Wednesday 24 April 2013

Diversity by Phoenix Textile Artists

The Phoenix Textiles Artists are a group who meet regularly to create work and take part in workshops or have guest demonstrations which have included; tassels, machine embroidery using elastic and from time to time they also have inspirational speakers.

Their home is currently the Wheatley Lane community centre in Fence, they meet on the third Monday in the month, and they do welcome new members, those with experience in creating textile work would particularly enjoy this group. Anyone wanting to join should first call Dorothy on 01282 700 092.

This group originally got together in 2000 after doing a 4 year long creative embroidery course at Nelson and Colne College. Some members have joined since. There are around 9 or 10 members of the group. The group is a democratic group and every member takes a turn of being secretary for a year.

The group exhibit fairly regularly and have done so at; The Platform Gallery, Towneley Hall, Littleborough Coach House and Gawthorpe Hall.

Sometimes they work on a particular theme, but this exhibition is entitled Diversity as it is a collection of different pieces of work. Past themes have included Queen Elizabeth I, the centenary of Gawthorpe, Mythical Wings, Tolkien and the Pendle Witches.





 
One of the best things about the exhibitions is laying out, it's the first glimpse of all the new work and is a bit like unwrapping presents!





 
The intricacy and level of detail in the work is well worth coming to see in person. It's very inspiring.
 
Celia, whose work is featured above uses Tyvek, burns fabric to reveal more, hand stitches and loves machine embroidery. She is currently really enjoying felting at the moment, and recently took part in an advanced felting workshop - Don't worry dear readers, I did ask how felt could become advanced - and the answer is you can start to work in 3d felt.  


 
Sheila, whose work is featured above too, has brought some felted pieces and recycled work. She shops in charity shops and buys beads and fabrics, she also felts old jumpers into new works. (Since she mentioned this I now find myself looking at jumpers in charity shops in a new light!).
 
Sheila is also a specialist in ecclesiastical embroidery, and it's not every day you meet one of them.
 
The group do create wearable art too - knitted bags, necklaces, scarves, and brooches.


 
The work above - including the not brilliantly focussed close up - sorry! Is a reclaimed piece; it's made from reclaimed wood which is made into bbq sticks and then Marjorie has covered these with silk waste from Indian silks and copper wire. The background is a linen ground. The inspiration for this work was grid structures and the coloured silk itself.



 
The above work is entitled Aunty Dorothy's advice and it is well worth a read!

 
 




 
It's a beautiful exhibition, I hope you can come and see it - the textures and details and colours are so much better in reality.
 
 
Ta Ra
 
 
Kirsty