Contact Printing at the Duke

On Thursday we held the first of third of our workshops at the Duke of Cambridge in Islington, the UK’s oldest organic pub (bookable through their website). Sponsored by the Florence Trust and Churchgate Artists Studios CIC, the workshop places included a wonderful set lunch as part of the £20 ticket price. This week Ross delivered an introduction to Contact Printing, and it was an outstanding success.

Ross discussed the tannin iron complex, something that he explores in his work, and discussed the use of ‘Journey’ in the bundles that the students were going to create. Using two types of eucalythus leaves, red and yellow onions skins, rose and oak leaves, they created their bundles, with some wonderful experimentation. The completed bundles were then put in the steaming pot and we moved into the main body of the pub for a delicious lunch of spiced carrot and cauliflower soup, followed by squash and root vegetable barley risotto. I was too busy eating to remember to photograph the beautiful plates before tucking in!

After lunch, everyone unwrapped their bundles and each and every one was a success – nobody sat glumly in the corner wondering what they’d done wrong! This workshop proved so popular that we are running it again for our final workshop, which has also already sold out.

We have had such a great time delivering these workshops at the Duke of Cambridge – everyone involved has had such a good time and the response has been resolutely positive. We hope to continue this great collaboration in the new year so watch this space. Thanks to everyone involved, especially Peter at the Duke of Cambridge and Steve and Yuka from the Florence Trust and Churchgate Artist Studios.

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