Tapestry

BBC Learning English – London LifeTapestryJanuary 25, 2006PLEASE NOTE: This is not a precise transcription of thisprogrammeCallum: Hello I'm Callum Robertson and this is London Life.
　　One of the departments of the University of London is SOASor, the School of Oriental and African Studies. Currentlythey are holding an exhibition from the Ramses Wissa ArtCentre in Egypt. The exhibition is of tapestries¹ that werecreated by students of the centre.
　　Our reporter Will went to the exhibition and joins me now.
　　Will, tell me a bit more about the centre and theexhibition.
　　Will: The Centre was established by Ramses Wissa whofirst started to encourage and teach chidren to weave inthe 1950s, however he didn't give them formal training ortell them what designs to create. Ramses died in 1974 but Ispoke to his daughter, Suzanne who told me about herfather's techniques.
　　INSERT SUZANNEHe believed that every child has a lot of capacity andimagination and he has the force and power to create so hebelieved if he can teach a young child such a techniquelike weaving and he leave him completely free to his ownimagination to develop his own style because all theweavings you see around you they have never been pre-designed. They don't work from any sketch². They really havean inspiration in their mind, the weavers³ I mean. And theysit to the loom⁴ with the wool, dye, with natural dyes, andthey just reflect their own natural ideaswith no pre-designing.
　　Callum: So before creating the tapestries the studentsdon't make any sketches⁵ or drawings at all?
　　Will: That's right – (reaction to that and descriptionof style of tapestries)Callum: Tell us more about the set up of the school andwhat kind of students there are.
　　Will: (About the school)Callum: And can adults learn to weave as well or can peopleonly start when they are childrenWill: Well it's only children. I asked Suzanne why thatwas.
　　SUZANNEAn adult will be able to weave, yes, but such spontaneousfeeling cannot really be faked – I mean an adult will beimpressed by all his education all what he already haveseen in life, in artwork and it will be very had to get ridof all these influences. This is why we start with theperson young because it becomes their own language. Andwhen we start with them we don't expose them to pattern ordrawing or pictures or colours. No, we give them thethreads and the loom and we tell them this is how they aregoing to express yourself. So they really develop their ownlanguage.
　　Callum: So it's for children because they come to itwithout any influence or interference from their experienceof art and the world.
　　Will: ExactlyCallum: Well that's all we have time for for now, join usagain for more London Life.

1 tapestries   

n.挂毯( tapestry的名词复数 )；绣帷，织锦v.用挂毯（或绣帷）装饰( tapestry的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The wall of the banqueting hall were hung with tapestries. 宴会厅的墙上挂有壁毯。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The rooms were hung with tapestries. 房间里都装饰着挂毯。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 sketch   

n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述

参考例句：

• My sister often goes into the country to sketch. 我姐姐常到乡间去写生。
• I will send you a slight sketch of the house.我将给你寄去房屋的草图。

3 weavers   

织工，编织者( weaver的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Navajo are noted as stockbreeders and skilled weavers, potters, and silversmiths. 纳瓦霍人以豢养家禽，技术熟练的纺织者，制陶者和银匠而著名。
• They made out they were weavers. 他们假装是织布工人。

4 loom   

n.织布机，织机；v.隐现，(危险、忧虑等)迫近

参考例句：

• The old woman was weaving on her loom.那位老太太正在织布机上织布。
• The shuttle flies back and forth on the loom.织布机上梭子来回飞动。

5 sketches   

n.草图( sketch的名词复数 )；素描；速写；梗概

参考例句：

• The artist is making sketches for his next painting. 画家正为他的下一幅作品画素描。
• You have to admit that these sketches are true to life. 你得承认这些素描很逼真。 来自《简明英汉词典》