May draws to a close with weeks of unprecedented weather, featuring intense heat, dramatic storms, flash floods and lightning strikes, and we are reminded that summer has not officially begun!! However, it is a time when thoughts often turn to travel, making journeys for days out, holidays away or visits to family and friends.
With the prospect of more Mediterranean weather in our summer months, it seems that stay-cations are increasingly popular and there certainly seems to be plenty on offer to entertain and amuse, to suit a variety of interests.
As someone who plans journeys around National Trust properties, because, to me they offer a very pleasant alternative to motorway service stations, I was very interested to read that this summer three exhibitions at historic houses will feature collections of global textiles. The textile collector, Karun Thakar is displaying exhibits illuminating respective journeys of craft, culture and connection.
Journeys through Cloth is made up of three linked exhibitions, each shaped around the history and character of the host property. At Osterley Park in West London the focus is on Punjabi phulkari and bagh textiles, exploring how women stitch their family stories into cloth. At Blickling Estate in Norfolk, the exhibition brings together global textiles, from Japanese kimonos to Indian palampores and French toiles, highlighting the connection the house had with international trade and design. At Dyrham Park, near Bath, the spotlight turns to the vivid Asafo flags of Ghana, revealing their political, artistic and communal significance. Together the three exhibitions invite visitors to encounter the world through cloth, each offering a different route through Karun’s collection.
The three exhibitions opened on May 22nd and run until November 1st at the above National Trust properties
Shorter journeys closer to home also have a feast of textile treats to enjoy so here is a roundup of offerings for June: –
Folded Frayed Found our own Living Threads main exhibition at the Nottingham Society for Artists Gallery on Friar Lane is open until Saturday June 6, daily from 10am until 4pm with free admission. We have been delighted to welcome so many visitors and look forwards to seeing you if you haven’t visited yet.
About to open at the Framework Knitters Museum in Ruddington is an exhibition by Wymeswold Threads, ‘10 years and Still Stitching,’ a free exhibition celebrating Friendship and Embroidery.
From June 5 until July 2, Tuesday to Saturday 9am to 4pm, Sunday 10am to 4pm. At Chapel Gallery, Framework Knitters Museum NG11 6HE
It is advisable to ring ahead as the Gallery is also used as a community space.
The Natural World by Leicestershire textile artists Drawn2stitch at the Harborough Museum is showing work inspired by Sir David Attenborough’s wildlife programmes, celebrating his centenary year. At Harborough Museum, The Symington Building, Market Harborough LE16 7LT Until Saturday, July 11.
If travelling is not on your agenda this month here are two book recommendations for summer reading in the garden –
Threads of Life, A History of the World through the Eye of a Needle by Clare Hunter, winner of the Saltaire First Book prize. This is a fascinating book by a textile artist, part history, part memoir, which explores and champions the diverse potencies of needle and thread. Opening with the Bayeaux Tapestry the chapters range through monarchs, prisoners of war and the current work by Fine Cell.
This Golden Fleece: a journey through Britain’s Knitted History by Esther Rutter. A book about wool and sheep, following the journey over the course of a year to tell the story of wool’s long history. She unearths fascinating histories of communities shaped by wool, from mill workers to market towns, built on the profits of the wool trade and the highland communities cleared for sheep farming. Along the way she explores the rich culture of wool by knitting and crafting culturally significant garments from our history. This Golden Fleece is at once a meditation on the craft and history of knitting, and a fascinating exploration of wool’s influence on our landscape, our history and our culture.
Something to watch out for – The Generator in Loughborough is now open. What started as a spark of an idea from local people who wanted a place where creativity could truly belong has now grown into a community led arts venue at the heart of the town, offering exhibitions, live music, performance and much more. The first exhibition has just finished but I will be watching for events of interest to share with you.
Until next month, whatever the weather, wherever you may be, stay cool and stay stitching!
Best wishes, Maggie