Every year on August Bank Holiday, our two villages (they are historically combined – one has the castle and the other the church!) have a show in the larger ‘castle’ village. It is a popular event locally, drawing in folk from the wider surrounding area. The event encompasses fun activities on the village green such as dancing, music and children’s sports etc. Then there is the fiercely competitive village produce show (including art) – thankfully, we haven’t as yet, had any Agatha Christie adventures needing Miss Marple or the services of the Murder Mystery Club! All of this is combined with the very active local history group presenting their annual research and finally (the subject of this post) our textile group’s display of our year’s work.
Both the history and textile displays are set up in out-building workshops that belong to our patient, long suffering, textile ‘leader’. Each year she packs up her entire stock to provide shelves and tables for our pieces. I am in awe of her efforts as there is no way I could do likewise….firstly I have too much in my various stashes, secondly I’d have no where to transfer it and lastly if I did move it….I’d never find anything again. I’m sure I can see so many of you nodding to this….😂 All that said, it could potentially provide me with an annual clean-up and the finding of hidden long lost treasures!!! 😜
Our textile group membership (35 members) is small by comparison to many other groups, but our ‘leader’ organises a varied programme of about 8 workshops each year to include all aspects of textile artwork, which we enjoy, with get-togethers, to keep our fingers and minds busy. Sadly we can’t all get on each workshop….I think we’d be too much for even the strongest tutor to take on! Thus far, there haven’t been any pistols at dawn….but we have an exciting, particularly for me, programme coming up….need I start cleaning the gun barrel???!!!
Among our members we have the usual mix of – extremely talented, pin-point perfect, very diverse, quietly challenging and the beautifully colourful. Over the years we have grown used to each other and can often spot a particular member’s work at 50 paces.
Our 23-24 programme for display included –
- Nature inspired fabric collage – Suzette Smart
- Paint and stitch landscapes – Fran Brammer
- Batik – Rachel Forrest
- Dyeing – Sarah Lowe
- Make a mouse – Kathryn Ashcroft
- 3d landscape wrap – Emily Notman
- Eco dyeing and batik – Jane Charles
- Material possibilities – Shelley Rhodes
As a collective we each submit (those who want to) at least 3 finished works to create the display of our activities throughout the year. We ask for a nominal 50p, or donation, entrance from visitors which combined with other activities during the year raises significant funds (usually several hundred pounds) for that year’s chosen charity.
These photos shown here are just a glimpse into our collection of work. Sadly, I am unable to show all the displayed work, or the exquisite detail in, and wonderful colour of, so many of the pieces.
Workshops vary to suit all tastes, some are more prescriptive, others allow more creative freedom.
This year we had to choose a geometric shape and use it in a different way in separate individual, paper or fabric, 3” squares. To be presented in any format – book, hanging, tags etc.
As I reuse frames where possible and have a friendly framer who will cut the mounts for me, I accepted the 2024 challenge but instead of 3″ squares I used 3cm squares, with circles (centre) – all to fit my intended re-sprayed deep frame. Well, I did mention our membership included the ‘quietly challenging’ – I always listen and always follow newly learned skills….i simply adjust it in a way that both engages and makes me happy with my end piece!
I also produced 2 very different fabric/paper pieces for the Material Possibilities – on the right it is more in line with Shelley Rhodes our tutor whilst on the left I took inspiration from textile artist Helen Terry.
In my last post, I received several requests to show which order my triptych pieces were displayed on the shelf (the walls and frames are white despite the photo!). I don’t have much space, so they share a shelf with other work. Ideally, given more wall room, I would put each in a much larger frame with a wide border around….to do this now, I would definitely need sky hooks!
My hope in showing our 2024 textile display is to encourage anyone thinking about joining a textile group to do so. If you don’t have one, then perhaps set one up. There is so much to be gained – shared experiences, learning new skills, feedback on ideas, new ways of looking at things, having fun with permission to experiment, and so much more….but….most importantly….fellowship.