Jacqui Carey - Braidmaker.

Summercourt

Ridgeway, Ottery St Mary, Devon, EX11 1DT, England Tel/Fax: (01)404 813486 e-mail: carey@careycompany.com

Curriculum Vitae Summary

PERSONAL DETAILS:

Born 1963. Married to Paul in 1985. Two children (Richard, born 1986, Madilyn, born 1988)

EDUCATION:

B.A.(Hons) Degree in Woven Textiles. 1982-85 at West Surrey College of Art & Design.

Art Foundation Course. 1981-82 at Winchester School of Art.

A Levels in Pure Maths, Applied Maths and Art. 1979-81 at Barton Peverill College, Eastleigh.

11 O Levels. 1975-79 at Wyvern Comprehensive School, Fair Oak.

OCCUPATION:

Maker, Teacher, Author and Researcher of Braids (specialist in Kumihimo)

MAKER:

Jacqui is renowned as a maker of Kumihimo, Japanese braidmaking. Her work explores the creative potential of technique whilst respecting the traditional. Her interest in textile structure lead to her devising the grid drafting system for designing new patterns for braids. Jacqui continues to discover new braid structures, patterns and materials in which to re-interpret this ancient craft whilst maintaining its aesthetics and sense of continuity. She particularly enjoys using the medium to make connections between seemingly diverse subjects.

The Samurai valued braids for their hard wearing yet lightweight qualities. Jacqui uses these same attributes to produce silk jewellery often used in combination with beadwork. Pushing the boundaries of this technique has lead Jacqui to produce work that includes sculptural baskets, large scale furnishings and braids made incorporating unusual materials such as clay and light.

Jacquis work is exhibited and sold throughout the UK and abroad through galleries and exhibitions. She also sells direct to the public and undertakes commission work. She has been invited to demonstrate and exhibit at many different events and venues including Victoria and Albert Museum, London, Art in Action Oxford and the International Braid Exhibition Tokyo.

TEACHER

Jacqui started teaching and lecturing in 1987. She offers a variety of workshops and lectures for all ages, abilities and aims. They include various aspects of braiding and other related subjects such as maths, art, history, ethnography, textile techniques and beadwork.

She teaches and lectures throughout the U.K. and abroad. Jacqui has been invited to work for a wide range of educational bodies, guilds, museums and other groups. They include Oxford University, ISAMA (International Society of the Arts, Mathematics and Architecture), the Bead Society of Japan and various Textile Summer schools.

AUTHOR

Jacquis creative design and research work has been published in a range of books and articles (see listing below). The majority of the books are produced by the Carey Company partnership with her husband, Paul. The in-house nature of this work means Jacqui is involved with the entire production from initial concept, through content, sample design and production, photography and layout.

Author of Creative Kumihimo, a 100 page, fully illustrated, comprehensive, technical book. 1994 ISBN. 0-9523225-0-1.

Author of Samurai Undressed, a 80 page, fully illustrated book on the history of Kumihimo and its relationship with the Samurai. 1995. ISBN. 0-9523225-1-X

Author of BeginnerÕs Guide to Braiding- the craft of Kumihimo, a 64 page, full colour book specifically for beginners.1997. ISBN. 9-780855-328283.

Author of Beads and Braids a 192 page full colour book looking at ways of combining beads with braids. 1999. ISBN 0-9523225-2-8

Author of Round the Twist - Creative Cordmaking. Book one of the OTT embellishment series. 2002 ISBN 0-9523225-3-6

Author of Braids & Beyond - a broad look at narrow wares, a 56 page book that accompanied the Braid Society exhibition. 2003. ISBN 0 9523225-4-4

Author of Round the Beading Twist. Book two of the OTT embellishment series. 2004 ISBN 0-9523225-5-2

Contributor to ISAMA 99, conference paper for International Society of the Arts, Mathematics and Architecture. 1999. ISBN 84-930669-0-7

Many articles in various magazines.

RESEARCHER

Jacquis research work is an on-going process and puts her creative work into context with the past and present world. Her analysis of traditional and historic work is providing a body of work that covers the history, geography, ethnographic connections, usage, structure and technical detail of braids in the broadest sense of the word.

In 1993, she was a member of the steering group that established the Braid Society and subsequently served on the committee. In 1995 she organized the exhibition Samurai Undressed on their behalf. It toured London, Dublin and Harrogate and was a result of her research work into the history of Kumihimo and its relationship with the Samurai.

Jacqui also researched and organized Beadwork 2000 which looked at historical and contemporary beadwork and the textile techniques used to make them.

In 2003-4 Jacqui research and curated another exhibition for the Braid Society entitled Braids and Beyond - a broad look at narrow wares. The exhibition toured two textile shows and three museums throughout the year.

In 2005 Jacqui was awarded a Queen Elizabeth Scholarship to study British braids in museums throughout the UK.

Selection of samples from the Beginners Guide to Braiding

Bangles made from plastic tubing, silk and brass.

Memory basket, wire and beads (approx. 6cm diameter, 15cm high)

Detail of Jude, a large braid column (approx. 8cm diameter)

Torc necklace of silk braid with an Ottery stone.