Loop
“Everywhere it’s the same, and everywhere it’s different: two hands with five fingers each (and other body parts), and a continuous loop of string”
Over time, Garland is gathering a creative community across the Indo-Pacific. This page is where you can stay in the loop with updates from our Friends and Circle. See here if you would like to be featured in this Loop.
Nigeria’s festivals are living archives - Emmanuel Solate reflects on how his country's vibrant festivals reinvent cultural citizenship.
Karen Rubado ✿ Examining a life fabric - Viv Davy is intrigued by a textile practice that unravels weaving to reflect life's transience.
Janet DeBoos ✿ From Doctors Flat Road to the world, and back - Ceramicist Janet Deboos has balanced her commitment to her rural community with involvement in global organisations, particularly the International Academy of Ceramics. Her journey reflects questions we all face in balancing home and world.
Shelanu ✿ The immigrant jewellers who adorn Birmingham - Deirdre Figueiredo tells the story of a remarkable collective of migrant and refugee jewellers who, after twenty years, are passing on their skills.
Karin Montgomery ✿ The Camellia Society - Our July Laurel is awarded to Karin Montgomery for her exquisitely crafted paper flora.
Durbar festivals in Nigeria: How Jigawa and Ilorin are rising beyond Kano’s shadow - Emmanuel Solate heralds the revival of the Durbar festival in Kano, northern Nigeria. 
Crochet therapy, with soundtrack - The Russian crochet artist Katika explains how she discovered a craft that helped unravel her emotions.
A journey across land with words and thread - Annette Peterson writes about five textile artists who weave a sensitive exhibition from text and thread.
The robot carver: Assistant or master? - Ancient Future by BIG juxtaposes Bhutanese traditional artisans with programmed robot milling arms. The danger is that we will overlook the value of handmade in our pursuit of efficiency and scale.
The geometry of memory: Persian patterns and diasporic identity - Nazila Keshavarz uses felt to reconnect with her Persian roots.
Timi Lantos ✿ Learning from clay in Japan - Liliana Morais writes about a Hungarian potter who moved to the legendary craft town of Mashiko to learn from its soil and people. 
The question of vegetarian craft - LOkesh Ghai wrestles with the ethical balance between nature and society.
Andrea Barker: Memory of a Shard - Catherine Payne finds archeological resonances in the ceramic works by Andrea Barker.
Steph Wallace ✿ Holding the Void - Our June Laurel has made a vessel that reflects the volcanic and mining cavities that resonate through her second home in Ballarat.
Safe and sound: An exhibition of contemporary Taiwanese amulets in Munich - Anvita Jain marvels at intriguing charms devised by a Taiwanese jewellery collective.
Nelson Jewellery Week 2025: Society, history, story and strength - Jude van der Merwe reviews the premier jewellery event in Aotearoa and finds works with deep historical resonance.
Ben Lignel ✿ Seven steps to authenticity - Ben Lignel shares the insights gained in his new practice as a specialist potter.
US makers react to tariffs: Global craft exchange is a net good - US makers claim the new tariffs will damage a respectful and beneficial relationship with makers in other countries.
Solidarity at hand: Support Vietnamese crafts - The US tariffs threaten Vietnam's unique craft culture, but there are ways we can provide support through our purchases.
Three body problems: New Iranian jewellery - Recent jewellery from Aria Gallery in Iran reflects alternative forms of embodiment.
For earlier posts, see here.