ODYSSEY VIDEO

About Odyssey

Odyssey Video is based on a small, non-profit making, educational community trust. It was formed as a response from the Barbican Centre into the possibility of making a video to accompany the "Threads" show in the American theme year of 1998. Previously, Graham Eccles had worked with Irene Edwards and used film and video to record good practice in art education. The outcome was a 120 minute tape, "Ten Makers" which entailed visiting artists in their studios to record their materials, techniques and finished pieces, with sources of reference and inspiration expressed in their own words without the barrier of interview.

These 12 minute extemporary (after one visit) reports were later expanded by revisiting the makers and then others to start the series "Maker Profiles". Val Burnett took over from Irene when the total had risen to some 16 and currently, this number is 50 plus updates on most of the early ones. A number of U.S.college and university fiber departments have a set of the videos and have pronounced them the single best learning resource they have had.

Recently more U.K. textile artists have been included and the response from educationalists, students and other makers has been quite exceptional. The series explores the difference between "fiber" and "fibre" and seeks to continue to question the strange barriers separating "art", "design" and "craft" skills, having observed early on, that baskets could be regarded as major art works.

Contact Odyssey

By e-mail: odyssey.video[at]btinternet.com

By phone: +44 (0) 1473 310616

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