fibreart — Blog — Alison Aye

I’ve made a postcard for ‘From ArtCan With Love’, ArtCan’s annual fundraising event.

It’s one of the collages* I stitched last year from Kenneth Clark’s ‘Civilisation’ book (published by BBC/John Murray, this edition 1971) reconditioned and enhanced with an Iceland pizza box.

If you didn’t know, last year I had an exhibition at the Barbican Library, in which I questioned my early art education. Said education came mainly from Lord-Sir-Baron-Kenneth-Clark and his popular television programme/book, ‘Civilisation’. I made stitched collages from the book, combined with discarded gallery (mainly Tate) magazines. Ken omitted female artists from his account, which is what started me off on the collages, but as the project progressed I annoyingly fell in love with the snobby bastard. Unfortunately, his delivery is superb and an utter joy to read.

There’s still a few of the collages left in my shop, if you are interested.

Back to the fundraiser. It’s an exhibition of postcard-sized original works produced by ArtCan members, and proceeds go towards future events and exhibitions.

It will take place at Fitzrovia Gallery, 139 Whitfield Street, London W1T 5EN, on Tuesday 14th July from 6pm - 8pm. For the record, I won’t be there.

As in previous years, this will be both an in-person and virtual event and it's first come, first served.

All works are the same size (10 x 15cm) and priced at £40. Buyers will be able to take their cards away at the end of evening. Any works not sold at the event will go on sale online via the ArtCan website a day or so afterwards, with worldwide shipping included.

Free tickets are available on this Eventbrite link. If you wish to join online instead, then select the Virtual Ticket at check out stage.

*Civilisation Collage, Page 316: the noon gun. ‘Doré, Men setting their watches by the noon gun (lithograph)’. Yoko Ono with Glass Hammer, 1967, from HALF-A-WIND SHOW, Lisson Gallery, London, 1967. Photo by Clay Perry. Cut from Tate ‘Exhibition Highlights 2023-24’. Made using a page from ‘Civilisation’ by Kenneth Clark. First published by John Murray/BBC in 1969, this edition printed in 1971. Bought for 50p from a charity shop. Paper, PVA, thread.

Yoko Ono with Glass Hammer, 1967, from HALF-A-WIND SHOW, Lisson Gallery, London, 1967. Photo by Clay Perry. Cut from Tate ‘Exhibition Highlights 2023-24’.

Below are the newspaper articles from which my September 2025 faces were cut. It’s the actual newspaper that I’ve stitched, not reproductions. The information in the articles may be fabricated. I (mostly) use the Metro and London Standard newspapers because they are free. I couldn’t afford to make this piece if I bought a more reputable publication every day.

See here for a full list of ‘sitters’.

*The photo credits are as they appear in the articles from which the faces were cut. For the record, I don’t accept the name of a company as a photography credit. There was an actual person behind the camera. If you are that person, or know them, please give me a shout.