Artful Stitchers - Inspired by...

About

Anteros is delighted to welcome back the Artful Stitchers.  Exhibitors this year include ​Janet Brenchley, Barbara Broadhead, Sheila Ford, Kerry Howard, Maggie Jackson, June Langford, Julie Lydka-Wells, Liz Pickering, Shirley Rees, Sarah Rockliff and Mary Rolph.

The vividly colourful exhibition explores a breadth of themes that have inspired the artists. From poetry and verse to the historical fiction of author Lucinda Riley, sunbeams to flora or foliage, each artist has selected an inspiration through which to channel their creations this year. While one artist was drawn towards the flair of Amsterdam, for the next it was the constructions of the architect Gaudi. Collections of interesting stones, clay pipes or china fragments dug up from the garden provided the focus for another. Meanwhile, the landscape of the foreshore, the distinctive style of the Art Nouveau period and even the concept of shape and form provided the stimulus for others.

The themes of inspiration for each artist are as diverse as the textile techniques employed, from hand felting to printing, machine embroidery and embellishments of silks, cottons and velvets. The show incorporates a display of work by each of eleven artists in striking black and white, creating a sense of coherence, whilst retaining their individual styles, approaches and inspirations.

The artists will be on hand throughout the show to discuss the work and share their techniques with visitors. Through Inspired by… Artful Stitchers hope to enthuse others to use textile art as a means of creative expression.

Artful Stitchers was established seven years ago to undertake City and Guilds accredited courses in Machine Embroidery and has grown and developed ever since. The group meets monthly, regularly inviting guest textiles practitioners to help extend their skills even further, discussing and exchanging ideas.

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