Haus-A-Rest

A Zine by Artists for Artists, it’s for those who turn their raw, real-life experiences into stunning art and bold, captivating prose. We’re all about embracing the offbeat and the extraordinary, curating the untold stories, sharp opinions, and fresh opportunities that surface each month.

Got a spark of creativity itching to be shared? Our Open Calls are your chance to light up the world with your unique vision. So jump in, and let’s celebrate the voices that deserve the spotlight!

Issue60

TEXTILES: Threads of Memory, Making, and Meaning
Welcome to the Art Gallery & Writers’ zine

Textiles are more than materials—they are containers of memory, culture, labour, protest, and tenderness. In this edition, we explore the rich and resonant theme of TEXTILES, presenting visual and written work that reflects on the medium’s many forms and meanings.

This project began with a simple call: If you work with textiles, or if you have something to say about making, how fabric connects to memory, creativity, or culture, we want to hear from you.

The responses we received were anything but simple. They were intimate, conceptual, radical, poetic, and deeply personal.

We’re proud to feature an inspiring selection of artists and writers whose works stitch together a wide-ranging conversation, one that spans material experimentation, political reflection, personal memory, and cultural commentary. In our Gallery, you’ll find artists pushing the boundaries of textile-based practices, using thread, fibre, found materials, and process itself to question what making can mean. In the Writers’ Corner, essays, poetry, and experimental texts unravel the stories textiles hold, from inherited fabrics to acts of making, from the metaphors of weaving to the silence in stitches.

We are spotlighting our featured artist, Dave Bez, whose work beautifully explores the relationships between painting, industry, and landscape.

Alongside our invited contributors, this edition also includes writing from our editors and resident art writers, offering curatorial insights, personal reflections, and critical responses to the wider themes. Together, these voices reflect the multifaceted ways textiles shape our lives, how they bind, conceal, reveal, protect, and provoke.

This is not just an exhibition, it’s a conversation across disciplines and across time. A conversation between the hand and the cloth, the object and the story, the maker and the viewer.

We invite you to explore, read, look closely, and feel the threads that connect us all.

— The Editors

FOR THE GALLERY AND HERE FOR THE WRITER’S CORNER, AND BLOG

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- NEWs -

OUR TWO EDITORS HAVE BEEN BUSY AND LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING WHAT WE HAVE BEEN UP TO OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS…

jennafoxartist, RCA MA Sculpture, PhD Fine Art Research

Selected for Wells Contemporary 2022

One of my dreams has been to create a huge public artwork, and I am so lucky as I was commissioned by West Swindon Parish council to create a mural. It was in a subway and consisted of 38 panels, which totaled 81m in length and the area of 3/4 the size of a tennis court!

The subway was covered in graffiti, and I used a thin paint to allow this to ghost through my paintings. The mural is a landscape that mimics the local hills.

Each panel is a separate painting that links to the paintings next to it to create an immersive space, making a huge landscape that connects the housing estate to the woods via the subway. I visualised the space as a painted sculpture, and this helped form my proposal.

There were so many amazing comments from the many people who use the subway. They stopped and told me their stories.

I have been overwhelmed by the positive feedback from hundreds of people of all ages.

I haven't been in a public space creating work for such a long duration. It was incredible.

A huge thank you to @simonbelletty. he has been amazing, helping and supporting me.

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Nichola has been busy evolving her practice to become more ephemeral and sustainable, and with that in mind has started to develop new ephemeral materials; these can be seen on her website. She has also contributed to this month’s writers’ corner.

@nicholarodgers.artist , BA, Mlitt Painting & Sculpture

www.nicholarodgers.com

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This month’s feature is Artist

Dave Bez

Whose paintings span industry & landscape.

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This issue’s resident creatives include our Graphic novel bookworm Mildred Burchette-Vass, critical art writer Michaela Hall, our wordsmith poet Peter Devonald, and our editors and creators Nichola and Jenna

!! Calling Artists & Writers!!

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image and Photography by Nichola Rodgers

The next open call for Issue 61 is for

"Continuing Conversations."

We invite artists and writers to submit work for our upcoming exhibition and publication under the theme "Continuing Conversations."

At the heart of this theme is the idea that dialogue, spoken, unspoken, visual, sonic, spatial, is never static. Conversations evolve, shift, repeat, and ripple across time, space, and media. Whether between individuals, across communities, or within the language of materials and disciplines, these exchanges are the foundation of artistic expression.

We're looking for work that explores art as dialogue—art that responds, reframes, or reverberates. How does your work speak to or with its environment, its audience, or other works? How does it inhabit a conversation rather than a monologue?

Follow this link to enter our next free call out …

Feel free to get in touch via the form below with your Ideas & Questions.

see our new A MENTORING

OPPORTUNITY pages

We think that the art world can be a tricky place to navigate, especially when you're coming to the end of your course and are not sure what’s next.

We have decided to run an open call for any artist who is at an early stage of their art career. This is not age-restricted, all we ask is you meet the criteria below…

If you are in your third year of an art degree, an MA / Mlitt, or are in the first three years of your art practice and would like to have 3 x one-hour sessions 1:1, one a month for three months (via Zoom or Teams) to bounce ideas, ask advice, gain practical steps and support from the Haus-a-rest team then contact us via our form here…

Please note there is no funding for this opportunity, it is your chance to be mentored by two artists who have been around the block to offer support and suggestions to help support your art journey.

There are two places available

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Looking ahead, we plan to deepen our interactions with artists through several exciting initiatives:

Mentorship Program: We are launching a mentorship program of six intensive sessions designed for early-stage and established artists. This program will provide personalised guidance, helping artists navigate their careers, develop their skills, and achieve their creative goals. Each session will be tailored to address specific challenges and opportunities faced by artists, ranging from creative development and project management to marketing strategies and networking. Our mentors, who are experienced professionals in the art world, will offer invaluable insights and support, tailored to each artist's unique needs. The goal is to create a nurturing environment where artists can thrive and push the boundaries of their creativity.
Live Exhibitions: We aim to host live exhibitions, creating immersive experiences where artists and art lovers can connect and engage with the works on display. These exhibitions will be curated to highlight the diversity and innovation within the artistic community, featuring a mix of mediums and styles. By bringing art into physical spaces, we aim to bridge the gap between digital and physical art worlds, offering a platform for artists to showcase their work in a tangible, impactful way. These exhibitions will elevate the artists’ profiles and enrich the audience's appreciation of contemporary art.
In-Person Reviews: In addition to our digital reviews, we plan to offer in-person review sessions. These face-to-face interactions will provide artists with direct, immediate feedback, fostering a deeper understanding of their work. Our reviewers, who are seasoned critics and curators, will offer constructive critiques aimed at helping artists refine their techniques, expand their conceptual thinking, and enhance the presentation of their work. This personalised feedback will be instrumental in helping grow and improve, making their artistic journey more robust and informed.
Physical Events: We plan to run a series of physical events, providing spaces for artists to meet, collaborate, and share their work in person. These events will include interactive workshops, panel discussions with industry experts, and networking opportunities designed to foster a vibrant and supportive art community. Workshops will focus on skill development and creative techniques, while panel discussions will address current trends, challenges, and opportunities in the art world. Networking sessions will create a platform for artists to connect with peers, potential collaborators, and art enthusiasts, building a strong community that supports artistic innovation and professional growth.

Through these initiatives, we aim to create a dynamic and supportive environment that nurtures artistic talent and fosters meaningful connections within the art community. Our goal is to empower artists, provide them with valuable resources and opportunities, and celebrate their contributions to the cultural landscape

// Issue 61 - Continuing Conversations // Artist: Sean Bw Parker https://www.singulart.com/en/artist/sean-bw-parker-68346?show_popin=subscribe, @seanbwparker7 The Execution of Holofernes (2025) Description: Portrait impression of the biblical story of Judith, previously interpreted by Caravaggio, Klimt and many others. Conversation-wise, a possible reflection of 'cancel culture' and the risks of high-profile people speaking their minds, and the consequences of that. @haus_a_rest @nicholarodgers.artist @michaela_hall_artist @peterdevonald #ARTOPENCALL #Contemporaryart #artnarrative #arttalk #artwriting #ArtZine #artstory #talking #artsubmission #artopportunity #TextileCommunity #ArtistsOnInstagram #FeaturedArtist #WritersCorner

Fw: Next issue 60 Textiles of Haus a Rest // OPEN CALL - ISSUE 61 - This is next month's theme - “ Continuing Conversations” // This theme's heart is the idea that dialogue—spoken, unspoken, visual, sonic, spatial—is never static. Conversations evolve, shift, repeat, and ripple across time, space, and media. These exchanges are the foundation of artistic expression, whether between individuals, across communities, or within the language of materials and disciplines. We're looking for work that explores art as dialogue—art that responds, reframes, or reverberates. How does your work speak to or with its environment, its audience, or other works? How does it inhabit a conversation rather than a monologue?... Who Can Submit? This call is open to artists across all visual media (painting, photography, sculpture, digital art, etc.) and writers working in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, or hybrid forms. We encourage experimental, boundary-pushing work that brings fresh perspectives to the theme. Go to www.haus-a-rest.com to apply and for the full details. Closes 3rd June 2025. Images courtesy of @jennfoxartist @haus_a_rest @nicholarodgers.artist @michaela_hall_artist @peterdevonald #ARTOPENCALL #Contemporaryart #artnarrative #arttalk #artwriting #ArtZine #artstory #talking #artsubmission #artopportunity #TextileCommunity #ArtistsOnInstagram #FeaturedArtist #WritersCorner

Live on our website- ISSUE 60 - TEXTILES: Threads of Memory, Making, and Meaning Welcome to the Exhibition & Writers’ Corner Textiles are more than materials—they are containers of memory, culture, labour, protest, and tenderness. In this special edition of our online exhibition and Writers’ Corner, we explore the rich and resonant theme of TEXTILES, presenting visual and written work that reflects on the medium’s many forms and meanings. This project began with a simple call: If you work with textiles, or if you have something to say about making—how fabric connects to memory, creativity, or culture—we want to hear from you. The responses we received were anything but simple. They were intimate, conceptual, radical, poetic, and deeply personal. We’re proud to feature an inspiring selection of artists and writers whose works stitch together a wide-ranging conversation— With featured artists @davidbezartist @haus_a_rest @nicholarodgers.artist @jennafoxartist @michaela_hall_artist @peterdevonald #TextileArt #ContemporaryTextiles #FibreArt #TextileExhibition #TextileArtist #ArtZine #TextileDesign #FabricArt #SlowCraft #TextilesOfInstagram #TextileCommunity #ArtistsOnInstagram #CreativeTextiles #ArtAndTextiles #TextileInspiration #CraftedStories #MemoryThroughTextiles #TextileNarratives #FeaturedArtist #WritersCorner

// Issue 60 - Textile Art // Artist: Jacqui Barrowcliffe @littleboxoflightandstories www.jacquibarrowcliffe.com Invisible threads Description: The memory of a stitch, of the hand that sewed it, of the stories it told. A video installation recording the process of unpicking a hand-embroidered tablecloth, inspired by the narratives and memories fabric holds. First developed on residence at an old textiles mill, the piece offers an intimate study of the intangible nature of everyday narratives, and the record they leave in the domestic setting and household objects. Memories of such stories are explored through the laborious process of unstitching a tablecloth and considering its personal history. The work, however, also considers the narratives on a wider scale in the context of the traditional role of the woman as homemaker and the relationship of women and cloth throughout history and across cultures. Through a process of undoing, the memory of those stories reveals itself in the small holes left behind in the cloth, ghostly traces of the stitches and the untold stories behind them. The installation piece consists of a table, the unstitched tablecloth, a small wooden box with threads inside, a photograph in an embroidery frame, and a video of the unpicking process. The piece has also been shown alongside a performance of the unpicking, and is currently being exhibited with a participatory element, where visitors are invited to share their own textile-related memories on scraps of cloth. Further information on the project can be found here: https://jacquibarrowcliffe.com/portfolio/invisible-threads #Zine60 #artprocess #ArtZine #WritersOfInstagram #StudentArtists #ZineCulture #IndieZine #CreativeCommunity #EmergingArtists #PoetryZine #VisualPoetry #DIYPublishing #Zinemakers #opencall #ZineLife #EmergingArtists #fineart #creativewriting #artsubmission #textiles #textile

// Issue 60 - Textile Art // Artist: Ross Belton @spottedhyenas moderneccentrics.com | rossbelton.myportfolio.com | moderneccentrics.wordpress.com/category/ross-belton Ukhamba Description: Inspired by the ‘Ukhamba’, a traditional Zulu ceremonial beer pot, rimless and made from unfired clay, with ‘sgraffito’ marking. I’ve liked the idea of taking something very basic, for these a wow bandage (white open weave) and building up multiples to create something larger. I use redundant blacksmith tools to create the rust marks on the bandage, The contact printing process will rust mark the gauze, leaving traces of the tools’ previous use. Once the rust print has developed, I start shaping the bowl, using a starch paste. To hold the shape, I stitch the gauze, using cotton thread that I know will react in the natural dyeing process, so the holding stitching will disappear into the background when dyed. In these examples, I’m using logwood dye, which, without a mordant, will give a grey colour, but if mordanted, will yield a purplish colour. After extracting the colour from the logwood to create a dye bath, the bowls are simmered for about 45 minutes. When I reform the shape, where the rust mark appears, the logwood turns purple to black. This is caused by the tannin-iron complex, which I use frequently in my work. After the bowl has been formed again, I add the decorative stitching, echoing the sgraffito markings of the Ukhamba. In the photo for one of the bowls, I’ve not used plain gauze but created a rust watercolour which I’ve painted on as surface decoration. In the textured bowl, I’ve mordanted with alum, but used various types of thread which will dye the same colour but offer a different tone or texture. In the very dark bowl, I’ve used a high concentration of rust marking, which takes the logwood into a purplish black colour. Process feature www.textileartist.org/print-textile-art. #Zine60 #artprocess #ArtZine #WritersOfInstagram #StudentArtists #ZineCulture #IndieZine #CreativeCommunity #EmergingArtists #PoetryZine #VisualPoetry #DIYPublishing #Zinemakers #opencall #ZineLife #EmergingArtists #fineart #creativewriting #artsubmission #textiles #textile

// Issue 60 - Textile Art // Artist: Andia Coral Newton @andiacoralandiacoral https://andiacoral.com/ Cathedral for Women with Mental Health Issues (2024) Description: Machine-woven Tapestry: recycled PET, linen, cotton and mohair wool & bespoke walnut frame This work was made in collaboration with the programmers and weavers at TextielLab. The Cathedral is a liminal space of reflection on how much of yourself you can afford to share in an artwork. You may fall afoul if you stray from the pedestal. Here, the fear of oversharing and the excitement of new ways of expression combine into a lightning storm of existential dread and creative promise. No risk, no reward. A computerised jacquard loom lends a more intricate approach to image making around formal tapestry composition and subjects who would not be seen in traditional pieces. #Zine60 #artprocess #ArtZine #WritersOfInstagram #StudentArtists #ZineCulture #IndieZine #CreativeCommunity #EmergingArtists #PoetryZine #VisualPoetry #DIYPublishing #Zinemakers #opencall #ZineLife #EmergingArtists #fineart #creativewriting #artsubmission #textiles #textileart #creative #artsubmission

// Issue 60 - Textile Art // Artist: Yuyang Chen @1113marguerite https://chenart.cargo.site/ It will never be the same Description: It Will Never Be the Same is a fabric-based sculpture incorporating fabric inspired by the artist’s security blanket stitching with childlike drawings and second-hand furniture. The work draws inspiration from the artist’s childhood security blanket, a gift from her grandmother that she could not sleep without. The blanket carries the comforting scent and softness of memory. Beyond symbolising the traditional female role passed from one generation to the next, it also serves as a personal anchor, offering a deep sense of security and identity. The textile element unfurls from the lamp to the bed like a shadow, trying to cover and protect memory. Yet, the piece also evokes a quiet sense of absence and loss: while the objects endure, time and memory remain irretrievable. #Zine60 #artprocess #ArtZine #WritersOfInstagram #StudentArtists #ZineCulture #IndieZine #CreativeCommunity #EmergingArtists #PoetryZine #VisualPoetry #DIYPublishing #Zinemakers #opencall #ZineLife #EmergingArtists #fineart #creativewriting #artsubmission #textiles #textileart #creative #artsubmission

Issue 60 textiles