The Power of Making

A quick look round the show, nipping in to the V&A early in the day to avoid the queues. It's proving very popular -- at 10.30 it was full of school or college groups - and the kids were really interested.

The show runs till 2 January 2012. It's "an exhibition about the breadth and depth of craft's presence in modern life," says the brochure. "The featured objects have been selected to highlight both age-old skills and contemporary techniques, from traditional stone walls to machines that can make other machines. Each exhibit demonstrates refined craftsmanship, meticulous control or ingenious application."

The objects are grouped: Types of making; Learning a skill; In the zone; Making new knowledge; Thinking by making. Read more this here.

The brochure has a great list of processes and techniques - unfortunately not on the exhibition's website -

The exhibition includes commissioned documentary footage filmed at individual maker’s studios and factories, to provide an insight into how the knowledge of making is preserved - and a selection of the fascinating short films submitted to www.vimeo.com/groups/pomopensub.

The artists-in-residence associated with the show have a blog: www.vam.ac.uk/blogs/postlerferguson

One of the most riveting exhibits is this stunning dress (The Widow) by Susie Macmurray - see an interview about its making here.