Featuring the very best of contemporary jewellery and Scottish textiles, Dovecot Studios, Edinburgh is hosting two new exhibitions – Dazzle Contemporary Jewellery and CLOTH#20 – this August, alongside world-famous tapestries and the mid-century designs of Mary Quant, Terence Conran, Laura Ashley, and Eduardo Paolozzi.
From Friday 7 August, Dovecot Studios will fully reopen the world-famous tapestry studio to visitors for the first time since lockdown. Visitors have the opportunity to see Dovecot weavers at work on both rugs and tapestries in the award-winning building.
Opening Saturday 22 August, Dazzle will present 50 contemporary jewellery designers and CLOTH#20 will show a selection of fashion and textiles made and curated by Scottish designers.
One of the first galleries to reopen in Scotland in July, Dovecot Studios is currently showing a major exhibition of post-war British design. Mid-Century Modern: Art & Design from Conran to Quant presents the design, fashion, and art of a group of radical young architects, designers, photographers, and artists who redefined the concept of youth and challenged the established order of post-war Britain.
Following the loss of the Edinburgh festivals this year, Dovecot is delighted to announce additional exciting events to look forward to this month:
Dazzle Contemporary Jewellery showcases the best in contemporary design. Now in its 37th year, Dazzle is a major design event in the Edinburgh calendar and is a key platform for established and up-and-coming makers.
Dazzle 2020 will feature 50 jewellers showing over 2,000 pieces, which are all available for sale.
Beyond jewellery, leading textile designer Margo Selby and printmaker Gillian Murray also feature, allowing a further glimpse into exceptional contemporary design.
Also returning this year is CLOTH, a curated selling showcase of independent makers who design and create works using textiles. This year a limited selection of designers will present their work and demonstrate their practice on the Tapestry Studio Viewing Balcony at Dovecot, with further designers selling their work as part of an online event.
Both events will be hosted on 22 and 23 August with 15% of sales donated to The Dovecot Foundation to support the work of Dovecot Tapestry Studio.
Alongside these exciting events that provide an opportunity to support local makers, the Tapestry Studio Viewing Balcony will fully reopen at Dovecot.
The viewing balcony is free of charge and allows visitors to see Dovecot weavers at work in the converted Infirmary Street Baths. To learn the art of weaving, Dovecot’s Tapestry Weaving Experience Days return with the first workshop held in August.
The safety of visitors and staff remains a priority at Dovecot and various measures have been put in place including increased cleaning, protective screens, physical distancing, and time-slots for Mid-Century Modern exhibition and Dazzle tickets. To make the browsing and shopping experience enjoyable and safe at Dazzle, gloves will be available for visitors and all jewellery will be cleaned before and after handling.
Tickets
Mid-Century Modern: Art and Design from Conran to Quant exhibition tickets and timeslots are available here.
Free tickets for Dazzle can be booked here with half-hour timeslots to choose from.
A suggested donation of £2 is requested for CLOTH#20 on the Tapestry Studio Viewing Balcony at Dovecot on 22 and 23 August.  CLOTH#20 Online event will be live here from 10am on 22 August.
Tickets for Tapestry Weaving Experience Days are available here.
All images courtesy of Dovecot Studios, Edinburgh
