Do You Crave Some Time Out Over the Festive Season?
Plan ahead and check out a local exhibition to stimulate your creativity.
The festive season is swiftly gaining momentum and I, like millions of others, am preparing to receive friends and family at home over the holidays. I so enjoy being surrounded by family, all getting together to share a meal, watch a Christmas movie or release our ‘inner competitor’ over a simple board game! If you are fortunate enough to spend time with children over the holidays it allows you to be transported back to your own childhood memories of Christmas and rekindle that magic and sparkle.
But not everyone yearns for the hustle and bustle of Christmas, and even those of us who relish it can also appreciate those quieter days, which often punctuate the holiday period. It is in these moments that we can perhaps take advantage of a free afternoon to immerse ourselves in a local exhibition to inspire and spark the shoots of creativity in our minds. I have put together a short list of exhibitions both in the UK and around the world which have a stitch, textile or fashion based bias. Have a look at events local to you and while away an hour or two in inspirational tranquility.
Celia Pym: Socks: The Art of Care and Repair
Source: loop knitting.com
Celia is a London based artist. This exhibition focuses on the concept of sustainability in fashion. The 488 socks which make up this installation were stitched and darned by the Surrey Square Primary School community in Southwark during a series of workshops run by the artist.
Fri 6 Dec 2024 to Sun 9 Mar 2025
The Gateway Pavilion, Peninsula Square, SE10 0SQ
Tue-Fri 10am-7pm, Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 11am-4pm
Emmanuel Tarpin: Promenades
Source: galleries now.net
You will need to be quick if you want to visit this exhibition as it only runs until 20 December. Nevertheless, I thought it worth including as the pieces on display look exquisite.
Tarpin has established himself as an innovative jewellery designer blending traditional techniques with contemporary materials. This is his debut exhibition in the UK and his pieces include brooches, earrings and objets d’art, many with a strong link to nature.
Wed 27 Nov 2024 to Fri 20 Dec 2024
2-4 King Street, St. James's, SW1Y 6QP
Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 11am-6pm
Unravel: The Power and Politics of Textiles in Art
Source: stedelijk.nl
This looks to be a fascinating exhibition to visit if you are fortunate to be in Amsterdam over the holidays. Featuring 45 artists from around the world, including contributions from Tracey Erin and Sheila Hicks, the role of textiles in art is explored through 6 themes. Large scale installations sit alongside delicate pieces to create a visually stimulating environment.
Sep 14, 2024 until Jan 5, 2025
Jakkai Siributr: There’s No Place
Source: whitworth.manchester.ac.uk
The Whitworth Gallery in Manchester is one of my favourites. It has a long history of textile exhibitions and the current offering features work from Thai artist Jakkai Siributr in this his first UK exhibition.
There’s No Place explores ideas of home and belonging in a collaborative embroidery.
15 November 2024 – 16 March 2025
Threads of Empowerment: Conflict Textiles’ International Journey
Source: ulstermuseum.org
Part of the Belfast International Arts Festival, this exhibition explores different experiences of conflict, oppression and human rights violations around the world through conflict. This is a collaborative exhibition from contributors around the world, creating a vivid expression of a wide range of personal experiences.
Now to Sunday 27 April 2025
Sewn in America: Making - Meaning - Memory
Source: Washington.org
This exhibition in Washington, USA, looks at sewing in America from 1700 to the present day. It features a wide variety of textiles, all made by American women, reflecting the lives, identities and opinions of those who made them. Items in the exhibition are collated from the Daughters of the American Revolution Museum and range from quilts and household textiles to clothing and embroideries. The exhibition is divided into 3 sections - Mastering the Skills, Making and Meanings.
If you would like to visit this exhibition, it runs until 31 December 2024.
I hope that this round up of exhibitions has inspired you to set aside some time over the holidays, if you can, to soak in the creativity of others which will ultimately spark your own! New ideas for projects to make and techniques to try will be fizzing and ready to go as we dive into a new year after the holiday season has ended.
Happy browsing!
Suzanne, Charlotte and Rebecca