremony hosted by the City Guild of Aberdeen to allow me to meet the Guild as well as present my research, development and weaving samples.  I gave a presentation exploring my work, thought process and development leading onto how beneficial the cash sum the guild presented me contributed to my research and studying in Nanjing China last March - there I  researched textiles of the east as well as Chinese Culture and language. 

Read more about my Chinese Experience in depth via the links below.

- Nanjing University

- Nanjing City

- Confucius Temple

- Mochou Lake 

- Chinese Painting

- Hot Pot experience 

- Purple Mountain Tomb of Dr Sun

 I was so pleasantly received by the guild and it was a wonderful privilege to be given a dedicated night to my work. There was a private tour of the Guild Property where there were hundreds of magnificent paintings and priceless chairs and artefacts dating back to the 12th Century. Such an archive of wonders I was given an insight into historical pieces the public are unavailable to witness. Such an inspiration.

This is a short summary of the Work I created for the guild - beginning with research and developing through to the winning weaving samples and outcome. 

Research of Pattern Colour and Tone

I began my research for pattern, colour and tone at Glasgow's Botanic Gardens where the have a fantastic array of exotic plants and flowers. I Posted a full blog post about my research at the Gardens which you can read in full here.

Weaving in Action

I began researching traditional weaving methods at the Edinburgh weaving mill as well as an in depth visit to Lanark Weaving Mill museum where I learned the traditional methods and principles of Scottish weaving.

You can read about Matt's Visit to the Mills via the links below. 

- New Lanark Mill and Heritage centre.

- Edinburgh Weaving Mill

I then took all my research gathered from the Botanic Gardens as well as the Mill's into my weaves and developed them into my work as you can see below. 

Winning Weaving Profile

The following photographs are a insight into my weaves designs, for these I took the colour texture and tone research from the botanic gardens and combined it with the traditional methods of Scottish weaving. I created these designs which explored both the exotic as well as the local. I used some innovative materials such as the coloured branches - which are seen in a range of warm and earthy colours giving a contrast to the soft and versatile wools and chenille etc.

I would especially like to thank Lorraine Sneddon the technician from Gray's School of art, who helped me overcome any technical difficulties weaving my branches.
Thank you very much also to Weavers Guild of Aberdeen who's contribution to my trip to China was incredibly beneficial as well as an incredible privilege to be invited to the City Guild and be given such a warm welcome at the ceremony and for the wonderfull insight into Aberdeen's past and future.