A Button challenge!
A free to enter, fun challenge open to all CSA members and hubs culminating in an online exhibition.
This is an opportunity to have some fun and be creative with your sculptural medium on a small and medium scale.
The idea of making buttons was inspired by a CSA visit to the Lucie Rie exhibition at the Holburne museum in Bath. Initially she worked at a studio making press moulded blown glass buttons and then later went on to work in her own studio making buttons out of stoneware, with press moulds and glazes. Some of her collection can be seen at the V&A.
Buttons can be made out of a wide variety of materials – wood, clay, plaster, metal, fabric, glass, bronze, stone, plastic, resin, mosaic….the list goes on! So we thought that a button challenge had the potential to appeal to all of our members, with a minimal outlay for material costs.
The Brief
This is a free to enter, fun challenge copen to all CSA members. It is your opportunity to have some fun and be creative with your sculptural medium on a small and medium scale.
- Category 1: Individual buttons up to the size of around a two pence piece. Feel free to enter as many individual buttons as you like. Creativity is encouraged, although your buttons need to conform to a button definition of being able to be fastened to a garment, either by thread pushing through a slit on the back, or by having holes.
- Category 2: Sets of 5 buttons. These could be all the same; follow a decorative theme; or connect by design in some way.
- Category 3: A larger ‘button’. Whilst still a button in terms of having a fastening design element, this category is intended for larger, more sculptural buttons that do not need to be functional.
There is no limit on the number of entries you can make and you can enter in all categories.
Judging:
Each category will be judged on it’s creativity, craftsmanship and appeal. We are delighted to have three wonderful judges:
- Katy Bevan – Publisher Quickthornbooks
- Rachael Howard – Senior lecturer in textile design at Bath Spa University
- Carmen Schmidt – Owner of A Yarn Story in Bath
Submission Process and Timeline:
All submissions will be selected and submission is free.
- October 2024 – Call for entry
- February 7th 2025 – Deadline for submissions. Smaller buttons to be posted/delivered to Jane Yarnall at any time up to this date, to curate ready for judging. Please email jmyarnall1@gmail.com for her address and form for inclusion. If category 3 buttons are too large or heavy to be posted then please contact her for details.
- February 15th 2025 – A physical exhibition of the buttons will be on show at the CSA AGM, where we hope to announce the winners and award small prized for each category.
- March/April 2025 – All of the buttons will form part of an online exhibition on the CSA website and will be offered for sale if sellers would like.