Hot Craft by Hot Chicks

By Carmelita Morales

The colder it gets the craftier I get. I guess it's just good ol' hibernational fun. Last year I picked up knitting, this summer I started embroidery and managed to create a pretty good replication of my surly cat despite his attempts to sabatoge my creation every step of the way.

This month at Sesame Art Gallery a few amazing crafty ladies have put together a show called Wild Styles: Hot Craft, a new exhibit of work from seven women who give traditional, hand-made pieces an exciting, punked-up revival. These emerging and established stars of craft reject the hippie label of their domestic skills and are quickly supplanting graffiti as the latest art collectable. Watch out for Bill Hicks and Iggy Pop embroideries, 70s porn emblazoned rugs, 'Get Ur Freak On' needlepoint samplers, and Danielle Proud's gothic, bejewelled gargoyle heads.

Speaking of Danielle Proud, I bought her book 'House Proud' last year because it has all kinds of DIY and crafty projects but I haven't made anything from the book. To be honest it was a tad lame and a lot of the stuff was 70's fugly - but thats getting off subject. I still respect her passion for craft and glad she's leading the way bringing together other forward thinking craft masters.

The point is, crafts are awesome. Girls are awesome.

Sesame Art Space
354 Upper Street
Islington
London
N1 0PD
Tel: 020 7226 3300
Email: info@sesameart.com