Textile Galleries at the Knitting & Stitching Show

I liked this logo, using a needle to form the 'I' of Jessica.

Melanie Kay, Embroiders Guild scholar

A Question of Value - Redefining Worth.  Melanie uses familiar objects to conceal deeper meanings.  She disrupts preconceived ideas about perception of value while playing with concepts of what is/was or could be visually appealing.  She merges the domestic and mundane with fine art and design.  Melanie explores embroidery as a means of communication and as an aid to communication, while using new materials such as cellophane.  Thus, she plays with concepts of transparency while depicting items from the throwaway society. 

Melanie Kay, embroidery taken from her sketchbook page where she tests her marker pens

Melanie Kay working on her stand.

Embroidered disposable cups and cigarette cellophane

Nigel Cheney with the quilt of his father in his naval uniform.

I thought Nigel had some interesting things to say about his remembrances of the Naseby 11.  The Nasty 11 were the 11 men lost from the village he was brought up in.  He recognises the enormity of wartime losses and the consequential huge stone memorials.  But he wonders about the individuality of the people lost, and the consequences for the families and individuals impacted by these bereavements.  Thus going from the macro to the micro.  He's not bothered by mistakes in representation from memory - how things get forgotten, distorted, airbrushed for convenience, hidden from shame or embarrassment.  What matters is the individual narrative with all its imperfections.  Thus he has created fabric collages from uniforms (that make the point that the individual is not a uniform repetition) with distorted arms, pieces from UK\US uniforms, from various wars etc.  

Nigel Cheney, section of the Naseby 11, Body Bags

Nigel Cheney artist statement.  

I asked whether he used archives for this project.  Only a tiny part.  His research technique is very idiosyncratic.  He uses a pick and mix approach.  He uses old photos, (his own and others), bits of uniform, visits to some military sites.  Some sketchbook work and experimentation.  Then starts making, but may leave some part made, more experimentation, back to making etc.

Nigel Cheney, hand stitch on digital print. 

I very much liked Helene Carpenter's work with poly-monoprint.   She uses one sheet of paper, does one layer of print with lots of fine lines in one colour.  Then presumably lets it dry, then registers it carefully for another layer of mono print, but in another colour.  Her images had 3 layers.  Lovely.  How can I use this?  Inspiring.

Helene Carpenter, section of zigzag sketchbook

"I have been far more inspired by the concept of the process, rather than making the objects.  It has allowed a playfulness and a chance to experiment and grow.

I like this stuff about process.