Stroud International Textiles is bringing world class international speakers to the Symposium on May 5th. This exciting Symposium is attracting wide interest with bookings from France and Canada as well as nationally. This in turn supports Stroud’s economy and raises its profile for excellence. Stroud in May is the place to be with people who are shaping the future of textiles and the applied arts.

Helen Storey, Professor of Fashion and Science at London College of Fashion has collaborated with chemist Professor Tony Ryan from the University of Sheffield and Trish Belford, textile designer, to bring us Catalytic Clothing – clothing and textiles that seek to purify the air we breathe. People from different worlds whose minds have come together in highly successful art and science collaborations are sharing their innovative and inspiring thinking on May 5th as part of the Pairings symposium organized by Stroud International Textiles.
Other speakers include Jessica Hemmings (writer); David Gates (bespoke furniture designer, winner Jerwood Award, Wesley – Barrell prize); Alice Kettle (lead artist); Claire Curneen (leading ceramicist); Shelly Goldsmith (textile artist) are among the line up for an exciting day of discussion and discovery. These are People who Shape our World through exchange and dialogue.
Details: http://www.stroudinternationaltextiles.org.uk/
Tickets online £60 Conc £40 includes lunch.
Free brochure available

Erin O'Connor in the world's first air purifying dress

The Museum in the Park celebrates its 10th Anniversary this January and begins its 2011 programme with a special touring exhibition. ‘Plain Stripe Check’ opens on Saturday 8th January and brings together contemporary woven textiles from Japan and Britain with historic textiles from three different Museum collections.

Archaeological evidence shows that weaving has been a part of daily life for millions of years, with fragments of very fine woven linen and woollen cloth found in prehistoric graves in countries and cultures across the world. This exhibition celebrates the enduring craft of weaving and explores the timeless values of three key design trends – plains, stripes and checks – which appear and re-appear in woven fabrics created by peoples far apart in time, geography and culture.

‘Plain, Stripe, Check’ is a collaborative exhibition project in two parts: contemporary hand-woven textiles by Tim Parry-Williams (Stroud, UK) and Ikuko Ida (Kyoto, Japan); and historical woven textiles selected from museum and private collections in Britain and Japan. It represents the results of historical research across both Japanese and British sources, and practice based research (making) under the project theme. While the exhibition showcases numerous examples of museum textiles rarely seen, the collected works also reveal groups of design trends typical to both cultures. In particular it emphasises the key character values of the research theme: Timelessness, visual strength, understatement and simplicity.

On display are very beautiful, incredibly fine kimono cloth by Japanese weaver Ikuko Ida, who will be visiting Stroud to see in the exhibition, and exquisite scarves and hangings by Stroud-based British weaver Tim Parry-Williams. Contemporary work is complemented by historic textiles on loan from The National Wool Museum (The National Museum of Wales), the Crafts Study Centre (the UK’s museum of modern crafts), private collections, and Stroud Museum collections. These include fascinating mill sample books from Japan offering a glimpse into almost forgotten fashions and fabrics of past eras, 20th Century apparel cloth samples produced in Stroud mills, for suits, skirts and dresses sold by stores such as Marks & Spencers, and warm wool shawls from the Welsh valleys in traditional plaids and checks. It also includes a rare chance to see woven textiles by pioneering 20th Century weavers Rita Beales, Ethel Mairet and Elizabeth Peacock, on loan from the Crafts Study Centre collections. Across all these textiles, colours and patterns in plains, stripes and checks, appear and re-appear, echoing each other across time and place.

The exhibition is accompanied by special events and family activities, and will delight and intrigue anyone interested in textiles and design. Open Tuesday to Friday 10am to 4pm, and Saturday and Sunday 11am to 4pm. Admission free, donations appreciated, accompanying exhibition booklet £4. For further details see www.museuminthepark.org.uk

Stroud International Textiles in partnership with the Museum in the Park, Stratford Park, Stroud GL5 4AF

Linking the past to the present and the future

Stroud International Textiles will be unveiled an exciting new project on January 5^th 2010 at the Museum in the Park.

‘In the Making’ will showcase contemporary designer craft from leading nationally acclaimed craft makers in a Museum setting. 

One discipline will be exhibited at a time and reflect the innovation and high quality of British craftsmanship and will cover the broad range of disciplines that make up contemporary crafts today.

The work selected by Stroud International Textiles will be from established makers as well as new emerging makers.

We hope to offer opportunities to visitors of all ages who may not see leading contemporary work and to encourage debate and fresh observation for crafts and design.

Alongside this there will be talks and opportunities for people of all ages to engage with the work and be drawn to a greater understanding of contemporary crafts today. 

Stroud International Textiles in partnership with the Museum in the Park’s Learning Officer will be organising school visits and encouraging young people to engage with contemporary craft and to take that learning and understanding back into the classroom.

There will be teaching notes and information on each discipline available for young people and visitors.

5 January – 21 February Cast Glass from Sally Fawkes, Richard Jackson & Monette Larsen

23 February -17 April Willow from Mary Butcher and Dail Behennah

1 May – 30 May Textiles with Needle felt artist Annie Hutchinson (part of the annual festival)

You will discover ‘In the Making’ in the foyer of the Museum.

Entrance Free

Opening Times:

January – March Tuesday – Friday 10 am- 4 pm Saturdays & Sundays 11 – 4 pm

April – June Tuesday – Friday 10 am – 5 pm Saturday & Sunday 11 – 5 pm

Contact: Stroud International 01453 808076 & Museum in the Park 01453 763394

www.stroudinternationaltextiles.org.uk

www.museuminthepark.org.uk

Of course nothing quite beats meeting the artists and the Forest and Wye is a great place to be. You can plan your own individual arts tour by using the online guide or requesting a free copy of the Forest and Wye BigArtGuide. All the artists and craftspeople may be contacted direct and you can arrange to visit them all year round, for a chat, a browse or maybe advice regarding a commission.

To see and buy individual and unique arts and crafts, a permanent display of members’ work – “Made in the Dean – Proud to be seen” – can be found at the Tourist Information Centre in Coleford.

Stroud International Textile Festival (1-21 May, 2009)  is an annual, innovative exploration of the wonder of textiles.  And if that sounds like something for the initiated only… well think again and come down to the Stroud Valleys to have perceptions changed.  These days textile artists create sculptural masterpieces that would grace any conventional art gallery.  And Stroud’s event is world standard.

The organisers are always keen to diversify – this year Keith Tippett and Julie Tippetts play one of the most unusual gigs of their career as they bring contemporary jazz to the Stroud Subscription Rooms as part of the Festival, on Sunday, 3rd May. Tickets on 01453 760960.

Some of the countries leading artist-makers will be appearing at the Stroud International Textile Festival in May 2009. 

The Festival is now in its fourth year, and is the UK’s only Festival that celebrates and profiles contemporary textile art  linked through to traditional textile culture. It takes place in venues throughout the Stroud Valleys in Gloucestershire. 2009 will see new work from Matthew Harris – Trace Elements ;  Jacy Wall – tapestries;  Hilary Bower- textiles & mixed media; Mary Butcher – willow and reclaimed materials; Michael Brennand-Wood, Margot Selby, Rachel Gornall andRuth Waller & Lee Hewett will delight and surprise our senses with colour, texture and movement;  and Dawn Dupreewill be bringing printed textiles alive.