Courtesy Crafts Council
Festival: Origin 2009, Somerset House, London, until October 18 2009
National and international craft makers have descended on London's Somerset House for this year's Crafts Council Origin craft fair.
This is the fourth year Origin has taken place, having attracted more than 20,000 visitors and more than 300 exhibitors last year.
Origin showcases the best contemporary craft makers who work in a variety of mediums including ceramics, glass, metal, jewellery, furniture, textiles, paper and wood in a specially erected pavilion in the Edmond J Safra Fountain Court.
One highlight this year is a display of contemporary basketry aimed at increasing public understanding and appreciation of the discipline, coinciding with basket maker Mary Butcher's current residency at the Victoria and Albert Museum's Sackler Centre.
Courtesy Crafts Council
Basketry will feature in the Origin Intervention, Crafting Space and Crafts council Collection Showcase. Butcher has selected eight leading basket makers to present a unique object for the Origin Intervention.
The pieces show the individual approach each maker takes to basketry. Even before visitors get inside Origin, they will be invited to explore an architectural sculpture of bamboo and inner tubing in the corner of the courtyard.
Elizabeth Murton explores the traditional techniques of basketry with abstract forms made from newspaper which explore repetition and pattern in basketry construction.
There is also the opportunity to try your hand at a spot of basketry in Hybrid Basketry, where members of the public are invited to de-construct commonly found basketry objects and re-weave them to create new forms and shapes.
There will also be a pair of family workshops and two ticketed masterclass events, held in the Learning Centre at Somerset House.
Keep up to date with Culture24's exhibition news, reviews and previews with iGoogle - a more personal way to use Google.com
