This year I broke with a self-imposed tradition and instead of going on the opening day, Thursday, to avoid the crowds of college students, I went on the Saturday. Never again. It was just heaving with visitors and unpleasantly hot, making it difficult to enjoy the exhibitions. However, I persevered and am glad I did so, although there was a slight sense of deja vu as I had seen some of the exhibitors at the Festival of Quilts in August.
Dorothy Caldwell's show, 'In Place', has pieces inspired by the way marks are made on landscapes. There are small works, almost sample sized, highly textured with a minimal palette of colours, and larger ones, with a painting-like quality, again with a restrained use of colour.
'A Timeline of Crewel Work 1630 - 1930' was a wonderful collection of crewel embroidery, both old and new, including bed hangings, clothing and furnishing fabrics. Crewel work is a technique which can produce richly textured pieces in jewel colours and I'm glad that there seems to be a renewed interest in keeping it alive.
'Equal On All 4 Sides' was a joint exhibition by Ruth Issett and Bobby Britnell, two artists whose work I have greatly admired. And yes, I have their books! Ruth's dyed and printed textiles and paper pieces simply glowed with colour and light. Bobby's work was more subdued but rich in tone and natural colours. Both were inspirational.
Dorothy Caldwell's show, 'In Place', has pieces inspired by the way marks are made on landscapes. There are small works, almost sample sized, highly textured with a minimal palette of colours, and larger ones, with a painting-like quality, again with a restrained use of colour.
'A Timeline of Crewel Work 1630 - 1930' was a wonderful collection of crewel embroidery, both old and new, including bed hangings, clothing and furnishing fabrics. Crewel work is a technique which can produce richly textured pieces in jewel colours and I'm glad that there seems to be a renewed interest in keeping it alive.
'Equal On All 4 Sides' was a joint exhibition by Ruth Issett and Bobby Britnell, two artists whose work I have greatly admired. And yes, I have their books! Ruth's dyed and printed textiles and paper pieces simply glowed with colour and light. Bobby's work was more subdued but rich in tone and natural colours. Both were inspirational.
