Second Sitters
UPHOLSTERY: EVOLUTION TO REVOLUTION
At The Geffrye Museum of the Home
Tuesday 2 May - Sunday 21 May, 10am - 5pm
​
PRESS RELEASE
​
Second Sitters ‘take over’ the Geffrye Museum, time lining the evolution and new revolution within the craft of upholstery. Supported by the Arts Council England.
The exhibition features work from UK based upholsterers who are redefining the traditional preconceived role of the upholsterer, combining traditional craft skills with contemporary thinking. Taking the form of a physical timeline the exhibition maps the changes and developments within the craft to include techniques, materials and upholsterers stories. Works will be multi disciplinary, from furniture, to photography, to film, tackling activism, social commentary, materiality and the throwaway culture.
Live working and workshops will run alongside the main exhibition. Confirmed events include demonstrations by SCP's upholstery factory Coakley & Cox Ltd and Second Sitters upholsterers. Workshops include Welsh stool upholstery with Mick Sheridan and chair caning with Rachael South. Panel discussion hosted by Katie Treggiden with makers and industry professionals will look at issues around upholstery, sustainability and the throwaway culture. Follow the Second Sitters eventbrite page for updates.
​​
Featured upholsterers will be Jude Dennis, Polly Granville, Alex Law, Miss Pokeno, Mick Sheridan, Rachael South, Hannah Stanton and Electra Read-Dagg.
​
London Craft Week
Second Sitters is running a series of special events as part of the London Craft Week programme 3-7 May. Details here​
​​
​
Demonstration kindly supported by SCP
Saturday 6 May 10-5pm - Free.
​
SCP's upholstery factory Coakley & Cox Ltd will upholster their Matthew Hilton Balzac chair frame live over the course of the morning. Alongside, Second Sitters will work on identical Balzac frames, their frames a blank canvas to upholster as they want and in their own unique styles, Second Sitters will be upholstering live throughout the day. Completed chairs will be on display for the remainder of the exhibition.
​​
​
WORKSHOP: Traditional Upholstery Workshop with Mick Sheridan
Saturday 20 May, 10am-5pm. Tickets £100 (including stool and materials). Suitable for complete beginners.
Upholster a milking stool to take home, using traditional materials and techniques. The stools are handmade in reclaimed ash by a local craftsman in Mick Sheridan’s village. Each is unique. The workshop is designed for complete beginners but teaches new skills to crafts people at all levels. Take home a splendid little stool that's hand-made from 100% natural materials and made in the traditional way, finished using a selection of Welsh woollen fabrics from Melin Tregwynt.
"The stools are handmade in reclaimed ash by a local craftsman in my village. Each is unique. The workshop is designed for complete beginners but will certainly teach new skills to crafts people at all levels. It's a busy day but I have it on good authority that it's 'very satisfying' and just think, you'll take home a splendid little stool that's hand-made (mainly by you) from 100% natural materials and made in the traditional way."
Book tickets: Here
​
WORKSHOP: Chair caning with Rachael South
WORKSHOP: Tuesday 9 May, 10am - 5pm Tickets £75 (including materials).
​
Chair caning can be a great addition to any upholstery/restoration practise.
​
Suitable for beginners this one day class will be an opportunity for upholsterers to learn the traditional 6 way woven pattern to a professional standard. You'll complete all 6 stages (the whole process) on a small practise frame in one day. As well as learning 6 way pattern Rachael will also get an overview of the materials and history of the craft and its applications.
Rachael is a third generation caner and seatweaver, taught by her father who learned from his father.
Rachael is a third generation caner and seatweaver, taught by her father who learned from his father.​
Book tickets: Here
​
PANEL DISCUSSION: Upholstery: a Sustainable Future
Panel Discussion kindly sponsored by Short Courses at The Cass, London Metropolitan University. Thursday 18 May – 2.30 - 3.30pm . Tickets £5
​
Hosted by design journalist Katie Treggiden the panel will consist of makers and industry professionals discussing the issues around design, upholstery, sustainability and the circular economy.
​
Panelists confirmed so far: Corinne Webb - Frame and Cover. Tim Cox, - Coakley and Cox Ltd.
​
Book tickets: Here
​
