Water, Water Quilt & Textile Exhibition

quilt-1Inspired by last year’s floods an exhibition of contemporary textiles from makers from all over the country will be shown at the Old Fire station Gallery between 14-19 November.  The gallery will be open between 10-5pm daily.

Most of the work on show is by the Contemporary Quilt Group – part of the Quilters Guild of the British Isles.

Kate Findlay, from region six of the Quilters Guild and CQ member decided on this theme for the show when looking out at the flooded fields around Henley on Thames last November. Kate, who teaches at a school in Henley, loves the Thames, but has seen it in all its moods, and felt that there is enormous scope for artistic expression in not just the river, but all aspects of water.

Kate took up textile art in about 2005 when she was asked to design and make some banners for her local church in Reading. Kate said, “I enjoyed it so much it went on from there really, but I started my “magnum opus” (great work) in 2008, when I spent the next four years working on textile pieces inspired by the Large Hadron Collider. You caquilt-2n see more of Kate’s work at art.findlays.net

The exhibition work includes pieces inspired by rain, storms and ice, as well as shorelines estuaries and under the sea. Other work is inspired by Monet , the use of water for tempering steel, watermills and the effects of the Japanese tsunami. A number of interesting 3D pieces include felted pebbles and fabric boxes. Pieces range from abstract interpretations to more literal and decorative work, using a large range of textile techniques.

The exhibition is also supported by Lady Sew and Sew who will be holding workshops and talks at their premises on Farm Road, Henley all week. For more details about these go to http://www.ladysewandsew.co.uk/November-Contemporary-Quilt-Show