Past Exhibitions

Text 
Region 
 

9th September 2023 until 28th November 2023

Whitchurch Silk Mill, 28 Winchester Street, Whitchurch, RG28 7AL

Opening hours: Tue - Sun & Bank Holidays 10:30 until 5:00

https://whitchurchsilkmill.org.uk/

Group: South East of England (UK)

Earth Threads

at Whitchurch Silk Mill

Earth Threads is a touring exhibition, starting at the historic Whitchurch Silk Mill in September 2023 and continuing to the Sunbury Embroidery Gallery in 2024. The exhibition will reflect the heritage and tradition of weaving and will raise awareness of the range and potential of weft-faced tapestry weaving as a form of artistic expression. It will show how woven tapestries can be both beautiful and thought-provoking.

View or print Poster

Full details

Earth Threads 2023/2024

Earth Threads is a touring exhibition of contemporary weft-faced woven tapestries. It is the sixth biennial exhibition of the British Tapestry Group (BTG) South East Region. All members of the South East Region were invited to submit a woven tapestry to this exhibition. Earth Threads showcases and celebrates these vibrant and original tapestries from weavers of all levels of experience. The exhibition opens at the historic Whitchurch Silk Mill in Hampshire and then travels to the Sunbury Embroidery Gallery in Sunbury-on-Thames.

The theme Earth Threads was chosen to be both broad and inspiring. The natural world provides a great source of visual beauty and variety which we can celebrate. It is also challenged by climate change, pollution, and the loss of biodiversity. The theme leads to many different viewpoints and each weaver interprets the theme in their own way.

As a medium, woven tapestry provides an extensive toolbox of materials and techniques. Natural materials such as silk, nettle, linen, cotton, and wool are available in many different colours and thicknesses. Recycled or reclaimed items and other materials such as paper, wire, fishing line and lurex can also be used. These materials can both surprise and challenge the viewer.

The exhibition aims to excite and educate both the weaver and the visitor to what is achievable in woven tapestry using original designs, colours, materials, and techniques. Woven tapestries can be both beautiful and thought-provoking, expressing the direct beauty of nature or the challenges of climate change. This exhibition is a showcase of diverse and original tapestry weavings that respect the heritage and traditions of tapestry weaving and celebrate the joy of weaving to the theme of Earth Threads.

It is a privilege to show the Earth Threads exhibition at the historic Whitchurch Silk Mill in Hampshire and at the Sunbury Embroidery Gallery located in the 18th century Walled Garden at Sunbury-on-Thames. We are very grateful for the support of the teams from both venues for promoting contemporary tapestry weaving and making it accessible to a wider audience.

British Tapestry Group South East Exhibition Team

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2nd June 2023 until 29th June 2023

Dunblane Museum: The Cross, Dunblane, Stirlingshire. FK16 0AQ

Opening hours: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat 10:30 am - 4:30 pm - Free entry

https://dunblanemuseum.org.uk/?exhibition=british-tapestry-group

https://dunblanemuseum.org.uk/getting-here/

(what3words locator) - grandson.ounce.colder

Group: Scotland (UK)

Under the Influence

Members of the BTG Scottish Region exhibiting recent works will be around most days demonstrating tapestry weaving in the museum gallery and are happy to speak about their work and influences. 

Image credits: Louise Oppenheimer, Veronica Collins, Angela Waterworth, Lyn Dunnachie, Sabine Hyland and Siobhan Ratchford.

2nd April 2023 until 29th April 2023

The Paxton Centre 52 Anerley Hill, Crystal Palace, SE19 2AE

Opening hours: Sun - Sat (every day) 10 am - 5 pm – Free Entry

Private view: Friday 7 April: 7 - 10 pm

https://www.thepaxtoncentre.co.uk/

Group: London (UK)

Woven Worlds

contemporary tapestry art

An exciting and varied exhibition of woven tapestries by members of the BTG London Regional group. The title ‘Woven Worlds’ reflects the diversity of weaving techniques and offers examples of work from artists at different levels in their career. A few of the exhibits are displayed in a set to illustrate the title.

Participating artists

Amanda Saunders, Aruna Reddy, Barbara Byrne, Bridget Lane, Chris Arscott, Christine Eborall, David Stokes, Eleonora Budden, Jackie Bennett, Jacky Boxall, Joan Kendall, John Barron, Justine Randall, Lee Jenner, Lucy Sugden, Lyn Bainbridge, Margaret Appa, Marion Borthwick, Stephanie Edwards and Suzanne Osborn.  More information about the artists on

BTG Showcase page

 

The Paxton Centre

52 Anerley Hill

Crystal Palace, SE19 2AE

Dates: 2 to 29 April 2023

Hours: Mon – Sun 10am – 5 pm

Open evening: 7 April 7 – 10pm

Workshops

Sun 16 April 2 – 4pm by Lucy Sugden

Sat 22 April 1:15 – 3:45pm by Jackie Bennett

Limited places, please book in advance: https://www.thepaxtoncentre.co.uk/

 Demonstrations

Sat 2 April 2-4pm

Sat 8 April 2 – 4pm

Mon 10 April 10am – 12

Sat 15 April 10am – 12

Sun 16 April 10am – 12

Sat 22 April 2 – 4 pm

Sun 23 April 2 – 4 pm

Sat 29 April 2 – 4 pm

Free, drop in, no booking required.

9th May 2022 until 15th May 2022

Jubilee Library, Jubilee Street, Brighton. BN1 1GE

Group: South East of England (UK)

A Pick of Woven Tapestries

An exhibition of small-format tapestries designed and handwoven by members of the British Tapestry Group South East Region.

The works will be displayed at the Jubilee Library, Jubilee Street, Brighton. BN1 1GE. 

It will be open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 10 am to 7 pm, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm.

Image credit: 'Heavens' Embroidered Cloths' by Yvonne Dedman

5th January 2022 until 27th March 2022

Farfield Mill, Garsdale Road, Sedbergh, Cumbria LA10 5LW

Opening hours: Due to any ongoing restrictions please see the exhibition venue's website for up to date information about opening times.

https://www.farfieldmill.org

Group: National

Threads in Sheds - 2022

Travelling to Farfield Mill, Cumbria

Threads in Sheds is our latest exhibition where we  aim to promote woven tapestry as a contemporary art form. 

Thirty Six full members of the British Tapestry Group from all regions and nations of the UK and international members have created new tapestry weavings which reflect the heritage and traditions of weaving and shows contemporary weft faced tapestry weaving at its best and most innovative  including all styles of weaving, figurative, three-dimensional, contemporary and styles we are yet to experience.  

The title “Threads in Sheds” references the technical term in weaving where the weft thread is placed in-between the warp threads as well as the historical building where weaving takes place.  

To reflect the historic silk mill where the exhibition opens all the work includes a significant element of silk.

Image credit: 'Twenty Shades of Silk’ (work in progress)  Anne-Kirsti Espenes

14th January 2022 until 27th February 2022

The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club; Waterston House, Aberlady, East Lothian, EH32 0PY

Opening hours: Wed - Sun (10-4) – Free Entry

The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club

Group: Scotland (UK)

To the Waters and the Wild

Tapestry inspired by nature from the Scottish members of the British Tapestry Group

The title of the exhibition, a verse from a WB Yeats poem, evokes the escape to be found in the natural world. If this was sometimes curtailed over the past couple of years, we have all learned to value it even more. Like many of us, the artists rediscovered their immediate environment, the local wood, the beach, the bird songs, and found inspiration there, or they looked inwards for memories of encounters with the wild further afield. The result is a small survey of tapestry today and a woven tribute to Nature.

The exhibition is accompanied by sculptures by Chris Hindley.

18th May 2021 until 31st January 2022

Kirkleatham Museum, Redcar, TS10 5NW

Opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 10:00-17:00. Free entry but booking required. Last entry 4pm

Kirkleatham Museum website

Group: North of England (UK)

Fabric of the North

Tapestries showcasing the landscapes, industry and social history of Northern England

This stunning exhibition mixes regular and 3D tapestries, large and small, mounted and unmounted, traditionally woven and mixed-media, but all on one theme: our northern heritage.

The exhibition is curated and managed by northern members of the British Tapestry Group. Visitors will enjoy a range of works, from small try-outs by recent beginners all the way through to magnificent pieces by top-class commissioned artists. Tapestry works and weaversbazaar yarns and equipment will be available to buy. 

Entry is free but booking is required. Last entry 4pm. Telephone 01642 479500

For more information contact: Sally Reckert

BTG Woven Art website - where you can also see a short video - 'Living Local: Cutting-off a tapestry from the loom'

11th September 2021 until 21st November 2021

Whitchurch Silk Mill, 28 Winchester Road, Whitchurch, Hampshire RG28 7AL

Opening hours: Due to any ongoing restrictions please see the exhibition venue's website for up to date information about opening times.

www.whitchurchsilkmill.org.uk

Group: National

Threads in Sheds - 2021

Opening in Whitchurch Silk Mill, Hampshire

Threads in Sheds is our latest exhibition where we  aim to promote woven tapestry as a contemporary art form. 

Thirty Six full members of the British Tapestry Group from all regions and nations of the UK and international members have created new tapestry weavings which reflect the heritage and traditions of weaving and shows contemporary weft faced tapestry weaving at its best and most innovative  including all styles of weaving, figurative, three-dimensional, contemporary and styles we are yet to experience.  

The title “Threads in Sheds” references the technical term in weaving where the weft thread is placed in-between the warp threads as well as the historical building where weaving takes place.  

To reflect the historic silk mill where the exhibition opens all the work includes a significant element of silk.

Image credit: 'Twenty Shades of Silk’ (work in progress)  Anne-Kirsti Espenes

 

 

 

 

17th May 2021 until 29th May 2021

Haslemere Educational Museum, 78 High St, Haslemere, GU27 2LA

Opening hours: Open daily (except Sundays) 10 am to 4 pm

Private view: To be arranged.

Directions to Haslemere Educational Museum

For more information contact Mike Wallace

Groups: London (UK) and South East of England (UK)

Window on Weaving

Now on permanent display in our Online Exhibition space

Opened 17th May2021!

The exhibition is organised by BTG SE, and the BTG London Group have been invited to participate. The work exhibited is an expression, both of the diversity of the weavers who created the pieces on display, as well as demonstrating the vast potential of the techniques involved. One of the key factors in bringing the group together has been the nurturing of confidence alongside developing the skills of weaving, and the work on display illustrates confidence and skills in abundance. The exhibition title was chosen to leave maximum scope for interpretation by individual weavers. Only a maximum size was specified.

There will be weaving demonstrations as well as yarns and weaving equipment for sale in a pop up shop on 21st & 22nd May.

“Tapestry: A Twentieth Century Renaissance”, a talk by Margaret Jones, weaver, curator and tutor who exhibits internationally and has won prizes for her work, takes place on Friday 21st May. See Haslemere museum website for details.

30th October 2019 until 3rd January 2020

Farfield Mill, Garsdale Road, Sedbergh, Cumbria, LA10 5LW

Weaving Water – Woven Lands exhibition website

Farfield Mill website

Groups: North of England (UK) and Scotland (UK)

Weaving Water – Woven Lands

As artists we are often inspired by place and the incredible landscape that surrounds us. Beautiful rolling hills, dramatic seascapes, the textures and colours of where we come from gives endless inspiration to artists who weave. Surrounded by water, with over 6000 miles of coastline, Scotland has more than 790 islands and over 30,000 lochs and lochans and almost 500 Munroes and Corbetts. How could we not be inspired by what is around us!

For opening times and directions visit: https://www.farfieldmill.org/visit/

Read a Review of Weaving Water, Woven Lands

7th May 2019 until 11th May 2019

Jubilee Library, Brighton, England

Group: South East

A Riot Of Small Woven Tapestries

The South East British Tapestry Group showing their small woven pieces at Jubilee Library in Brighton. A weaver was present to demonstrate the art of weaving.

Mike Ran interviews Sarah McLean in this video for Latest Brighton on 15 May 2019: A Riot of Small Woven Tapestries exhibition pops up at Jubilee Library, Brighton.

22nd November 2018 until 24th February 2019

The Stables Gallery, London, England

Rhythm of the Weave exhibition website

Group: National

Rhythm of the Weave

Challenged to recognise rhythms and create your own unique voice within the act of weaving a tapestry

The nature of tapestry weaving is built on the rhythm we develop as we are weaving away. Our fingers work on one section while our minds work at the challenge of the next part. Each piece conforms to a specific size limit to enable the creation of a cohesive flow within the installation. A theme or a thread which runs through and links each piece.

11th August 2018 until 31st March 2019

Sound and Weave exhibition website

Group: National

Sound and Weave

Contemporary Woven Art Inspired by Sound

An innovative exhibition which introduces the concept of sound, extending the horizons of this woven form and embracing a multi-disciplinary approach. Tapestry is longer the two-dimensional historical document of myth and expression of wealth, but a strong visual medium highlighting the interplay between colour, light, texture and sound.

March 2019
UWTSD Swansea College of Art
Swansea, Wales

November 2018 to February 2019
The Stables Gallery
London, England

August – September 2018
Gracefield Arts Centre
Dumfries, Scotland

21st June 2018 until 27th June 2018

Hepsibah Gallery, London, England

Group: London (UK)

Wow! Weft Over Warp

An Exhibition of woven tapestries by BTG London members, together with works by the late textile master Tadek Beutlich (1922-2011) and current work by renowned tapestry weaver and teacher, William Jefferies.

Image credit:: postcard image 'Happiness Time' - Máximo Laura design, woven at his workshop in Perú by Aruna Reddy

21st April 2018 until 28th April 2018

UPSTAIR@ J & G INNES, St Andrews, Scotland

Group: Scotland (UK)

Scottish Voices

Reflecting BTG's national theme this year of Sound and Weave, the theme ‘Scottish Voices’ is open to a wide interpretation by each individual artist around their own weaving practice and artistic ‘voice’.

4th April 2018 until 21st April 2018

Haslemere Museum, Haslemere, England

Group: South East

Inner Sounds

An exhibition of contemporary Woven Tapestry Art

The theme of the exhibition explores types of listening in a world saturated with sounds and images, with the intention of raising awareness whether as viewer, listener or tapestry weaver.

26th August 2017 until 9th December 2017

Group: Scotland

Borders

An exhibition of 60 tapestries from 28 members of Scotland’s BTG.

December 2017
Unlimited Studios
Glasgow, Scotland

August – September 2017
Northlight Gallery
Sromness, Scotland

2nd August 2016 until 31st August 2016

Dunblane Museum, Scotland

Each Day has a Colour exhibition website

Group: Scotland

Each Day has a Colour

An exhibition of tapestries by Scottish members at Dunblane Museum

9th June 2016 until 19th June 2016

Hepsibah Gallery, London, England

The Real Weave exhibition website

Group: London (UK)

"The Real Weave"

The art of woven tapestry

This was an exhibition of exciting contemporary tapestries by London-based members of the British Tapestry Group, aiming to show what tapestry really is and what it can convey. It was held at Hepsibah Gallery in Hammersmith.

23rd March 2016 until 24th May 2016

Symbiosis exhibition website

Group: South East

Symbiosis

In the year that Hastings is commemorating the 950 year anniversary of the Battle of Hastings with the Root 1066 International Festival of contemporary arts, it is appropriate that the British Tapestry Group brings woven tapestry to the town that is so closely connected with the embroidery called ‘The Bayeux Tapestry’.

Each weaver shows their personal interpretation in their tapestry weaving, resulting in a diverse and inventive collection of work, some taking the natural world as inspiration, others focus on the way that ideas interact in warp and weft.

April – May 2016
Hastings Arts Forum
St Leonards on Sea, England

March – April 2016
Mill House
Angmering, England

25th July 2015 until 18th October 2015

Verdant Works, Dundee, Scotland

The Golden Fibre exhibition website

Group: Scotland (UK)

The Golden Fibre

BTG Scotland Group’s exhibition inspired by jute

An exhibition of small format tapestries, woven by Scottish Members held at The Verdant Works, Dundee,25th July to 8th October 2015. Many of the tapestries have links to the city, incorporating jute, reflecting the history of the Verdant Works.

19th June 2015 until 24th June 2015

Hepsibah Gallery, London, England

Group: London

This is woven tapestry!

The exhibition aims to show what tapestry is and what it can encompass. Often mistaken for needlepoint, hand woven tapestry is the art of using weft-faced weaving to express a range of images, emotions and ideas in material form. Whatever you thought tapestry was, prepare to be surprised and amazed.

8th October 2014 until 23rd November 2014

Knitting and Stitching Show, Alexandra Palace and Harrogate, England

Woven Art exhibition website

Group: National

Woven Art ’14

To promote tapestry weaving to a wider audience.
Educate about techniques and the wide variety of styles, shapes and sizes that are possible.

Read an illustrated report below.

Full details

The contemporary woven tapestries shown in the Woven Art ’14 Catalogue were on display at the following venues: Knitting and Stitching Show, Alexandra Palace London from 8-12 October 2014 and Knitting and Stitching Show, Harrogate International Centre from 20 – 23 November.

The aims of the exhibition are to promote tapestry weaving to a wider audience and provide education about techniques and the wide variety of styles, shapes and sizes that are possible.

The exhibition was open to all BTG members, and 98 entries were received from 46 members, a remarkably high response. Selection of the work to be shown was undertaken by our Curator, Hillu Liebelt – a renowned weaver in her own right. Commenting on the selection, Hillu stated:
It has been a difficult task to select among such a good and varied choice, knowing that the space we shall have in the stands is rather limited. I have tried to gather together a selection of different techniques, materials, styles and sizes and have managed to find a space for 44 pieces (of 98) by 33 (of 46) weavers. It has been both enjoyable and a privilege, as well as a huge responsibility, to select and arrange the work for this exhibition. Today woven tapestries are rightly regarded as a part of the fine art world, and this exhibition will serve to reinforce this“.
Hillu Liebelt

The BTG and the exhibition Team are enormously grateful to Hillu for all the work she has done, her guidance and willingness to share her experience.

The following photographs of the BTG gallery at Alexandra Palace are copyright of Hilary O’Connell:

Woven Art 14

 

Woven Art 14

 

Woven Art 14 - 3

 

BTG members Jackie Bennett and Roger Dickinson demonstrating

BTG members Jackie Bennett and Roger Dickinson demonstrating

 

Woven Art 14

 

Woven Art 14 - 6

 

For more detailed pictures of individual pieces, see the Woven Art ’14 online catalogue.

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24th May 2014 until 13th July 2014

Nuneaton Art Gallery and Museum, Nuneaton, England

From Edge to Edge

Tapestry is an ancient art form, with a long and distinguished history and a thriving contemporary life. The aim of this exhibition is to celebrate the unique narrative that tapestry provides, ‘telling’ the region’s stories by means of texture, colour and woven thread.

26th April 2014 until 14th December 2014

Howgill Gallery
Farfield Mill, Sedbergh, England

Scott Gallery
Hawick Museum, Hawick, Scotland

Group: Scotland (UK)

Metamorphosis

Tapestries by Scottish Regional Group members on the theme of ‘metamorphosis’. 65 tapestries from 27 weavers, inspired by the ideas of transition and change. Topics ranged from the shifting of the tides, changes in nature and optical illusion.

18th April 2014 until 27th April 2014

Mill House Gallery, Angmering, England

Group: South East of England (UK)

Weather/Whether

Some 35 tapestries from around 30 artists on the thought provoking theme of Weather / Whether. The work ranged from the big and bold to the small and meticulous. A wide range of atmospheric interpretations and concepts.

6th September 2013 until 30th November 2013

York Quilt Museum, York, England

Group: National

A Sensitive Art

Juried works of between 15 - 30cm wide and 100 - 175cm long alongside CD case sized weavings in the open section and a selection of ’touching pieces’.

12th January 2013 until 23rd February 2013

Gracefield Arts Centre, Dumfries, Scotland

Group: National

Tapestry Mischief

Historic influences and contemporary mischief.  Members of the British Tapestry Group explore the medium of tapestry taking historical tapestries as the starting point, showing new work, some fragments of historic tapestries and accompanying interpretive material. Taking any aspect of the original such as an image, pattern or use of colour, the weavers have created highly individual contemporary interpretations using sometimes radical methods, fibres and colours, challenging the conventional form and surface of tapestry and its historical role as a narrative medium.

5th August 2011 until 23rd October 2011

The Stables Gallery, London, England

Group: National

Woven Threads

Woven Threads was part of a series of British Tapestry Group international exhibitions: a juried exhibition showing a wide range of contemporary woven tapestry. The exhibition was open to full BTG members, including overseas members.

12th September 2009 until 8th November 2009

Stirling Castle and Smith Gallery Stirling, Scotland

Group: National

Weaving Within

55 small format tapestries, woven by members of the British Tapestry Group. 

7th June 2008 until 28th September 2008

UK wide

Group: National

Tapestry 08 Halifax

Bankfield Museum
Halifax, England

Dean Clough Gallery
Halifax, England

Tapestry 08 was developed by BTG, and funded by the Arts Council, to be a comprehensive exhibition of contemporary work by British tapestry weavers.

Tapestry 08 was much more than an exhibition. Demonstration days, seminars and a National Conference were held to encourage dialogue between practitioners.

Read a report below:

Full details

Tapestry 08 was developed by BTG, and funded by the Arts Council, to be a comprehensive exhibition of contemporary work by British tapestry weavers. This was long overdue, as the last overview of British tapestry weaving, The British Tapestry Trienniale 2, was in 1998 at the Harley Gallery at Wellbeck.

Tapestry 08 was much more than an exhibition. The tapestry weavers developing activities for Tapestry 08 were concerned that perceptions of the medium were tied to connotations of the historical. Outreach work with schools and young people, with students and the general public needed incorporating into the event to raise awareness of contemporary tapestry weaving. Demonstration days, seminars and a National Conference were held to encourage dialogue between practitioners. 

Review:

Tapestry 08 was developed by BTG, and funded by the Arts Council, to be a comprehensive exhibition of contemporary work by British tapestry weavers. Tapestry 08 was much more than an exhibition. Demonstration days, seminars and a National Conference were held to encourage dialogue between practitioners.

The Exhibition:

The range of scale, from the miniature, as in Joyce Coulton’s ‘sketchbook’ pieces, to the monumental ‘Arizona Quartet’ by Shirley Ross, was exciting and, whilst some pieces were extremely bold in colour and composition, such as Fiona Rutherford’s ‘Up and Up’ or Kirsten Glasbrook’s ‘Soul Birds’, others are infinitely subtle. A piece by Soon Yul Kang, ‘Meditation’ slowly reveals its subtleties rewarding close scrutiny and time to enter into its atmospheric and inner world. Other pieces similarly reward close attention, the iridescent, twilight visions of Elin Huws and the shimmering, shifting landscapes in Beryl Hammill’s ‘Weaving the Country; Pilbara’.

Together these works exemplify the potential and diversity of tapestry weaving, from the hugely complex sculptural cell structures of Margaret Crowther’s ‘Fandango’ to the restrained geometry of ‘Thin Ice’ by Hillu Liebelt or the subtly vicious piece by Alastair Duncan, seductive at a distance, deeply disturbing at close quarters (incorporating barbed wire – see below). The work is accessible for both those who have never seen tapestries to those familiar with or immersed in the process of creating them.

The qualities of colour and surface in tapestries attract – warp and weft impose structure which harmonises compositional elements, be they representational, illusionistic or abstract in content. Viga Slater’s ‘Broadband’ pieces play upon indigo, cerise and viridian, painstakingly evoking painterly strokes and mottled stripes. Jilly Edwards’ fascinating double sided, tiny compositions on a continuous roll record her responses to changing seasons, use colour and light which mutate from the soft greens and pale yellows through to near monochrome and midnight hues spiked by tiny lines and spots of pinks and vermilions. These pieces are quiet but intense distillations of visual experience. It is the commitment and time embedded in these works which make a sustained visit so worthwhile. At the Bankfield Museum the second part of the exhibition presented an equally varied range of pieces including the representationally complex ‘My September 11’ by Christopher Sanders, referencing twenty first century technology and institutions, mass media and advertising, all painstakingly woven – a rich contradiction in every way, pushing the medium to express the transient and banal. This very large piece is in stark contrast to the beautifully subtle, near abstract ‘October Landscape’ by Joan Baxter with its hazy undulating bands of colour suggestive of windblown moorland and watery horizons.

This was flanked by other sensitive atmospheric pieces, Ros Bryant’s ‘Furthest Ebb’ and Sallie Tyszko’s ‘Island of 3 Stones’ both evoke beach and early morning light in very different ways, the latter incorporating fragments of driftwood which hold a warp woven with mica and monofilament suggesting floating jetsam and reflections.

Tapestry 08 considered how we present tapestry and what informs the making process, both conceptually and practically, to create new, stimulating work for the 21st century. Several works challenged the surface and form of conventional tapestry and question tapestry as ‘woven painting’. Non-traditional materials are incorporated and relief structures are created, moving some pieces towards the sculptural.

Other works articulate concepts and ideas, focusing on subject material that references contemporary culture whilst remaining true to the historical role of tapestry as a narrative medium. The exhibition signalled how tapestry weaving may develop.

Several pieces showed that traditional notions of narrative sequence can be disrupted, re-ordered and re-considered and the conventional role of tapestry as a direct woven interpretation of an image can be challenged.

Tapestry 08 Exhibition Review
Sonja Andrew, Lecturer in Textiles, University of Manchester
Ann Seabourne, painter

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1st July 2006 until 15th July 2006

Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, England

Group: National

Tapestry Today

The inaugural exhibition for the British Tapestry Group, showing the work of 31 invited tapestry weavers from all over Britain and representing a wide cross-section of work being produced today. The tapestries have a diverse subject matter and the scale varies from small jewel-like weavings to large dramatic pieces. Uniting the artists is their overwhelming fascination and excitement with the weaving process and the use of yarns.

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