Quick photos of the work on view in Bracknell

Because most of the time the exhibition will be 'view through window only' we tried to put small things in the window so they had as much chance to be seen as the larger wall pieces. Already whilst hanging it we had people asking when it would open, and stopping to look closely at the small works.

We are now showing at Gallery@49, Bracknell

See a selection of pieces at the recently opened Gallery@49, on the corner of Crossway and Broadway in Bracknell town centre. View at any time through the big windows, or come in and chat to one of us during 'doors open' on every Friday and Saturday between 2nd and 17th December, from 11am to 3pm. For more information see: http://www.reorsa.org/ (organisers of Gallery@49)

Review

A couple weeks ago I got a cryptic email from Jane which prompted me to open my issue of the Quilter straight away instead of saving it for during lunchtime.

A great review by Lois Bellew of the Exhibition at the Slough Museum. Very special comments.

That was a lovely surprise.

Also, the dates for one of the next outings for the exhibition is at the end of the article.
It will be at the National Needlework Archive, Old Textile Centre, Newbury, Berkshire 19 September to 26 October, 2012.

We have also been asked for some of the pieces to go to Langley Academy which has connections with the Museum. The chosen pieces will go on display alongside the Museum Artefact which inspired it.

AND...the newly opened Bracknell Gallery has asked us to show some of the work in their gallery space. We are in the process of working it out, but it will probably be 3 weeks from the last week in November this year - 2011.
So, it goes on with a life of it's own!

Positive feedback ...

Shortly after the exhibition came down, Annie Hamilton gave me her thoughts about the exhibition:
"... how very apt her [Heather Brand's] work was in the middle of the window at Slough museum - as a Slough resident I thought her piece [Follow the Sun] captured the essence of the place beautifully and I recognised the design straight away as I walk over the original each week! Also, to Mary [Parry], her quilt [Trading Estate] was much admired by myself and other residents with artistic bents as an excellent portrait of our trading eatate! Loved all the work in the show actually and am proud to be part of TVCQ."

Then I was delighted to receive a thank you letter from Councillor Mrs. Gill Birch, Bracknell Town Mayor, who attended our Private View: "I was delighted to meet you and see the lovely textile work your group has achieved, congratulations on being granted the Inspire Mark and I hope this brings more recognition to your group in future projects."

Slideshow link for exhibition images

I've embedded a slideshow of the images from the exhibition, follow this link and take a look at the gallery! Thanks to me, Nigel Bird, and Mike Woodman for the photographs. I think there should be photographs of everyone's work. If I have missed anyone by mistake, send me your own photos and I'll add them. Thanks, Jane

Private view - 4th June 2011

The final event for the Museum before it closes this venue, was our Private View. The party was combined between celebrating ourselves and our work, and thanking the volunteers of the Museum and the work that they put in to the collections. It was very sad to think that the Museum was closing, but I think we gave it a fantastic send off. We look forward to hearing news of the reopening at Slough Library.

It was a very appropriate finale. We had many lovely comments that the Museum volunteers liked the work on display because it was based on interpretations of Slough and the Museum - it was particularly relevant to them as people who live and/or work in Slough and they felt that we had really done the subject justice.

It was great to have a busy and lively event that was also recognised by the Mayor of Bracknell Town, Councillor Gill Birch. She had met our group during one of our meetings in the community centre in Bracknell and was really interested in what we were doing, so we were delighted to be able to show her the end result.

The Curator, Eleanor Pulfer talking to visitors. We owe Eleanor many thanks for giving us the opportunity to do this project, and supporting us throughout.

Thank you to Nigel Bird for the photographs. Nigel did a fantastic job of capturing the event for us.

Preview the catalogue

Open publication - Free publishing - More embroidery

Click on the pages to enlarge to a readable version.
We'll hope to add images to this catalogue at a later stage.

Installation day in pictures

Saturday - the big reveal. Lots of exciting unwrapping. Then a sense of nervousness as I wonder how we're going to pull this off and get an exhibition together in 2 days!

Tuesday - Everything unloaded at the Museum and spread out on the floor. We worked from a rough strategy planned by Delia, Sandy and Merete at the end of the day on Saturday. A few changes were made but it was really helpful to have a starting point.

Disappearing up a ladder. Having a husband who is 6'4" has its uses.

 Bottoms up! We discover the only way to move the perspex plinths around without dismantling first. (Thank you to Annie for the loan of the plinths - they were invaluable and look great.)

Lunch break. Luckily Vicki remembered we had to eat and got sandwiches all round from the bakers.

  Finishing touches. Everything is up and labelled, but we were worried the angel wings might fly off the wall. Finally, satisfied that enough blu-tack had been applied, we surveyed our efforts and headed for home.

Many thanks to Sandy, Vicki, Jane O'S. Great team work, lots of creative ideas, hard work, custard creams and tea got us through. We did it! Come to the Private View event on Saturday 4th June, 2-4pm. 

The big reveal

Today everyone brought their submissions to the meeting. Wow! What a variety in so many ways. There were big pieces, tiny pieces. Big 3-d and tiny 3-d. Lots of quilts and lots of other things. Colourful pieces and muted pieces. Etherial pieces and solid pieces.
A huge range of techniques were on display - hand stitching, machine stitching, painting, printing, cyanotype, trapunto, applique, patchwork piecing goldwork,silk paper, and many more ...
And the work represented a very wide range of inspirations too - from mammoths to power stations, and dolls shoes to comets. Pictures will follow in due course.

New exhibition dates: 18 May - 11 June

The suspense is over, we now have the revised dates for our exhibition - 18 May to 11 June 2011. This period will include the May half term, so we should get plenty of people popping along to have a look at our work. But the earlier date means the pressure is on ... all the work must be finished on or before 14 May and then we will immediately be installing the exhibition. Nothing like building up a bit of momentum ...

What can I create for the project? A reminder ...

This project is about Whatever floats your boat ... In other words, whatever takes your own individual fancy and takes you off on a journey of thought and creation. Which hopefully will be wildly different from the next person, and the next person, and the next ...

The work must be inspired by Slough, its environment, history, surroundings, people, and/or the artefacts in the collection of Slough Museum.

• You may use any contemporary textile technique, you do not need to use quilting or produce work that fits any definition of a quilt. For example you may use felt, embroidery, quilting or any other textile technique or combination of techniques you choose. You may include non-textile or mixed media elements.


• Artwork may be 3-d.

• Artwork may be any shape or orientation you choose.

• You may work large or small, or create a series of small pieces which form one artwork.

• You may like to create a piece which is to be displayed next to the object which inspired it in some way. However, before you do this, you must discuss your idea and your materials with the Curator of the Museum.

Next meeting - 11 September

Join us for the next meeting of Thames Valley Contemporary Quilt on 11 September in Bracknell. We will be launching our exhibition project with the exciting activity of working with Slough Museum's handling collection. You will be able to sketch, photograph and get really close to some interesting, intriguing and inspiring objects.

Slough Museum pictures

Hello and welcome. This blog will build up as we make progress working towards our group exhibition next summer in Slough.
For now, for inspiration - please view the slideshow of pictures of Slough and its Museum. Its rough and ready for the moment, I haven't had time to add captions or anything....
Do please start following the blog, and get in touch if you have pictures or information to add.