British Artists Commune With Nature

Making a living producing one-of-a-kind, handmade crafts can be frustrating. You’re not always considered a fine artist, and many people associate the work with macrame plant holders that went out with granny gowns.

And yet, there’s a thriving crafts movement here and abroad. The L.A. gallery/store Freehand is hosting a collection of pieces by 10 contemporary British applied artists.

“This came about because I felt their work was really special and should be seen by an audience in America,” said show curator Linda Brownrigg, a publisher who specializes in works about Medieval book production.

Her familiarity with the British crafts movement (she’s spent years across the pond) and friendship with Freehand owner Carol Sauvion led to the exhibit.

Brownrigg wanted to focus on younger artists and use nature as a common thread.

“I began to think about emerging artists who had a track record,” she said. “I have children their age [in their 30s], and I’m interested in what they’re doing. The nature theme emerged, in a way, out of their [work], since they’re all working with natural materials.”

The artists, whose works range from about $25 to $2,000, include Jane Adam, Neil Bottle, Pollyanna Beeley, Grainne Morton, Dawn Emms, Lucy Casson, Jane Cox, Mark Nuell, Catherine Hills and Nicola Henshaw.

“I wanted to bring them over here because I felt there is an audience for handmade items,” said Brownrigg. “These are very brave people who decide to do this.”

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“nature Formed/transFormed” at Freehand, 8413 W. 3rd St., L.A., through Nov. 13. Info: (323) 655-2607, https://www.freehand.com. Pollyanna Beeley will be at the store Saturday.