Event detail
Needle Works
When most people think of embroidery, images of ladies stitching landscapes and cushions bearing names spring to mind. Over the years, traditional embroidery has evolved into a contemporary art and one enthusiast challenging not only the stigma of the ancient art of textiles, but also the gender assumptions associated with this ‘craft’, is Jim Forster. Forster is showing his embroidery collection, entitled ‘Needle Works’, at the Dreamspace Gallery from Monday 17th November to Friday 21st November 2008.
‘Needle Works’ was initially started some 25 years ago. Revived in 2001, Forster embarked on a 7 year process to complete a project based entirely on men’s undergarments. Discovering the ‘stretchy’ fabric was resistant to taking embroidery led to some technical problems. Deciding to make a 24 piece series, he spent a long time selecting objects to depict. It was important that they were identifiable and culturally specific, reflecting a mid 20th century style of illustration.
Forster explains, “The underwear series is a simple idea. Derived from illustrations found in 1950s Early Learning books, the embroideries have semi-narrative and playful relationships with each other and the garments on which they are sewn. At a time when underclothes are often crudely fetished, I feel the embroidery gives them back their innocence”.
Extending his quest for new directions and intriguing surfaces, Forster will also show his pillowcase series that continues to set up bold and unexpected relationships between images and objects. Associated with sleeping, dreaming and sleeplessness the empty pillowcases depict objects, signs, and phrases from popular culture. Forster explains, “The embroidery itself is hardly the stuff of dreams and fantasies, but when applied to an intimate surface they become strangely poetic and mysterious”.
The projects are completed entirely by hand and from Forster’s imagination. ‘Needle Works’ will run from Monday 17 November to Friday 21 November 2008. Free admission, Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.30pm. For more information go to www.adrem.uk.com/dreamspace.
http://www.adrem.uk.com/dreamspace
