July 3 2004, Saturday, 10am-6pm

FROM CANADA, HOLLAND PLUS CARDIFF & OTHER PARTS OF UK,… HALF DOZEN GRADUATES ON "OPUS SCHOOL" CORRESPONDENCE COURSE EXHIBIT THEIR ‘TRULY WONDERFUL’ TEXTILES IN LONDON

Opus School of Textile Arts is an independent art school, which specialises in textiles. It provides a number of courses, for beginners (e.g. Beginners' Embroidery) through to the more advanced (e.g. Advanced Course in Experimental Embroidery). Included are a number of courses leading to degree and level 2 and level 3 City & Guilds qualifications. So, something for everyone, whether young or a little more mature. Which brings us nicely on to the current six participants in this year’s degree show. They are Jane Dams, Elinor Kapp, Joan Richardson, Bea Sewell, Winy Smit, Kay Swancutt.  The students we talked to, at some length, were: Elinor Kapp, from Cardiff; Winy Smitt-Vuijk, from central Holland and a couple of others from various parts of the UK. All were friendly and full of life, seemingly taking on their respective courses after bringing up a family or having pursued a distinctly different career to that of textile creativity and material management. There is a wide range of very creative textile works on show and, while I – personally, am not the best person to judge textiles, all the creations – of all shapes, sizes and materials did appear to be truly wonderful. We especially liked Elinor’s, "Soul Ships" and Winy’s, "Labour of Love." What do you think?

One graduate, based in Canada, had not been seen even though her work is on show… which is probably natural enough, with Opus being a correspondence establishment. Each student has been studying for over five years and this show is a culmination of their successful efforts. When this particular course began, there were nine students altogether, though over the years three did not complete their studies. The school, though, has hundreds of students from over two dozen countries, ranging alphabetically from Australia through to the West Indies. We enjoyed meeting some of them, last Thursday evening. And so will you! Go along and enjoy, as today is the last day of this year’s Opus School’s exhibition.

^MENU A: Free

B: 8, 9, 14, 19, 22 or 38

E: (see website)

L: The Gallery on Cork St, Cork Street, London, W1

M: Opus School of Textile Arts, 20 Crown Street, Harrow on the Hill, Middlesex, HA2 0HR.

N: 020 8864 7283

T: Green Park (Jubilee, Piccadilly & Victoria lines)

W: http://www.opus-online.co.uk

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