Skip to main content

Arty Places #15 - Newcastle Embroiderers


 What is a pop -up exhibition?
 "pop-up exhibition is a temporary art event, less formal than a gallery or museum but more formal than private artistic showing of work. The idea began in 2007 in New York City where space for exhibiting artistic work is very limited. Although the idea originated from New York City, pop-up exhibitions occur all around the world. " from Wikipedia 
Yes, even right here in my own suburb... The Newcastle Branch of the The Embroiderers' Guild recently held a pop-up exhibition of members' work   just for a day on a public holiday in October, thus transforming the New Lambton Community Hall into a very "arty place" indeed. I am happy to include this exhibition in this blog series. 
I was really impressed with the variety of work and the high level of skill displayed in so many different techniques. It is so reassuring to see such beautiful pieces using the traditional techniques. There were some exceptional examples of hardanger and pulled thread work. Unfortunately I don't have photographs of that work, but here is a Pinterest link to hardanger with thousands of images of this wonderful Nordic technique and another Pinterest link to drawn and pulled thread to inspire. Below are a couple of  other pieces in the background 
 On display too was some contemporary interpretative embroidery and I was particularly taken with some dimensional embroidered works. When I inquired, one of the embroiderers told me about a technique where corn pads ( yes, those ones you use for your feet!) are used as base padding to raise the embroidery. I enjoy hearing about innovative uses of everyday items to create art ! 
I applaud the addition of quilts in this pop-up embroidery exhibition. Because I am not a quilter and  do not approach work of  large dimensions , I admire even more the workmanship in the quilts which were on display and the commitment of these quilters to complete such art works which each have their own  narrative. 
Congratulations to the Newcastle Branch of the The Embroiderers' Guild  NSW on this initiative to showcase their work to the community. It is essential to the culture of  our community, now and in the future, that groups like this exist and encourage creativity by sharing skills, knowledge and achievement. 
"The creative arts are the measure and reflection of our civilization, .... The moral values we treasure are reflected in the beauty and truth that is emotionally transmitted through the arts. The arts say something about us to future generations. " ...  Ann Khan

For more information about the group, follow the  link to The Newcastle Branch of the Embroiderers' Guild  which meets on Mondays 10am - 9pm  at the New Lambton Community Hall. Approximately 90 embroiderers get together to chat and stitch from 10am, while most have left by 2pm, there is a small group that are still there when the Night Group  members start to arrive later in the afternoon, usually after work.  






Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Connecting and Interpreting : Story #3 from the ATASDA Collaborative Golden Cape

  Connecting and Interpreting : Story #3 from the ATASDA Collaborative Golden Cape  Background : The Golden Cape is a collaborative project for ATASDA members and it celebrates the 50th Anniversary of ATASDA in 2024. 50 present day members have  received  an image of one of 50 yesteryear members artworks, to use as a muse, to create new artwork based on the past. Inspiration can come from textures, colours, style, design, subject, culture or history of the original artwork.  The new artworks have become panels stitched together to create a Golden Cape - an anniversary art wearable .   The Golden Cape will be displayed at various venues around Australia from May 2024.  Vine  (Exotica 2009 ATASDA exhibition ) : Norma Warnecke Meg Buchtmann chose Norma Warnecke's 2009 artwork shown in the ATASDA  exhibition "Exotica" as her inspiration for her contribution to the golden cape project .  Golden Cape panel 2023 : Meg Buchtmann Taken with the colour combinations and the 3D natur

Wednesday's Child /2

Work in Progress - 3 of the 193 for "Stitched Up"- Wilma Simmons   The work for the "Stitched Up " Project  continues. See the previous "Wednesday Child" post for the background to this art project celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Newcastle Industrial School. I have been documenting the progress of my work, so I thought it might be interesting to share some of the early stages of the "stick dolls" ... Here are some of the beginning steps.. Sticks collected while walking the bushland in my neighbourhood  Drying and getting rid of any insects - oven heat 75 degreesC for approx 1-2 hours.  Trimmed and cut if necessary  Ends sealed with matte sealing solution.  Drying  - solution goes on white but dries clear.  First wrapping - foil to create a body shape  Second wrapping - stretch fabric.  Third wrapping - fabric strips  Some stitching - more stitching and embellishment to come.  Follow thi

May I Present Mrs Chalumeau...

Finally Mrs Chalumeau takes a bow …She is a Pearly Queen … 695 buttons on the doll and 10 on the journal.(I think – could be more). I would like to thank Paula from Antiques and Collectables here in Hamilton, Newcastle and Raku Buttons ETSY seller for supplying me with about 500 of the vintage mother of pearl buttons, and the rest I had in my stash. I think they look great on my pearly queen, but I am truly tired of sewing on buttons. It made me think however, how many buttons must be on the elaborate clothes of the real pearly Kings and Queens! I drew my inspiration from the lovely lady pictured here, and the following description from Wikipedia. ... A Pearly King ( feminine form Pearly Queen) is a person dressed in a traditional Cockney costume covered in mother-of-pearl buttons. These costumes were treasured heirlooms, hand made and sometimes representing much of a family's wealth. .... This doll is all cloth – a little different from most of my other dolls which generally h