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CITY ART GALLERY & MUSEUM
- Work by Dawn Ford
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Out of the Toy CupboardMy inspiration mainly lies with childhood and special occasions, such as weddings. I am nostalgic by nature and my children, along with my own childhood memories have provided me with a wealth of ideas. Old, loved and bedraggled cloth dolls still have a hold on me and unfussy, handmade, low cost toys like those made by parents in previous decades are a source of inspiration too. My little people are generally created from old, faded materials. Hand-sewn they are reminiscent of times gone by, when families 'made do' and improvised. I enjoy the intimacy of hand-sewing and the evidence of care taken when someone has gone to the trouble to neatly darn something that today could be so easily thrown away. I enjoy the line and sometimes weightlessness of my wire figures. The act of naming and dressing them allows them to take on a more personalised role. I remember playing with paper dolls and their wardrobe in my early years and find the intricacy and patience needed to make the clothes an exciting addition to my work. I often look towards 40's and 50's fashions for ideas. Many of my illustrations are machine embroidered with fine silks, antique cottons, paper and lace. The more delicate the material the more 'caring' I have to be. I love this parallel between the material and the subject matter. Dawn Ford |
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