"Circles & Squares"

"Circles & Squares", a tapestry exhibition by the AuNZ Tapestry Group will be showing at the Marlborough Convention Centre during the Festival.

One of the exhibits that will be displayed in the Exhibition.

In order to encourage woven tapestry artists to continue weaving, the above Group has given Australian and New Zealand weavers a theme for a yearly project/challenge since 2005.

From the 2009 Exhibition at Timaru. Guess the theme – ‘Blue’

Any weaver can enter, there is no jury system and all works are exhibited. Entries may come from students, new graduates, more experienced and professional weavers.

An exhibit from 2006 - Childhood Memories

‘THE GIFT FROM MY FATHER’
Heather Adlam
The only present I ever remember receiving from my father was in my early years when there were only two of us children. He came out one Christmas with a brown paper bag with four feet sticking out the top! One golly for my sister Margaret and one for me.

“Do Make, Make Do”

Exhibition by Val Griffith-Jones at the Gillan Gallery, Grove Road, Blenheim
Opposite the Information Centre and Railway Station
21 – 28 April 2012
10.00 am – 4 pm

My latest exhibition is called “Do Make, Make Do”. In my work I continue to tell the stories of my life, using the 'womanly arts' of knitting, crochet and felt, stuffing and stitching. The most recent works are a response to the Christchurch earthquake, reflecting my desire to help and consequent feelings of futility and inadequacy. — Please come to the Gillan Gallery (I will be there), and have a YARN!

My blog is "Making Tracks" and my art website is Val Griffith-Jones.

Val Griffith-Jones

Four Directions in Tapestry

This collection of work by Elizabeth Arnold, Patricia Armour, Marilyn Rea-Menzies and Stephenie Collin shows the direction each is taking in the development of their art form.

Elizabeth is currently exploring and commenting on NZ history in her work. Included in this exhibition are tapestries that are the first part of a series of tapestries exploring the story of the infamous Maungatapu murders of 1866 by the Burgess Gang of bushrangers.

Trish is expanding on her ‘Windows of the Soul Series’, developing the theme of human emotions and relationships.

Marilyn’s tapestries have developed from paintings, drawings featuring New Zealand plants, delving into the complexity and beauty of the tiny flowers using out of scale photographic images.

Stephenie’s simple lines and sharp visual comment create a little mischief and fun in her tapestries. Her use of block colour and cropped images show a tendency towards graphic design rather than fine art.

Joan

Textiiles from Abroad - from the collection of Joan McLauchlan

This exhibition will also be at the Riverlore Gallery, 1494 State Highway 6, from 25 April to 2 May.

In recent years I have been fortunate to travel overseas, to go to out of the way and hard to get to places, and to see many crafts. Many fibre people have enjoyed seeing the textiles I have brought back. I have been persuaded to share them with you too.

The textiles I am showing are mostly from Asia, some old some new. While most articles are traditional some have a modern touch.

What always amazes me is the intricate, complex work that is produced on basic equipment.

Joan

Textile Exhibitions and Displays

At Festival time there will be several allied Exhibitions and displays. These include:

• ‘Four Directions in Tapestry’ at Yealands Estate Marlborough Gallery, High St, Blenheim
• ‘Flight’ PWN Exhibition at Riverlore Gallery, 1404 State Highway 6
• Textiles from Abroad — from the collection of Joan McLauchlan, also at Riverlore Gallery
• ‘Do Make, Make Do’ — Val Griffith-Jones, Gillan Gallery, Grove Rd., Blenheim
• Australia/ New Zealand Tapestry Exchange, at the Convention Centre during Festival

Details of these and other ‘happenings’ not yet finalised will be posted individually.

Professional Weavers' Network of NZ: FLIGHT Exhibition

Do make time during the busy Festival weekend to see ‘Flight’ an exhibition by the Professional Weavers' Network. It will be showing at the Riverlore Gallery, 1494 State Highway 6, from 25 April to 2 May.

Using the idea of Flight as inspiration, the members of the Network have returned to their studios to interpret this topic. The resulting exhibition includes wall hung, floor mounted and suspended pieces that all use skilfully woven cloth as the basis for each work.