Members Author Hour: Frances Burke – Designer of Modern Textiles
Places are limited. Bookings essential.
This Event Is
As a young woman, Frances Burke chose to ‘design the world she wanted’. During World War II, when imported printed fabrics were scarce, she sold dress fabrics and hemmed lengths of furnishing fabric in bright modern designs, enabling Melbourne women to ‘make do’ in style. After the war, Burke continued her business while lecturing, writing about design and advocating for design through her work as a founding member of the Society of Designers for Industry from 1947, and as a board member for the Museum of Modern Art and Design from 1954. In a 1967 speech she wrote:
You might think that, for a person with artistic leanings, my life of designing, printing, producing and selling fabrics has been unspectacular. But it’s been deeply satisfying to me, because I’ve felt I’ve been supplying an artistic need in the community and bringing sound artistic values into the familiar sphere of ordinary everyday life.
Feel free to bring along your favourite Frances Burke fabric or story and join the discussion.
Signed copies of Frances Burke: Designer of modern textiles will be available to be purchased with your 10% member discount.
Ticket includes a Bullion Store coffee voucher.
