The area around the Cotswolds and Thames Valley became one of the most vibrant rural centres of the Arts and Crafts Movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Inspired by William Morris’s retreat at Kelmscott Manor, several groups of designers and makers settled in the region, from Ernest Gimson and the Barnsley brothers, to C R Ashbee and his Guild of Handicraft, and designers and artists drawn south from the Birmingham School of Art. They were followed by friends and admirers to create a region-wide craft community that lasts to this day. This talk explores their work, and their impact on the architecture, art and life of the area, looking at all areas of craft from country houses to churches to utopian communities.
Kirsty Hartsiotis has recently joined the team at Swindon Museums as a Collections and Exhibitions Officer, but for the 15 years prior to that she was the curator of the Designated Arts and Crafts Movement collection at The Wilson Art Gallery and Museum in Cheltenham. Passionate about sharing her deep love for and knowledge of the arts, she’s an Accredited Arts Society lecturer. Also a freelance researcher, currently working on Arts and Crafts material in churches in the South West, particularly stained glass and war memorials. She’s also been an oral storyteller for over 20 years, and has published a number of collections of stories. She’s the current Editor of The Journal of William Morris Studies, is a regular columnist for Cotswold Life, and writes for diverse other publications on art history and folklore.
Image: Detail of Karl Parsons’ Window to Margaret Tew 2023/4, Hempsted, Gloucester
Date/Time
Date(s) - 29/08/2024
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Categories
