Against Idleness by Frances Burden

An exhibition at the Danielle Arnaud Gallery
9th - 18th March 2011

Against Idleness is the first solo show by artist and friend Frances Burden. Having chatted about the progress of the work over the last year I was curious to see the her pieces in the flesh. 

On the first floor of a grand Georgian home on the Kennington Road, the Danielle Arnaud Gallery is the perfect setting for Frances's work. Her medium is embroidery, namely cross stitch on heavy unbleached canvas, her purpose to explore pattern making, experimenting in structure and systems within material constraints. 

Geometrics are explored in utilitarian colours, greys, muted greens, navy blue with squares of mustard yellow and zigzags of almost fluorescent orange. Shading is built by increasing density of cross stitch all set to a back drop of bare stone floors and simple period features. 

 

The exhibition finishes on Sunday with a gallery talk of Frances in conversation with contemporary artists Gerry Smith and Oona Grimes, 4-6pm. I recommend a visit.