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    For the past 38 years we have been championing contemporary craft in the vibrant city of Leeds to shine a spotlight on independent makers and their small businesses from across Yorkshire and the rest of the UK.  Through an exciting seasonal exhibition programme we highlight the skills behind handmade and share their inspiring stories.  Bringing these amazing collections of contemporary craft together under one roof has created a haven for many visitors to escape the stresses of daily life & create mindful experiences.  Please help us keep the gallery and the hundreds of small businesses we support alive by donating what you can so we can continue to keep bringing the very best of contemporary craft to you and help us and these creative industries thrive.

    If you would like to make a donation to the Craft Centre - please click the button below.

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    Copyright 2020.  Registered Charity No: 513457. Website design by Caroline Lloyd and maintained by The Craft Centre Team.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Catch up with our Meet the Maker Event with Florence Hoy (Timid Elk)

    This event was a unique opportunity to meet paper artist Florence Hoy (Timid Elk) who also co-ordinates our card section here in the gallery.  Visitors asked Florence questions, saw her at work and some of her beautiful finished lampshades which are displayed with the gallery at the moment.

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    Florence, who works under the name Timid Elk is a Wakefield based designer/maker.  She originally trained in ceramics but found more joy in creating the paper test pieces.  She is currently exploring the theme of repetition through her curious commodities collection.  The potential that repetition can bestow on an item is fascinating; the most rudimentary of objects can evolve into something grandiose, something which far exceeds its previous status. It transforms the insignificant and overlooked.

     

    Florence has two strands to her practice, she creates site-specific large scale paper installations and then using the same themes and techniques creates a more accessible homeware range.  She uses a selection of papers but always tries to recycle, some of her most popular products are constructed from used train tickets and outdated ordinance survey maps.  Florence has worked extensively with the National Trust and was offered a three month residency as Nostell Priory in which she had to respond to a set of Etruscan Vases which had been a part of the property for hundreds of years.  The work was then on display, along with the vases, for the next 4 months.  Following that, she was asked to return in December 2017 and create hundreds of paper ornaments for an 18ft Christmas tree which would be in situ in the Top Hall of Nostell.

     

    She delivers a range of creative workshops including bookbinding, sculptural lampshade making, origami ornaments – please contact Florence for details via her website www.timidelk.com

     

    Florence's event took place on Saturday 27th July 2019

    Missed Florence's event?  We took some photographs throughout the day and a few of videos of her at work.  Enjoy!