Exhibitions explore words and sleep
Tony Henderson on the closing and opening exhibitions at a Northumberland gallery
Visitors to a gallery’s current exhibition certainly won’t be lost for words.
The Lost Words display at Bailiffgate Museum & Gallery in Alnwick - which closes this weekend - is the work of Fusion, a group of North East textile and mixed media artists.
The theme of Lost Words has given members cope for interpreting lettering and written work in a variety of ways, from the patterns created by free-flowing handwriting to the more formal elements of graphic design, and incorporating paint, paper as well as hand and machine stitching.
“The world is changing rapidly on so many fronts – climate, pollution, wildlife, travel, communications. Our use of words has reflected this. Letter writing has become rare as emails and short messages on mobile phones offer more instant communication tools,” said a Fusion spokesperson.
“Social media has heralded the arrival of ‘text speak’, short forms and acronyms and these, plus words derived from other languages, are constantly being added to our vocabulary. On the other hand, older words and phrases cease to have the same meaning for a younger generation.
“The printed word on the page is becoming less common as electronic memories take over. Access to the internet has rendered reference books and catalogues less necessary, and documents and letters which were significant many years ago may have lost their significance in un-accessed archives.”
The exhibition runs until October 27 and will be followed by a display of the creations by Sue Bowhay Pringle, titled A Sleave Unravelled from October 29 to February 2.
This exhibition will display work completed over the last five years. Working in natural fabrics and hand-stitch, each piece evolves over several months and represents the artist's response to the changing natural environment and human impact upon it.
Born in Tynemouth, Sue left the North East to study art with a foundation course in Coventry, fine art at the Central School of Art in London and teacher training at Bretton Hall, West Yorkshire.
She later returned to Northumberland, to live in Rothbury and Morpeth and moved permanently to Italy in 2011, but returns to the North East as often as possible.
Sue describes herself as a stitcher and says: “I've been stitching for longer than I can remember, but my mother, who was a talented needlewoman, told me I was adept with needle and thread pre-school.”
She works with fabrics that she has collected over the years - mainly silks but also linen, cotton and jute. She uses quilting, embroidery and applique techniques.
The exhibition takes its title from one of Shakespeare's several references to sleep as restorative rest, peace, innocence or death.
Drawing inspiration from the landscapes and natural forms of Northumberland and Umbria, Italy, as well as architectural and literary references, the work explores the themes of change, memory, adjustment, scarring and repair.
Most of the fabrics are old, often recycled, and the signs of ageing and wear are integral to the work.
Jean Humphrys, chair at Bailiffgate says: “Sue’s work is exquisite, strong but fragile in its appearance. Her unique approach to linking together her feelings for Northumberland and her personal story flow through the work she creates.
“Bailiffgate seeks out local artists and creatives who bring new perspectives on the beauty of Northumberland in their own very special way. Sue’s skills, experiences within and beyond Northumberland make her a perfect choice for the gallery.”
Visit the website for more information.