Editor's letter - Fantastic
Hello Crafts Council members,
Fantastic can be such a bland compliment, uttered insincerely in a throwaway tone. “Yeah, fantastic…” Not here. We’re in the mood for full-throated celebration. This quarter’s collection of stories teems with both the brilliant and the otherworldly and there is so much to revel in.
Take a ride on the incredible handmade broomsticks of Anna Zoe Hamm, who speaks to Katie Treggiden about how her influences range from folk traditions to computer games.
In Venice, 12 brand new chandeliers illuminate St Marks Square, each one a collaboration between a carefully chosen artist and a Murano glass maker. Corrine Julius looks into these, the ultimate Christmas lights.
In Wales, Jude Rogers enters the bright and joyous world of Andrew Logan. Now 80, the artist has helped to shape an extraordinary number of countercultural movements during his career and the life and the pieces he has created remain full of love.
Christian Jeffery, fresh from exhibiting at this year’s Textile Biennial, creates handpainted football jerseys, meticulously adding layers of craft and symbolism to items that are usually mass produced at great scale. He speaks to football writer Sam Diss.
British-Singaporean artist Hannah Lim has investigated the fantastical side of her heritage, creating ceramic pieces inspired by tales of dragons and more. She talks to Francesca Perry about how she conjures her inspiration.
We also speak to James Fox, author of Craftland, a new book that functions as a state-of-nation look at where heritage crafts are now. Fox’s joy in the work of the people he meets is infectious, as are some of his ideas about the future of making.
The future of their craft is something currently being considered by the Shetland Society of Knitters, and in Bangor, NI, Conale talks to willow weaver Bob Johnston about his ability to make the unreal into the (almost) real and how everyone from HBO to Alexander McQueen has wanted to work with him.
And, finally, we take a look at the craft work behind one of the biggest (and most difficult to initially believe) stories of the year. What pieces of jewellery were stolen from the Louvre, who made them and who owned them?
So, let the festivities commence. What we do is fantastic. You are fantastic. There is still wonder and joy and awe in this life. I hope you enjoy reading this month’s collection in that spirit. Here’s to you and to the worlds you create.
All the best, and with great cheer,
Anna Fielding, Crafts Council Associate Editor.
