Join Catriona Pollard on a week-long workshop to learn more about traditional basketry with a sculptural perspective. Suitable for beginners, intermediates or people wanting to explore their creativity through basketry. Enjoy reconnecting with your imagination and creativity in the stunning landscape of the French Pyrénées.
About this course:
During this basketry course at Clos Mirabel Ateliers in Jurançon, Pau, S.W. France you will learn much more than just basketry techniques, it’s an opportunity to connect with nature, your stories and tap into powerful creativity that is ready to surface. Learning at your own pace, this hands-on, practical and inspirational Sculptural Basketry workshop is all about exploration and experimentation not perfection.
You’ll be extending yourself beyond what you imagine a basket to be by using a variety of foraged and natural fibres. You will receive personalised tutoring to develop practical skills in Catriona Pollard’s favourite basketry techniques including random weaving, twining, and looping and will weave vessels and sculptural forms.
During artist-led outings to explore the natural landscape in the Pyrénées, you will create woven sculptures that connect to concepts that you want to explore. Together through enquiry, conversation and quiet contemplation we will explore the relationships between land, mountains, plants and humans and how our woven sculptures can articulate this.
With guidance and tuition from Catriona Pollard, you will complete a series of sculptural forms culminating in your very own sculpture using the techniques we have explored and materials that you’ve foraged as well as class materials.
To build that connection to nature we will be using the beautiful parkland of Clos Mirabel overlooking vineyards and the entire chain of the Pyrénées Atlantiques, to do ephemeral art exercises. This is a technique that involves creating temporary artworks using found natural objects (such as leaves and sticks) and placing them into patterns and shapes. We will also use ink to make experimental forms on paper with found natural material, which can be incorporated in your weaving.
Sculptural Basketry – Programme Outline
Saturday
Guests settle in and explore Clos Mirabel
An introduction to the course by Catriona Pollard
Welcome drinks and dinner
Sunday
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
10.00 – 1.00 Developing an understanding of using nature to create woven sculptures. Learning about ephemeral art and creating compositions in the landscape. Expressive painting using ink and collected material from the landscape. Demonstrating random weaving using cane/vines.
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
2.00 – 4.00 Weaving random weaving using cane/vines. Creating a vessel form using random weaving technique using cane. Studio work with individual tuition throughout the day.
6.30 – Aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace
Monday
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
10.00 – 1.00 Sitting outside weaving a vessel form using random weaving technique using long leafy plants and collected material.
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
2.00 – 4.00 Afternoon – studio work weaving random weave with individual tuition
6.30 – Aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace
Tuesday
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
10.00 – 1.00 Focussing on the technique of looping in the studio. Demonstration, followed by individual tutoring.
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
2.00 – 4.00 Looping around a branch or jar. Studio work with individual tuition throughout the day
6.30 – Aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace
Wednesday – day off
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
We suggest wine tasting in local vineyard, explore Pau or beyond
6.30 – Aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace
Thursday
10.00 – 1.00 Day out working in the mountains using the landscape to weave sculptures using the techniques that you’ve learnt with individual tuition. Forest bathing exercise, expressive painting using ink and collected material from the landscape.
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at local village
2.00 – 4.00 Using the landscape to weave sculptures
6.30 – Aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace
Friday
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
10.00 – 1.00 Learning the technique of twining using jute or string. Weaving a vessel using the twining technique. In the studio or outside
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
2.00 – 4.00 Opportunity to continue with your sculpture from the landscape or create another woven sculpture
6.30 – Evening exhibition in the double living room of Clos Mirabel followed by aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace
Saturday – Buffet Breakfast and departure
Non-participating guests: we are more than happy to welcome accompanying partners, family or friends. There are plenty of activities to experience around Clos Mirabel, that will make your holiday unforgettable Click here for more information.
The Art Studio, full of natural light was designed by our Italian architect and offers a spacious open plan layout of 55 m2. It is available at all times during Click here for more information.
