Flock Friendly Group - Flock Association of europe

Flock Friendly Group
Volume 1 , Issue 1 March 2008
Flockage: the flock phenomenon
Welcome
to the first Flockage newsletter that aims to provide flockrelated news, information and
ideas. The newsletter aims to
connect artists, designers,
manufacturers, organisations, institutions, researchers and scholars etc in the
celebration and promotion of
flock.
The newsletter has evolved
from the Flockage exhibition
and aims to celebrate flock
and its many and diverse
contexts.
It was surprising to find that
an exhibition of all things
flocked has apparently never
been staged. An exciting
challenge, the exhibition took
12 months to develop and
throughout this time the 2
curators secured great contacts with a myriad of designers, companies, manufacturers and artist.
The extent to which flock is
used is truly amazing. From
Braille to make-up brushes
Special points of interest:
• Flockage exhibition dates extended
by public demand
• Thank you to contributors!
• Flocked wallpapers
• Join the Flock Friendly Group
• Flocked Mouserugs, USA
• Flockage on tour opportunities
Flock jewellery design by Birmingham-based Zoe Robertson
flock features prominently
offering aesthetic and functional surface cover.
The relationship people have
with flock has been surprising
to discover. Zoe Robertson, a
dynamic jeweller produces
fabulous flocked rings,
brooches and neckpieces.
Like designer Elaine Igoe,
Zoe evidences a real curiosity and enthusiasm for the
use of flock in creative work.
Anne-Marie Howat’s artwork
shows, lovingly, a feel for
flock in her creations—the
use of flocked fabric as a rich
background to collagedflocked items.
By complete contrast flocked
shoe horns in fuchsia and
policeman’s helmets sit
proudly within the exhibition.
Flocking marvellous!
Inside this issue:
Thank you!
to contributors
2
FiberLock, USA
2
Exhibition review
2
Symposium
3
European Flock
Association
3
Flocked wallpaper
search
3
Flock Friendly Group
On Tour
4
Flockage: exhibition extended for summer months!
As a result of fantastic response it is now planned that
the exhibition dates will be
extended over the summer
months.
This is great news as it will
enable more visitors to see
the show and will hopefully
secure new and exciting contacts.
Sue Hayward, Heritage Manager, Bournemouth Borough
Council confirms ‘Visitor figures for January were very
encouraging – better than the
last 2 years – and figures for
February are on track to
slightly exceed last year. The
Flockage exhibition has obviously played an important
part in this – thank you!
The great response to the
exhibition is exciting and
proves that flock has a magnetic appeal for many.
Page 2
Flock Friendly Group
Thank you!
The exhibition and symposium have
been supported throughout by the European Flock Association and numerous
flock aficionados that make and create
items with flock.
A myriad of flock-related companies,
designers and individuals have worked
with the curators to produce what is
proving to be a highly successful exhibition.
Kirsten and Pam wish to thank all those
who have contributed to and supported
the exhibition and symposium. The support and generous help and advice of the
following contacts is acknowledged in
particular:
David Caro of Qualplast (1991) Ltd.,
Birmingham
Colin and Helen David,
English Eccentrics
Andrew Campbell, Campbell Coutts
Anthony Evans, Cole and Son Ltd.
Brown Abrams, FiberLok
John Lewin, Bonar Floors
Chris Kay
Paperchase;
Elaine Igoe
Zoe Robertson
Ruth Morrow & Patricia Belford of Girli
Concrete;
Natasha Lewer;
Branko Stahl, MacroFlock;
Holger Walter, KIWO
Dr. Ruth Brompton-Charlesworth
Wayne Hemingway
John Guthrie
Heinz Walz GmbH
Design Collections Limited
Schuster Beflockungstechnik GmbH &
Co. KG
FLOCK-TEC
Borchert & Moller
Sylvia Weiler-Rees, Verband der Flockindustrie Europa e.V
Anne-Marie Howat
Sally Hope
Dr. Joanne Turney
And of course, the Russell-Cotes Art
Gallery and Museum.
http://www.fiberlok.com/
Brown Abrams, President of Colorado
based FiberLok company recently contacted the curators as ’America's exclusive manufacturer of products created
with patented electrostatic fiber printing
technologies.’
Keen to support the exhibition, Brown
kindly organised a range of FiberLok
exhibits. Examples include the wonderful
computer MouseRugs that are flocked
miniature versions of real rugs. Lovely!
‘Brand-named Lextra® Fiber Graphics,
the range was invented and developed
at FiberLok and is now custom-made to
meet needs of high-volume printers and
manufacturers in a wide range of industries--apparel, automotive, promotional
products, plastic molding and industrial.
Lextra standard products available include heat transfers, appliqués decorative insert films, stickers and a line of
Lextra-decorated consumer products.’
‘Move over Rembrandt’
Dr. Branko Stahl’s flocked art has caught
the eye of Jessica Stevenson, a Bournemouth University journalism student. In
her exhibition review published in
Bournefree - Bournemouth’s first on-line
student newsletter (http://
snap.bournemouth.ac.uk/section.asp?
catid=875&docid=12617) she highlight’s
Branko’s work. ’……. Stahl has created
pictures that burst with random colour
that present a challenge to galleries and
museums because they 'make the
viewer want to touch and feel.' Looking
at his work, its soft velvety texture finally
clarifies what the exhibition is all about.
Flock is and can be used as an artistic
material.’
Her review comments ‘Everything it
seems is capable of being 'flocked.'
Move over Rembrandt, Monet and Lichtenstein, here we have two whole rooms
worth of bizarre, strange looking, albeit
aesthetic, objects.’
Autism is not a sin by Branko Stahl
Volume 1, Issue 1
Page 3
Flockage: the symposium
On the 7th February 2008 Flockage: the
symposium was held at Hotel Miramar in
Bournemouth. The one day event provided lively presentations by key professionals from key flock-related areas. The
speakers included:
David Caro, Managing Director of
Qualplast (1991) Limited, Birmingham,
Anthony Evans, Managing Director, Cole
and Son (Wallpapers) Limited, Elaine
Igoe Research student, Dr. Joanne Turney - Senior lecturer in Historical and
Critical Studies at Bath Spa University,
Kirsten Hardie exhibition co-curator.
The symposium attracted a range of
delegates from across education,
design, manufacture, museums and
industry. Holger Walter (KIWO) flew over
from Germany and colleagues from
across the UK joined together at the
sumptuous Hotel Miramar for this unique
event—complete with a rather nice buffet
lunch.
This happy symposium offered valuable
opportunities to learn more about flock
and to develop new contacts. Anthony
Evans unrolled some fabulous examples
of Cole & Son wallpapers - and offered a
charming and entertaining exploration of
his company’s work with flock.
Dr. Turney commented ‘… the day was
informative, discursive and enthusiastic—I
can’t wait for the next event.’
David Caro and Holger Walter proposed
the potential organisation of future flock
workshops and events – a suggestion
enthusiastically embraced by all.
Thanks to all who made this day a success.
Cole and Son wallpaper.
European Flock Association
The association of the flock industry
Europe (reg.), is the central representation of companies working in the flock
industry
Its main aim is to promote the advantages of the flock technology, to further
develop the flocking process, to make
sure the application is secure and environmentally safe and boost idea of quality among its members.
The association actively participates in
working on safety-technical regulations
and on quality standards. The Association hold bi-annual conferences, normally in Germany, and hosts regional
meetings too.
Verband der Flockindustrie Europa
e.V.
Lindenbergstrasse 12
9199 Kirchzarten / GermanyEMail: [email protected]
Off the wall: in search of flock wallpaper
Wallpaper by Cole and Son
The discovery of flocked wall paper
in an unexpected location is an exciting find. The Flock Friendly Group
would like to track down key places
where flock wallpaper still hangs
proud. We’ve heard that The Cricketer’s pub in Brighton still boasts
flocked walls. If you know of a public
place that has flocked walls we’d
love to hear from you.
Examples of flock wallpaper c.1969 Macgregor
wallpapers, USA
Volume 1 , Issue 1 March
2008
Kirsten Hardie
[email protected]
Pam Langdown
[email protected]
FlockLobster :owner Pam Langdown.
This colourful beast was purchased in Canada
in 2005 in a dollar shop. A prized possession,
this happy ornament is an unusual take on the
classic nodding-dog design.
The Flock Friendly Group (FFG) has been formed as a
specialist interest group to promote and celebrate all things
flock. The FFG aims to provide a meeting point where flock can
be shared - to develop and encourage an interest in flock and its
history and uses; to further the understanding, appreciation and
enjoyment of flock by all.
The FFG aims to bring together people of all ages, backgrounds
and levels of interest and experience in flock to promote and
disseminate their personal and professional flock experiences.
The FFG as a forum aims to provide information and to link artists, designers, manufacturers, organisations, institutions, researchers and scholars etc; to contribute to flock’s promotion
and development internationally.
The FFG aims to create a series of future flock-related events
and activities to further promote and celebrate flock. It is hoped
that an annual flock meeting will be established to encourage
wider awareness and appreciation of flock cross discipline and
cross culture – to bring together flock fanatics and flock experts.
If you are interested in joining the Flock Friendly Group please
contact us.
Spot the pigeon: the plastic flocked duck,
pigeon and rook feature as useful decoy
mechanisms. The decoy, from the Dutch word
de kooi meaning trap, is surprisingly
realistic—fooling birds and people alike.
The Remco Flock and Feather kit c.1968
offers the chance to build your own parrot and
flock it. A small sachet of flock accompanies
the plastic molded kit parrot—hours of fun.
We’d like to include your flock news,
views, activities and developments in future newsletters.
We’d particularly like to showcase the
work of designers, artists, craftspeople
and companies that work with flock.
If you have images, text, information or
web links please contact us so we can
feature accordingly.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Flockage: on tour
The Russell-Cotes Art
Gallery and Museum
has proudly provided
the venue for this first
Flock exhibition.
The exhibition appeals
to wide audiences and
brings art, design, industry, and education
together.
The curators are keen
that
the exhibition is
Fuzzy Dan ‘A Fuzzy
Wuzzy Book’
experienced by as
Whitman’s publishing,
many people as possi1951.
ble. Thus the aim is to
plan a programme of tour dates and locations
nationally so that Flockage reaches new audiences.
Pam and Kirsten would be delighted to hear
from museums, galleries and
schools who may be interested in
hosting the flock exhibition.
We can offer additional/alternative
exhibits and also we can offer the
current exhibition in smaller themed
sections to address specific locations or audiences. For example the
fashion and textile collection can
offer a wonderful exhibition in its
own right useful for study and inspiration.
Should you be interested in holding
a flock exhibition—or a flock workshop—please contact us!
Contact details on back page.