Artist Talk – Textile artist Cas Holmes in conversation with Rob Smith

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In this talk with Rob Smith, textile artist Cas Holmes talks about her work “Memory”, featured in the Storytellers exhibition. Cas exclusively works with found materials and physical textiles. This particular piece is part of a series of four created over the past two years, inspired by the artist’s life partner, Derek, who experienced a stroke.

Cas discusses the process of reorganising life as a carer and how the materials used have a personal history, mostly gathered during her travels as an artist. The initial motivation was retrieving domestic tablecloths, associated with shared moments and conversations. The act of repairing and working with these materials became a metaphor for rebuilding their lives after the stroke, with material, especially cloth, carrying its own narrative.

The use of gold thread, inspired by the Japanese art of repairing broken things with gold, becomes a conscious element in the work. It symbolises the preciousness within everyone, drawing a connection between the physical act of stitching and the transformative power of textiles.

Rob then encourages Cas to explore her life story, from growing up in Norfolk with Romani heritage to her formal art education. It touches upon the transition from being a painter to primarily working with cloth, emphasising the intimate connection she feels when physically handling the material.

The talk develops to Cas’ extensive travels, particularly to Japan, and the importance of making connections with people. She expresses pride in being part of the storytelling community within the textile art world, focusing on the value of artists’ voices in shaping human culture.

The discussion concludes with reflections on the essence of art, the importance of communication through creativity, and Cas’ commitment to providing opportunities for others in the field. The interview sheds light on the personal and societal aspects intertwined in the her work, inviting viewers to interpret and connect with the pieces on their terms.

Recorded on 3rd February 2024 at the Beaney House of Art and Knowledge, Canterbury.

#arts #culture #creatives #conversation #interview #talk #artisttalk #textile #textileart @CasHolmestextiles

★FIND OUT ABOUT CAS HOLMES
➡️ https://casholmes.uk/
➡️ The unique textile art of Cas Holmes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj88zNsjRx8

★FIND OUT MORE ABOUT ROB SMITH
➡️ https://www.wildrovermedia.com/

★★★BOOKS BY CAS HOLMES★★
➡️ Stitch Stories: Personal places, spaces and traces in textile art: https://amzn.to/492cRc6
➡️ Embroidering the Everyday: Found, Stitch and Paint: https://amzn.to/428mYda
➡️ Textile Landscape: Painting with Cloth in Mixed Media: https://amzn.to/3UpaL1V
➡️ Connected Cloth: Creating Collaborative Textile Projects: https://amzn.to/3tOD5Qo
➡️ Found Object in Textile Art: Recycling and repurposing natural, printed and vintage objects: https://amzn.to/47PNyJi

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#arts #culture #kent #creatives #conversation #interview #talk #artisttalk

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