Traces at New Brewery Arts, Cirencester

Sara Impey - Negative Spaces, Positive Times (detail)

If you happen to be in the Cotswolds before 15 March 2020 pop into New Brewery Arts in Cirencester and take a look at Traces.  This exhibition by Quilt Art, a group of international textile artists, explores the themes of memory and the power of stitch.  The group was founded in Britain in 1985 to promote the quilt as an art form. Not all work conforms to the traditional definition of a quilt but all work exhibits the artists' united passion for stitch, fabric, colour and texture and the limitless posibilities of the textile surface.  Here is a sample of the work on show...

Charlotte Yde - The Missed Ones

Charlotte Yde - The Missed Ones (detail)

Cherilyn Martin - Silent Dialogue #2

Fenella Davies - Sea Fret

Jette Clover - Cry Me a River

Karina Thompson - Recovery Quilt 2-2018 (detail)

Sara Impey - Negative Spaces, Positive Times

Sue Hotchkis - Breakdown

Sue Hotchkis - Breakdown detail

New Brewery Arts in Cirencester is a great place to visit.  It has a fab cafe, an interesting craft shop and varied exhibitions.  It is adjacent to a large car park if visiting by car.

 

Cirencester March Hare Festival

Madame Butterfly by Debbie Stirling

Something I haven't come across before is the Cirencester March Hare Festival.  Dotted about the town are a (large) number of decorated hares by different artists.  Some hares are life sized and some are rather large (5 feet tall).  I can't say I saw them all (there are over 40) but the one above was my favourite.

Here are a few more ...

Charles by Emma Samms - check out the magenta whiskers!

Corinna by Laura Fearn

Daby Hare by Kaffe Fassett

Hare to the Throne by Dominique Sanglier

Hareoh the Pharaoh by Prior Park Prep School & Ann Jelley

Harriet by Penny Hill

Harrison by Cirencester College Students

Hartley the Cirencester Chocolate Hare by Lick the Spoon

James by Simon Morriss

Miles the Millionhare by Rod Ashman

Party Hare by Jane Callan

Whare's Davey? by Powells School Pupils

Woolly Jumper by Laura Plant

Hare in Sheep's Clothing by Kate Dove

The idea behind all these fantasy hares is to provide an additional attraction for visitors to Cirencester.  Why hares? Well, there is a great Roman hare mosaic which is now in the Corinium Museum.  Also, it has provided an opportunity for local businesses, artists and the community to work together on this project to promote Cirencester.  

The hares will be on show until 14 September 2014.  Then, in October they will be auctioned and the proceeds will go to the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust to help fund the ‘Green Hare Churn Walkway’ around the River Churn in Cirencester. This new walkway will involve schools and community groups and have lasting benefits for both locals and visitors.  Sounds good to me!

The Feathered Aviator - Cirencester

On a recent trip to Cirencester I took in the current exhibition at New Brewery Arts - "The Feathered Aviator" by Celia Smith.  It celebrates the role of the homing pigeon in communications during World War 1.  The delicate wire sculptures reflect the bird's twin qualities of fragility & strength.  Some pigeons were made by members of the local community and carry messages written by those who made them.

Celia Smith says:

Here's a flavour of the exhibition ...

Flock of Pigeons

Pigeon's carrying messages

 

Close up

wire bird sculptures also make attractive shadows

 
Comments on communications during WW1 and today:

and the wire connection:

You can even make your own pigeon & message and add it to the large wire poppy sculpture ...

Wire

Instructions

Mould

Adding our pigeon to the poppy

"Hoping you are all safe at home"

The exhibition is on until Sunday 7 September - it's well worth a look!