Radical, rebellious or ridiculous - the hat designs of Philip Treacy - Blog - ABC Arts

Radical, rebellious or ridiculous - the hat designs of Philip Treacy - Blog - ABC Arts

April Snow

Just because the world looks so very different when blanketed in white, I got the camera out to record the effect on my spring flowers......

Wear a Hat Day

When I read in the Hat Magazine that Brain Tumour Research were planning a Wear a Hat Day to raise awareness and funds on the 30th march it was too good an opportunity to miss. Especially as my HNC Millinery students were booked for that day at Wetherby Racecourse to do some pre event PR for their May Ladies day enterprise event. So with the help of the very gifted and talented Visual Communication student Vicky at Leeds College of Art a poster was made to generate some interest for a hat wearing day at the college on the 27th. As it was the first of its kind I was wary about the level of interest, but was pleasantly surprised, we raised over £140 and many took part.

Linda on reception.

As several of my millinery students were at Grazia office hoping to be selected by the lovely milliners Stephen Jones and Philip Treacy as the next new thing, I was fortunate to have the wonderful help of my past students Marie Kay and Beth Hirst and my colleague Sue Carter at Wetherby racecourse on the 30th march.

Sue, Beth & Marie

We had a brilliant day and heard lots of heart rending stories of people who had been affected by the illness, which puts things into perspective. Great fun choosing the best ladies and mens' hat for the day. Margaret who works at the race course had created a Pie and Peas hat from salt dough and blu-tack brilliant and David had been made to wear his ladies hat, he seemed comfortable in it. We raised over £700 thanks to the wonderful racegoers and the brilliant Michelle and Ben at the racecourse.

Hat Works - A museum for all?

When I volunteer at Hat Works, i am often there when it is closed which for a museum geek like me is truly brilliant. Equally I love being there when the public are and listening to their comments and thoughts. One frequently heard is the 'I haven't visited before and am really pleasantly surprised" often the expectation that its just pretty ladies' hats ... my old gripe of hats' for the races! When in fact the hatting industry is a plethora of skills, techniques, materials etc. and was not an easy industry to be involved in.

So a brief look at the blockmakers, in many ways my favourite bit.

Manager's Office

Lathes and those gorgeous blocks

William Plant donated aspects of the factory to hat Works when they closed down.

Pumped up Kicks

A fantastic new exhibition opened on Thursday at Leeds Met Gallery, Broadcasting Place, Leeds. Developed by the Young Curators a group of young people between the age of 16 and 23 brought together to develop the exhibition.

The group formed in depths of Winter last November under the watchful guidance of artist Amelia Crouch. They began their journey by visiting a range of fine art exhibitions within Leeds, Bradford, Manchester and Newcastle as they began to formulate what a well curated exhibition looked like and an understanding of the beguiling world of Fine Art and Artists.

The work began with the concept of OverWorlds and UnderWorlds which is Yorkshire's contribution to the Artists Taking the Lead Cultural Olympiad Programme. The group focused on the underworlds side of this theme looking at the (mis)interpretation of youth culture and the recent attacks on students in Leeds and the Summer Riots. The work on display selected by the group from an open call to artists, ranges from installations that consider the rebellious nature of youth to prints that relate more overtly to the political situation today. Artists represented include Mike Ainsworth, Louise Burrows, Juan delGado, Emma Gamble, Benjamin Simons and Guy Tarrant. the exhibition runs until March 24th and is well worth a visit.

Emma Gamble courtesy of Saatchionline.co.uk

The Book of Bees

This is truly brilliant. I love bees and I love books the artist has combined the two in exquisite design bravo.

Alec Finlay's work had already inspired me about 18 months ago when in the midst of my MA, his propagator work featured at YSP is quietly stunning, so to see his new project hanging inside the corridor was quite exciting. He will be doing talks in the Summer.

Propagator - Alec Finlay

The Camellia House, YSP

When I am rich.........How wonderful to be able to have a glass house like this to muse within, it is a place of tranquility and beauty. Reminds me of the arboretum in the park in Barcelona. And as my camellias languish under the Northern wind in my garden I can appreciate someone else s.