Nancy Farrington works with casting and kiln forming to explore the materiality of glass through a textile lens. Using fabric manipulation techniques such as smocking and gathering, she has developed her own unique processes in order to translate textiles into glass, allowing her to explore the interplay between opposing material qualities - soft and hard, transparent and opaque, fragile and robust. The medium of glass offers a new perspective to the stitched textiles that would otherwise go unseen, as the highly polished facets offer a view into the negative space of the folds from the inside out. Working with both the natural drape of fabric and the constraints of casting, she allows her sculptural forms to arise spontaneously during the making process, resulting in an eclectic mix of shapes that evoke aesthetic links to geology, confectionary, and bodily forms. The cultural histories of stitching imbue her work with themes of femininity, women’s work, historical fashion and nostalgia, also reflecting Farrington’s own personal interests and research.  

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“The link between textiles and femininity along with their historical contexts really interests me and thematically feeds my making. I love the heritage and stories that come with textile art – whether embroidering, pleating or crocheting, these skills have been passed down through generations, often within the home. In modern times, such hand sewing techniques are not longer a necessity. My work explores the current and future role of these intricate methods, and reimagines them within a contemporary landscape. Whilst investigating materials through play and extensive sampling, I find it fascinating how some materials can be pushed into unusual territories, whereas others are unforgiving and rigid.”