Last weekend was our first Cooper's Yard Open Studio event. We chatted to many interesting folk including photographers, film-makers, students, art teachers, printers, subway enthusiasts, old colleagues and chums ... we even played a spontaneous game of balloon football with a two-year-old. Yes! We hope to see you again next time.
Mike used paper, pencil, pen
It's no secret that we're fans of Horniman Museum and Gardens. After a recent visit to their African Worlds Gallery, we were itching to make some masks of our own. Mike was drawn to the Nigerian Janus-faced masks, while Tanya was influenced by the Kenyan initiation masks. As you can probably tell, the aim was not to replicate - the originals were a springboard for our own ideas. All-in-all a very satisfying Saturday afternoon project, which we hope will grow (stringy) legs of its own.
Tanya used cotton sateen, silk, wool, ribbon, pen and parcel string
Legs are model's own
Mike is constantly drawing; he discards scraps of paper covered in characters. Feeling the ideas are too good to waste, Tanya often picks them up and takes them on a stage. This one she turned into an appliqué and embroidered cushion.
