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119 Jack Pakenham (b.1938)
Poole
Printed fabric by DavidWhitehead Fabrics
121 X 124 cm
Inscribed with Artist’s name & title verso
120 George Campbell RHA (1917 - 1979)
Clare
Printed Fabric by DavidWhitehead Fabrics,
104 x 117cm
Inscribed with artists name & title verso
In 1967, David Whitehead Fabrics
161
commissioned Irish and English artists to adapt their
work to designs for their new range of cotton–satin fabrics, ‘Living Art’. The chosen artists
were Jack Pakenham,
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Padraig MacMiadhachain, John Piper and George Campbell. The
unveiling of the fabrics
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took place at Switzer's store, on Grafton Street, Dublin, and was
attended by interior designers, hoteliers and architects. Campbell contributed four designs:
Cashel, Carraig, Clare
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and Connemara.
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A Lancashire textile group of art inspired fabrics, David Whitehead Fabrics Ltd was popular in the 1950s
and 1960s.
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Jack Pakenham, a member of ‘Group 63’, met George Campbell in the 1960s through Gerard Dillon who
had encouraged Pakenham to contribute to the IELA. Interview with Jack Pakenham, 18 February 2015.
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The abstract prints were reproduced from original canvases.
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The ‘Clare’ Print was purchased by the Ministry of Works, London for use in British embassies abroad. ‘Irish
Fabric Designs Go Abroad’,
The Irish Times
, 23 April 1968.
fig.206: Jack Pakenham and George Campbell
fig.207: George Campbell with his White-
head material, 1967