21st Century Stitchers Exhibition

2 May 2009 – 4 July 2009

If you cling to the notion that embroidery is a genteel art that has had its day prepare to be surprised.

Showcasing contemporary work from six innovative textile artists; Anita Bruce, Jill Flower, Julianne Long , Lee Mattocks, Harriet Maxwell and Alison Mercer, this exhibition confirms that embroidery today is an expressive medium that can be powerful, challenging, witty and beautiful.

Jill Flower and Julianne Long both use recycle materials to create exuberant three dimensional pieces bursting with colour and texture. Jill Flower stitches together pages from books and magazines and adorns them with beads and buttons to create historically inspired ruffs referencing our development from child to adult whilst Julianne Long’s vibrant work has been described as a “symphony of junk” drawing attention to the wastefulness of our consumer society. Colour also characterises Lee Mattocks’ hand and machine decorated garments and accessories which are infused with surrealism bringing an unexpected, quirky element to a traditional craft.

At first glance Harriet Maxwell’s stunning large scale portraits might be mistaken for paintings but closer inspection reveals a tactile cloth manipulated and transformed through stitch. Anita Bruce also plays with scale in her sculptures which reconstruct and magnify microscopic life forms in simple looped stitches. By contrast Alison Mercer is an embroiderer who uses stitch to explore and express the relationship between the self and the outside world. She is also fascinated by the influence of the past upon the present and her contemplative pieces are a moving manifestation of her conscious and subconscious self.

Curated by The Embroiderers’ Guild, the UK’s leading charity promoting embroidery and supporting emerging and established artists.

Admission Free

Gallery Open: Mon, Thurs, Fri:10.00am-6.00pm; Tue & Sat: 10.00am-5.00pm; Wed: 10.00am-8.00pm; Closed on Sundays.

tel: 020 8943 1229

email: lszygenda@embroiderersguild.com

visit: www.embroiderersguild.com