An exhibition by Julie Arkell, one of Britain’s most important contemporary folk artists, has opened at Gracefield Arts Centre in Dumfries.

Julie works in papier mache and mixed media, and is influenced by her childhood in the 1950s, prior to our age of consumerism, fast food and throw away culture.  The exhibition ‘Home’ pays tribute to craftsmanship and home-making, knitting socks, baking, sewing clothes both for family and dolls.

This exhibition introduces her curious ‘people creatures’; knitheads, rabbit poets, jar creatures and dolls of many parts.  An avid collector, she recycles ‘the rejected debris of everyday like’, using paper from old books often found at flea markets or jumble sales, fabrics from vintage clothes and objects that have been sourced from her local hardware and haberdashery stores.

She employs traditional techniques such as papier mache, stitching, knitting, painting, embroidery and collage.  By using scraps of text and objects, which have already had a history, she perpetuates their sentiment and breathes new life into them.  She is fascinated with the layering of meaning, age, use and emotion that can be found in these ‘second-hand’ objects.

She explains “I respond to the imperfections of things. Something frayed, faded, stained or coming undone has more meaning to me than an object perfectly put together. .. Folk art, childrens’ work and toys are all sources of inspiration as feel they have the spirit of being part of everyday life: being used and enjoyed for their sincerity and enthusiasm.”

The exhibition - Julie Arkell: Home - is on at Gracefield Arts Centre, 28 Edinburgh Road, Dumfries tel: 01387 262084 from Tuesday 7 March until Saturday 15 April 2006.  Opening hours Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm.  Admission  Free.

On Friday 10 March 2006 at 2pm Julie Arkell will be introducing ‘Home’ in the Galleries and providing an insight into her practice.