Scissors Paper Stone, an exhibition of innovative contemporary craft by makers who live, work or have trained in Edinburgh, opens this week at the City Art Centre.

Ten makers, at varying stages in their careers, were commissioned to create new work inspired by the theme of ‘Edinburgh’.

Metal worker Katie Pica hand-crafted a silver mask etched with the Edinburgh’s renowned skyline, ceramicist Helen Beard’s porcelain bowls have hand painted illustrations of typical Edinburgh scenes and glass artist Jessica Townsend has produced beautifully detailed, miniature glass interiors of tenement flats.

Katharina Vones has designed jewellery inspired by Edinburgh’s botanical and marine life and Lorna Fraser has created a ‘dream garden of clay’ of very fragile white plants.

The history of Edinburgh also features strongly in the works, but in quite differing ways. 

Milliner Felicity Faichney created four theatrical head pieces for the exhibition inspired by the medieval street names and closes of the Old Town.  She explains “All four headpieces are essentially period in shape but executed in materials suggested by their associated street or close name, and reflect either their history or the contemporary feel of the locations as they are today.

“The headpiece inspired by Candlemaker Row for example is a very delicate lace-like cap made with wax and glues incorporating quotes by Covenanters, referencing the National Covenant which was read out in Greyfriars Church. The other three pieces are inspired by the Cowgate, Fleshmarket Close and Cockburn Street.”

Textile artist Deirdre Nelson and Dr Juliette MacDonald combined the use of fine intricate embroidery and mass produced crockery to explore the social freedom women gained during 18th century Edinburgh.  And fibre artist Anna S King and Edinburgh Makar Valerie Gillies collaborated on a mixed media installation about the Royal Mile and Edinburgh’s old town cries.

Derived from Edinburgh’s literary, publishing and bookbinding heritage, Rachel Hazell created a poetic installation of words and images on paper suspended on weighted threads.

 Finally, an embroidered quilt detailing the past 25 years of Malcolm Cruickshank’s life in Edinburgh provided a very autobiographical response to the theme.

Alongside the commissioned pieces on display are sketchbooks, drawings, research material and models offering insight into the maker’s working practice and the inspiration for their pieces.

The exhibition is accompanied by an extensive events programme comprising talks, tours, workshops, demonstrations and hands-on activities for families.

The exhibition is on from 13 October 2007 to 19 January 2008 at the City Art Centre, 2 Market Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1DE tel: 0131 529 3993.  Open Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm.  Admission free.