BBC Blast

14 May 2007

When the BBC Blast on Tour came to Folkestone Harbour over May Bank Holiday weekend, Strange Cargo ran a one day workshop project for young people aged 13 to 19.
Inspired by the work of contemporary German artist Boris Hoppek, Strange Cargo artists Greg Stobbs and Richard Orasinski demonstrated techniques for producing funky little dolls from sewn textiles.

As soon as the doors opened at 10am the room was full of eager makers, both boys and girls, indicating that gender is obviously not an issue when it comes to sewing. Everyone had the opportunity to create at least one fabric doll character during the day, and even though most of the young people had never even picked up a needle and thread before, they soon acquired the necessary design and making skills to make their dolls, cutting patterns, sewing and embellishing their creations, ready to take them home afterwards.

The feedback from the young people who took part was overwhelmingly positive, with many surprised by their own ability to create an object from a confusing pile of material, thread and buttons.