STOP PRESS...
Our next Contemporary Craft Tour - Knit 2gether will take place in Spring 2008.
Next spring we will be touring the work of two knitters who interpret the traditional discipline of knitting in a contemporary way - Ruth Lee and Biddy Rychnovsky.
Ruth Lee will be creating new works for the tour that take as a reference the expertise and knowledge of the traditional knitters of Borders area, Cumbria and the Dales, but set in a contemporary context. Her aim will be to move these traditional textile construction techniques beyond the functional and turn them into an artform that is not simply an imitation of past work but is something fresh and individual. Ruth has recently exhibited in Australia and at the Gracefield Arts Centre, Dumfries.
Ruth Lee – Spirit Dress
To see more of Ruth’s work visit www.webs-of-intrigue.co.uk
We are also touring the work of Biddy Rychnovsky. Biddy’s work explores various themes which challenge common perceptions of knitting and its traditional associations with garments. She also explores ways in which knitting can be combined with other media and experiments with materials unrelated to knitting to express ideas and concepts while encouraging others to be creative with their knitting and to ‘think outside the box’. Her most recent work combines knitting with DNA research and light in wall-mounted pieces.
Biddy Rychnovsky – Continuity of Line
The Exhibition will visit venues in Cumbria, Durham and Northumberland for three days – Friday to Sunday. Please see the schedule below. One of the tour artists will be present at each venue and, true to traditional village hall hospitality, refreshments will be available so visitors can take a seat and chat with the artist!
| Fri 2 May - Sun 4 May |
Ireshopeburn Literary Institute |
11 - 5pm |
| Fri 9 May - Sun 11 May |
Shap Memorial Hall |
11 - 5pm |
| Fri 16 May - Sun 18 May |
Newbiggin Village Hall |
11 - 5pm |
| Fri 23 May - Sun 25 May |
Greenhead Village Hall |
11 - 5pm |
| Fri 30 May - Sun 1 June |
Farfield Mill, Sedbergh |
11 - 5pm |
Please refer to the Listings Page for venue contact numbers.
Previous Tour:
Contemporary Craft Tour- Spring 2007
Taking up the Thread
This year's Contemporary Craft Tour - Taking up the Thread was a great success. We toured the work of two contemporary weavers to venues in Cumbria, Northumberland and Durham in May and June of this year. For details see below.
A stunning selection of weaving and tapestry by two highly skilled makers.
A Jilly Edwards tapestry is like a piece of music: you cannot see or hear the whole piece in an instant. Parts are waiting to be discovered – the more you look the more you see. Much of Jilly’s inspiration comes from the landscape and her journeys through it – colour, shape and form are the three areas that dominate her thoughts and work. The idea of the journey as metaphor is also explored in these pieces in that they allow the viewer to journey around the woven tapestries and interact with their tension, strength and flexibility, echoing a feeling of movement. The exhibition also challenges the way in which we perceive woven tapestry by rethinking the method of display - taking the tapestry away from traditional wall-mounted presentation and relocating it on plinths which can be walked around. The pieces also invite tactile participation - please feel free to touch and unravel the pieces!
If you would like to know more about Jilly and see a preview of her work, visit her website on:
www.jillyedwards.co.uk
William Jefferies’ extraordinary woven tapestries evolve from previous designs, often resulting in a progressive series of work. He keeps scrapbooks of various obsessions from which he takes visual subjects for further tapestries. These ideas are worked into samplers to decide colours, yarns, whether knotted or woven textures, and how the piece should be constructed, resulting in a beautiful collection of wall hangings and rugs.
Both artists' work is held in collections both at home and abroad.
One of the tour artists was present at each venue and, true to traditional village hall hospitality, refreshments were available so visitors could take a seat and chat with the artist!
The exhibition toured to the following venues:
| Ireshopeburn Literary Institute |
Fri 4 - Sun 6 May |
01388
537229 |
| Hamsterley Village Hall |
Fri 11 - Sun 13 May |
01388
488323 |
| Farfield Mill, Sedbergh |
Fri 18 - Sun 20 May |
015396
20125 |
| Mungrisdale Village Hall |
Fri 25 - Sun 27 May |
01768
779397 |
| Langley Village Hall |
Fri 1 - Sun 3 June |
01434
684084 |
The exhibition was open on each of the above days between the hours of 11.00am to 5.00pm.
