Textiles artist - Alysn Midgelow-Marsden. A film by Big Ant Video based in Derby

[@petersolomon8894]

Big Ant Video are to be congratulated for introducing viewers to the work of textile artist Alysn Midgelow-Marsden. I especially liked the (unfashionable) use of multiple exposures in this film, that refer to layering in the artist’s work. Textile artwork has a long lineage. And where you may have to hunt out the work today, its popularity all but exploded in the 1980s. This work is one of few areas of expression to bridge craft and art. One of markers of textile art is that it is mostly done by women. I expect this explains one reason Big Ant’s documentary short film has not attracted previous comments: the subject just isn’t phallocentric enough for KZbin’s dominant male audience. I believe there is a social resistance to women using patterning in artwork, and a misguided, prosaic view that in the scheme of things, patterning is “low art”. Similarly, where (white) male artists are rewarded for working in abstraction or field painting, they are all but dismissed by the arts establishment if they chose to work in patterning and/or textile art. Perversely, an equally negative judgement is applied to women who work in abstraction. Presumably these value judgements are to do with the Mandarins of art culture attempting to sustain an outmoded idea of artists keeping to their gender congruence? Textile art may be an acquired taste. However, if you can give yourself over to the jewel-like intricacies of its surface textures; its colour and moods, I think the experience can be rewarding.

[@BigAntVideo]

Peter Solomon Thank you for the long and interesting comment Peter. I did this mini documentary because I knew Alison, and found what she created fascinating and compelling. I (like you) felt that it needed more coverage - and also felt that people maybe didn't appreciate the enormous amount of research, inspiration and skill that goes into each of these multi-layered works of art. Alison's works have a wonderful 3D quality - you feel immersed in the textures and colours (much like the nature she is inspired by). One of her creations takes pride of place on our hallway where we see it everyday.

[@petersolomon8894]

That is good to know. Those of us who are creative in someway understand what it is to be misunderstood, or overlooked. On one hand society selectively puts a few artists on pedestals. However, on the other hand society perversely takes pleasure in knocking people off the pedestals they erected in the first place. Such is life! :)

[@BigAntVideo]

@Dakari Lyle definitely don't care.

[@arianamanescu1157]

Bună sa va fie de bine