- Designs by Dorothy Smith, Sylvia Chalmers and Margaret Stewart have been
made into interiors products for the 21st century and are available
for purchase - Designs by Lucienne Day also on show in the exhibition
Designs by Dorothy Smith, Sylvia Chalmers and
Margaret Stewart
Margaret Stewart
have been made into interiors products for the 21st
century
century
“Dorothy Smith was an
enthusiastic supporter of students throughout her life.
enthusiastic supporter of students throughout her life.
She would have been delighted to see her
designs now being used to inspire new work at The Glasgow School of Art”
designs now being used to inspire new work at The Glasgow School of Art”
Robert
KH Cunningham, Dorothy Smith’s nephew.
KH Cunningham, Dorothy Smith’s nephew.
In the year when we celebrate the centenary of
one of the pioneering and most influential 20th century female
textile designers, Lucienne Day, the GSA is set to bring designs by three other
post war female designers – Dorothy Smith, Sylvia Chalmers and Margaret Stewart
– to a whole new generation.
one of the pioneering and most influential 20th century female
textile designers, Lucienne Day, the GSA is set to bring designs by three other
post war female designers – Dorothy Smith, Sylvia Chalmers and Margaret Stewart
– to a whole new generation.
Taking the on-paper designs by Smith and Chalmers
and fabric samples by Stewart which are held in The Glasgow School of Art’s Archives
and Collections the GSA’s Centre for Advanced Textiles (CAT) has turned them
into textiles, many for the first time. Brightly coloured and strikingly
patterned, the designs reflect the flourishing of design after the austerity of
the WWII, which was encapsulated in the landmark 1951 Festival of Britain that proved a decisive turning
point in Lucienne Day’s career.
and fabric samples by Stewart which are held in The Glasgow School of Art’s Archives
and Collections the GSA’s Centre for Advanced Textiles (CAT) has turned them
into textiles, many for the first time. Brightly coloured and strikingly
patterned, the designs reflect the flourishing of design after the austerity of
the WWII, which was encapsulated in the landmark 1951 Festival of Britain that proved a decisive turning
point in Lucienne Day’s career.
|
| Dorothy Smith (seated in middle) |
|
| Margaret Stewart (standing 5th from left) |
|
| Sylvia Chalmers (seated on table) |
Stewart were part of generation of pioneering designers who embraced the end of
austerity after WWII to create vibrant and innovative designs,” says Susannah Waters, Archives and Collections Manager at the GSA.
“As we celebrate the centenary of the birth of Lucienne Day, one of the
most renowned post war textile designers, it seemed an appropriate time to
throw the spotlight of some of the talented designers who studied at The
Glasgow School of Art, and what better to way to celebrate their contribution
to 20th design than to create products which can be enjoyed by a new
generation.”
most renowned post war textile designers, it seemed an appropriate time to
throw the spotlight of some of the talented designers who studied at The
Glasgow School of Art, and what better to way to celebrate their contribution
to 20th design than to create products which can be enjoyed by a new
generation.”
“Having the
chance to collaborate with our Archives and Collections to bring this
pioneering generation of designers to the attention of a new generation through
their adaptation for 21st century use has been particularly exciting,” adds Alan Shaw, Head of the
GSA’s Centre for Advances Textiles, which uses state of the art technology to
print straight from computer screen to fabric.
chance to collaborate with our Archives and Collections to bring this
pioneering generation of designers to the attention of a new generation through
their adaptation for 21st century use has been particularly exciting,” adds Alan Shaw, Head of the
GSA’s Centre for Advances Textiles, which uses state of the art technology to
print straight from computer screen to fabric.
QUOTE HERE FROM
DOROTHY SMITH’S NEPHEW
DOROTHY SMITH’S NEPHEW
Wall hangings,
cushions and tea towels created from designs by Dorothy Smith, Sylvia Chalmers
and Margaret Stewart are exhibited alongside archival material including
photographs and original on-paper works and digitally printed textiles of
designs by Lucienne Day. Both Robin and Lucienne Day were associated with the
GSA as external examiners and working with The Robin and Lucienne
Day Foundation, CAT produce the world’s only licensed digital reprints of Day’s
iconic 1950s-60s furnishing fabrics as part of their Classic Textiles range.
cushions and tea towels created from designs by Dorothy Smith, Sylvia Chalmers
and Margaret Stewart are exhibited alongside archival material including
photographs and original on-paper works and digitally printed textiles of
designs by Lucienne Day. Both Robin and Lucienne Day were associated with the
GSA as external examiners and working with The Robin and Lucienne
Day Foundation, CAT produce the world’s only licensed digital reprints of Day’s
iconic 1950s-60s furnishing fabrics as part of their Classic Textiles range.
Pioneers of Post-War Pattern
is on show at the GSA from 16 September – 8 October 2017. Exhibition open 10am
– 4.30m daily. Entry free.
is on show at the GSA from 16 September – 8 October 2017. Exhibition open 10am
– 4.30m daily. Entry free.
All the products
created from designs by Dorothy Smith, Sylvia Chalmers and Margaret Stewart are
available for purchase (Tea-towels £17.50, Cushions £49.50, Wall-Hangings
£165). For further details see Notes for Editors.
created from designs by Dorothy Smith, Sylvia Chalmers and Margaret Stewart are
available for purchase (Tea-towels £17.50, Cushions £49.50, Wall-Hangings
£165). For further details see Notes for Editors.
Ends
For further information, images and interviews contact:
Lesley Booth,
0779 941 4474
press@gsa.ac.uk
@GSofAMedia
Notes for Editors
Pioneers of Post-War Pattern products from designs by Dorothy
Smith, Sylvia Chalmers and Margaret Stewart
Smith, Sylvia Chalmers and Margaret Stewart
Designs and designers
|
Sylvia Chalmers:
Boats
Birds in a Tree
‘Hellzapoppin’
Swings & Hammocks
Florabunda
|
Dorothy Smith:
Geometry 1
Geometry 2
Borders
|
Margaret Stewart:
Totem
Twigs
Mermaids
Spaces
|
|
Designs are printed
onto linen union fabric and are available as cushions and tea towels.
Cushions (45 cm x 45 cm) £49.50
Tea-towels (67 cm x 48 cm) £17.50
Four of the
designs: Boats, Geometry 1, Birds in a Tree and Florabunda, are also available as wall hangings:
Wall-Hangings (84 cm x 119 cm) £165
|
About The Glasgow School of Art’s Archives and Collections
The Glasgow School of
Art’s archives and collections are an outstanding resource for the study of
art, design, architecture and art education.They comprise of a wide range of
material from GSA’s institutional archives to artworks and architectural drawings,
textile pieces, plaster casts, photographs and furniture. Our holdings also
include a large number of items by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his
contemporaries.
Art’s archives and collections are an outstanding resource for the study of
art, design, architecture and art education.They comprise of a wide range of
material from GSA’s institutional archives to artworks and architectural drawings,
textile pieces, plaster casts, photographs and furniture. Our holdings also
include a large number of items by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his
contemporaries.
The archives are open
to researchers by appointment. Contact details:
to researchers by appointment. Contact details:
w: www.gsa.ac.uk/ archives
archives@gsa.ac.uk / 0141 566 1418
About The Glasgow School of Art’s Centre for Advanced Textiles
The Centre provides a commercial digital fabric
printing and textile design service, consulting to large and small
manufacturers as well as to individuals. The speed of this technology enables
businesses to respond rapidly to new and changing markets and creates cost
efficient opportunities for niche marketing.
printing and textile design service, consulting to large and small
manufacturers as well as to individuals. The speed of this technology enables
businesses to respond rapidly to new and changing markets and creates cost
efficient opportunities for niche marketing.
Digital textile printing technology allows
designs and images to be printed straight from the computer screen onto fabric
creating exciting opportunities for customised design and allowing photographic
quality reproduction onto natural fibres, such as silk, wool, linen and cotton.
designs and images to be printed straight from the computer screen onto fabric
creating exciting opportunities for customised design and allowing photographic
quality reproduction onto natural fibres, such as silk, wool, linen and cotton.
CAT@GSA.AC.UK / +44 (0)141 353 4742
The Robin and Lucienne
Day Foundation
Day Foundation
Furniture designer Robin Day (1915 – 2010) and
textile designer Lucienne Day (1917 – 2010) hold a unique place in 20th century
design history. For nearly seven decades they pursued independent careers
alongside each other, both making outstanding contributions to British design.
textile designer Lucienne Day (1917 – 2010) hold a unique place in 20th century
design history. For nearly seven decades they pursued independent careers
alongside each other, both making outstanding contributions to British design.
The Robin and Lucienne
Day Foundation’s objectives are:
Day Foundation’s objectives are:
1. To promote knowledge, appreciation and
understanding of the nation’s design heritage in general, and the work of Robin
and Lucienne Day in particular.
understanding of the nation’s design heritage in general, and the work of Robin
and Lucienne Day in particular.
2. To encourage provision of public access
to the design legacies of Robin and Lucienne Day.
to the design legacies of Robin and Lucienne Day.
3. To provide opportunities, in a form
true to the democratic spirits of Robin and Lucienne Day, which will enable the
general public or students of educational establishments to further their study
of design in general, and furniture or textile design in particular.
true to the democratic spirits of Robin and Lucienne Day, which will enable the
general public or students of educational establishments to further their study
of design in general, and furniture or textile design in particular.
The Foundation is an independent organisation
chaired by Paula Day and run by a Board of Trustees, all of whom donate their
time and expertise to further the charity’s objectives.
chaired by Paula Day and run by a Board of Trustees, all of whom donate their
time and expertise to further the charity’s objectives.
The Foundation is the proprietor of all
intellectual property rights in the works of Robin and Lucienne Day. It is
committed to managing their designs in such a way as to maintain the integrity
of their legacies. The Foundation endorses and licenses only high-quality,
authentic productions of Robin and Lucienne Day’s original designs, and all
royalties are paid directly to the Foundation to support its work.
intellectual property rights in the works of Robin and Lucienne Day. It is
committed to managing their designs in such a way as to maintain the integrity
of their legacies. The Foundation endorses and licenses only high-quality,
authentic productions of Robin and Lucienne Day’s original designs, and all
royalties are paid directly to the Foundation to support its work.
www.robinandluciennedayfoundation.org/foundation