Page 50 - ESPC Premier Living Spring Summer 2020

Premier LIVING

TAPESTRIES & TEXTILES

As Director of Dovecot Studios, Celia Joicey wants

to take Scottish tapestry to the world…

DOVECOT Studios is a world-renowned design world. In early 2019, there was Dovecot and Scottish tapestry: “We
tapestry studio in the heart of the an exhibition about the renowned want to bring international audiences
Old Town and landmark centre for designer Orla Kiely, whose prints can be to Edinburgh, but we also want to
contemporary art, craft and design. found on a variety of household items. take Scottish tapestry to the world.”
Established in 1912, the studio was From the beginning of April to the end
originally located in Corstorphine and of June, the studio will also be hosting Present this article at Dovecot Studios
named after the historic landmark there. an exhibition Mid-Century Modern: Art on Infirmary Street to get 2 for 1
Fast forward to the 21st century, & Design from Conran to Quant. It will tickets to Mid-Century Modern: Art &
and the Dovecot Foundation, which present the design, fashion, and art Design from Conran to Quant. Find out
was set up to support the studio, of a group of radical young architects, more about Dovecot and upcoming
secured a new public-facing building designers, photographers and artists who events at dovecotstudios.com
for the studio. The former Infirmary redefined the concept of youth and the
Bathhouse, which was designed by the established order of post-war Britain.
same architect behind Portobello Baths, One of these is English designer
became Dovecot’s new home in 2008. Terence Conran, credited with making
The Victorian building made the perfect stylish housewares and home décor
new setting for Dovecot, with space for available to a wider market beginning
a weaving floor, alongside a room for in the 1960s, who founded household
events, exhibitions, a café and a shop. furnishings retailer Habitat.
Taking over as Director of Dovecot in However, while the events and exhibitions
late 2017, Celia Joicey has enjoyed a hosted by the Dovecot help attract new
varied career working in museums and audiences to the venue, it remains a
galleries, but said she had “a particular tapestry studio first and foremost.
affinity for textiles from back when she Celia said: “Dovecot specialises in large-
was a student”. Celia studied a post- scale tapestry where we are working with
graduate in Design History at the Royal contemporary artists to realise a vision
College of Art, which was affiliated of something that they can’t make on
with the Victoria & Albert Museum. their own. But equally we have made
Celia said: “When I left university, tapestries that are more domestic that
moving to London was a great continue to live in people’s homes. Celia has always
opportunity and I got a place on this “We think of tapestry as a fine art had an affinity
with textiles.
course. We studied for a year with all form at Dovecot. For our weavers, it’s Below: the
the curators at the V&A and researchers. like any artists – they have no choice, weaving hall
Then we had a break for a thesis they have to do it, it’s their calling.” at the former
and mine specialised in textiles.” Celia’s aim is to raise the profile of swimming pool
After the course, Celia took on many
roles in the arts world, working as a
lecturer, in research and in publishing.
Prior to her appointment as Director of
Dovecot Studios, she was Head of the
Fashion and Textile Museum in London.
When speaking about the history of the
studio with Celia, it’s clear the heritage of
Dovecot is a core inspiration for many of
the exhibitions and events, from the recent
Mae Morris exhibition (her father William
Morris trained two of the original weavers
of the exhibition) to a future project with
Edinburgh University on medicine for
women in the 19th and 20th century (the
Infirmary baths building replaced the old
Royal Infirmary Hospital which had stood PHOTOGRAPH: SHANNON TOFTS
there from mid-1700s to late 1800s).
As a tapestry studio, many of Dovecot’s
events focus on textiles and several of
these therefore link into the interior

50 ESPC Premier Living