In Natura Exhibition

Close up of the hand embroidered bees in yellow and slate grey

I’m please to announce that Worker Bees has been selected by Juliana Lauletta, curator at Artly Mix, for the In Natura exhibition in Brazil.

This international exhibition featuring high resolution prints of artworks alongside physical artworks created by local artists in Brazil takes place in June.

‘In Natura’ Exhibition
3rd – 17th June 2023
Echo’s Studio
Rua Pelotas, 400 – Vila Mariana
Sao Paulo – Brazil

In Natura Exhibition
In Natura Exhibition

‘In Natura’ is a captivating group art show that delves into the profound beauty and fragile interconnection between humanity and the natural world. As a celebration of the World Environment Day (5 June 2023), the exhibition serves as a powerful platform to raise awareness about pressing environmental issues and promote positive action. 

By bringing together 23 artists from 13 different countries, ‘In Natura’ presents a diverse range of perspectives and artistic expressions that transcend borders and cultures. Established and emerging artists are showcased side by side, fostering a vibrant dialogue that illuminates the urgent need for global collaboration in addressing environmental challenges and envisions a future where humans and nature exist in harmonious balance.

Juliana Lauletta, curator at Artly Mix

The Blues

My latest piece – a mini artwork called The Blues – has been chosen by curator Amy Oliver for ‘The Time of Her Life III’ dollhouse exhibition at The House of Smalls.

The Time of Her Life III. An exhibition of artworks conveying women’s thoughts, feelings and emotions as they navigate and negotiate the restless waters of peri/menopause and beyond.

Amy Oliver, Curator at The House of Smalls
House of Smalls Exhibition - The Time of her Life 3
‘The Time of her Life III’ – House of Smalls Dollhouse Exhibition

The exhibition takes place at The House of Smalls, Cambrook Court, High Street, Chipping Campden, Glos GL55 6AT from 27 May – 24 June 2023.

The Blues - hand embroidery
The Blues

The artwork

The changes in our hormones during perimenopause and menopause affect both our minds and our bodies. Some of the symptoms affecting our minds are known as the ‘Menopause Blues’.

“The spiralling effects of anxiety and depression, insomnia and brain fog changed my world. There were times I felt I was existing rather than living.” Anon.

Size 11.5 x 11.5 cm. Hand embroidered textile art. Perlé cotton thread, cotton cloth.

This is the second time I’ve taken part in The House of Smalls dollhouse exhibitions. I’m thoroughly enjoying the challenge of making small artworks and look forward to taking part in future exhibitions.

Update

Here are a selection of images courtesy of Amy at The House of Smalls.

Accrington Pals

Accrington Pals - the final stitch

My latest hand embroidered artwork has been stitched in memory of the ‘Accrington Pals’, one of the Pals Battalions that took part in the first day of the Battle of the Somme on 1st July 1916.

After the outbreak of the Great War in 1914 Lord Kitchener sanctioned the raising of Pals battalions. One such battalion was recruited around Accrington, Lancashire where neighbours, family, friends, and workmates enlisted to fight alongside one another. Within 10 days 36 officers and 1,076 men had enlisted – the smallest town in Britain to raise a complete battalion. Their formal name was the 11th (Service) Battalion (Accrington) East Lancashire Regiment, but they became known to everyone as the ‘Accrington Pals’.

A Lancashire Rose takes centre stage in the hand embroidered piece
A Lancashire Rose takes centre stage in the hand embroidered piece

On the 30th June 1916 the ‘Accrington Pals’ took their positions ready for the ‘Big Push’; then at 7:20am on the 1st July 1916 the first day of the Battle of the Somme began.

In the trenches along the 18 mile front-line, whistles sounded out and 100,000 men climbed the parapets and began to walk across No Man’s Land.  

Amongst them were 720 men from the ‘Accrington Pals’ who advanced towards the French village of Serre only to be met by a hail of machine gun fire from the German trenches.  In less than 20 minutes 235 Pals were dead and 350 were missing or wounded. When the roll was called by RSM Stanworth that evening, less than one hundred men answered their names.

the outer border contains 720 hand embroidered French knots
The outer border contains 720 hand embroidered French knots

“I remember when the news came through to Accrington that the Pals had been wiped out. I don’t think there was a street in Accrington and district that didn’t have their blinds drawn, and the bell at Christ Church tolled all the day. ” Percy Holmes.

This was quite a difficult and emotional subject to research and I hope the piece reflects just a small part of what happened in France on 1st July 1916.

Size 30 x 30 cm. Featuring some of my hand embroidered text, a hand embroidered Lancashire Rose and 720 red French knots. Vintage thread, DMC embroidery thread and cotton cloth.

Accrington Pals
Accrington Pals

On the first day of the Somme the British Army suffered almost 60,000 casualties.

Credit: Historian Steve Williams; Imperial War Museum & www.pals.org.uk.

Update:

This piece has been accepted into the One Red Thread ‘Kindred Spirits’ exhibition touring Australia in 2023/24, curated by Elizabeth Dubbelde of Textile Fest, NSW, Australia.

Accrington Pals, hand embroidered textile art. French know, hand embroidered tex and lancashire rose. Part of the One Red Thread 'Kindred Spirits' exhibition, Australia
Accrington Pals – part of the One Red Thread ‘Kindred Spirits’ exhibition, Australia

Update:

Accrington Pals is on the first stop of its tour of Australia, at the Sydney Olympic Park.

I’m pleased to announce that I’ve been awarded 3rd place in the One Red Thread Textile Prize in Australia.

Update:

Accrington Pals is on the next stop of its tour of Australia, at the Melbourne Exhibition & Convention Centre.