Heallreaf 3

About

Heallreaf 3: An Exhibition of Contemporary Tapestry
7th – 21st September
Opening Night: Friday 6th September, 6-8pm 

Surface Gallery is delighted to present Heallreaf 3, an exhibition of contemporary hand-woven tapestry.

Heallreaf 3 is the third biennial featuring tapestry from artists around the world. Tapestries are all about narrative; they have told stories since their heyday in the Middle Ages and this exhibition of contemporary work is no different -- though you will find no medieval maidens or unicorns here. Each piece captures a moment in the story, but a moment that is fixed slowly by the artist as each layer of weft threads lay down the image held in the tapestry. In the age of accelerated technologies and instant gratification, it is encouraging that some artists are still willing to sit at a loom for weeks, months, or even years to produce such remarkable works of art. Some are small and exquisite jewels, such as First Impression by Bridget Lane, but then we move to the larger abstract work of artists like Angela Forte (Vermillion Sky) or Margaret Jones (The Fallen). Spend time with them and they will reward you with their half-hidden stories and their beauty.

Heallreaf is an old English word meaning a tapestry hung on a wall in a public place, and was the name chosen to define these biennial exhibitions of hand-woven tapestry. Heallreaf 3 includes 40 pieces of tapestry selected from artists across the world: including the US, New Zealand, Israel and Europe. The Nottingham exhibition is the first of two exhibitions in the current biennial. The second exhibition will be take place at Espacio Gallery in London. 

Opening Night
Friday 6th September, 6pm - 8pm
During the evening, the Heallreaf prize will be announced. Throughout the exhibition, visitors will also have the opportunity to vote for their favourite tapestry. The People’s Prize sponsored by Weavers Bazaar will be announced on the 1st November. 
 

Curator’s Talk 
Saturday 7th September, 12.00
An opportunity to meet Margaret Jones, the curator of Heallreaf 3, and an award-winning and internationally acclaimed tapestry weaver. Margaret will be talking about the genesis of the Heallreaf biennial and the work on display in the current exhibition. This is an informal talk and questions are welcome.

Drop in Workshops
Saturday 7th September 1pm - 5pm
Drop in for these informal and unusual workshops, which follow directly after the curator’s talk. Whether you attend the talk or drop in later, frames will be fully warped up and ready to go. This is a unique opportunity and are all abilities are welcome. Margaret will be there to set you off weaving.

Free

www.heallreaf.com

Heallreaf 3 opens in the Main Gallery and the Project Space. As always there will be a donations bar with ales from local brewery, Pheasantry. 

Free Entry: Everyone Welcome

Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council Englan