Welcome to our conversation with two artists who work with fabric, thread, form and colour. The Edinburgh-based Louise Bennetts and Laura Lees both delight in textiles and stitching, frequently inspired by the architecture that surrounds them, weaving in memory of place and the urban landscape.
In their conversation with Susanna, they share stories from their early years - Louise studied at Edinburgh College of Art and Royal College of Art; Laura studied tapestry at Duncan of Jordanstone in Dundee - and how moving from Scotland to London and back to Edinburgh has inspired a delight in exploring an ever-changing urban landscape. Susanna talks to Louise in her exhibition, Urban Fabric at Leith's Custom Lane and explores Laura's show at Bard.
Laura's exhibition Wish You Were Here is at Bard, Edinburgh until 18th July.
Louise's site-specific commission, The Unconformities is on show in Earth Matters, Inverleith House, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh until 1st November.
Thanks so much for listening to our conversation. Please do spread the word, share, subscribe and rate and rave -we really want to share these conversations far and wide!
And don’t forget to explore our previous podcasts such as Viv Lee and Jonathan Wade talking clay and the making of Earth Becoming for Earth Matters or Susanna's conversation with celebrated film maker Mark Cousins about his film, A Sudden Glimpse to Deeper Things celebrating the artist, Wilhelmina Barns-Graham.
And coming soon, Susanna heads to Orkney to visit the celebrated Pier Arts Centre, explores Hospitalfield in Arbroath and speaks to the artist, Florence Peake and hears from weavers and artists at Edinburgh's Dovecot Studio.
Huge thanks to musician Malin Lewis for Cycle Lane which accompanies DES Talks and Ryan Scott Media for production.
Image - Laura Lees, Tennent's Lager postcard
