Exhibition at Brantwood
A new exhibition is on show at Brantwood, the former home of John Ruskin, in Coniston, Cumbria. It has been curated by Jane Langley of Bluepatch (the UK’s Sustainable Business Community (bluepatch.org) which was launched in 2014 and is a non-profit organisation promoting the reduction of carbon emissions and waste as well as supporting environmental regeneration.
Pull My Thread – textiles for a cool planet
opens on July 27th and closes on September 22nd.
Brantwood is open daily from 10:30 – 5pm.
See the press release below for more details.
‘PULL MY THREAD – textiles for a cool planet’: An exhibition about sustainable textiles from Blue Patch, the UK’s sustainable business community, at Brantwood House, the historic home of John Ruskin in the Lake District, from Saturday 27th July to Sunday 22nd September.
The exhibition captures the creative spirit of the new green economy and the ethos of Blue Patch’s collection of sustainable businesses. From couture to hand weave, upcycling to bio-textiles, 24 makers and creatives will examine the relationship between sustainability and our new, green ‘collaborative’ economy.
Blue Patch members will exhibit innovative ways to produce sustainable textiles aimed at creating industry and environmental change. Displays include everything from a new bio fleece harvested from bulrushes to radical couture created from textiles donated by the Royal Opera House. Our change-makers include Vicky Poulter from the Flax Project; Yorkshire farm fleeces ‘hot off the pedal loom’ and Madder Cutch & Co.’s plant-dyed, silkscreen fabrics (see full list below).
Also, we’re delighted to have two connected exhibits that span the centuries. Allan Brown’s iconic Nettle Dress and short film, demonstrating the philosophy of slow spinning and weaving, will be on display alongside a small handbag, or reticule, that belonged to John Ruskin’s mother, Margaret (1781 – 1871). The bag’s elegant knotwork was expertly knitted from plant fibres and embroidered with coloured flowers.
Howard Hull, Director of Brantwood, commented:
“Ruskin reminds manufacturers that the things they make and how they make them determines the nature of everyone’s world. The attention to thoughtful manufacture by Blue Patch makers makes them champions of social justice and environmental responsibility. That they achieve this by creating products of inspiring beauty is all the more remarkable. We are delighted to have Blue Patch at Brantwood.”
Blue Patch founder and the exhibition curator, Jane Langley notes:
“Reading Ruskin’s ‘Unto This Last’ is like chatting with an old friend. I like to think he would ‘get Blue Patch’ because 100% of our revenue is dedicated to educating and supporting the growth of the local sustainable economy in the UK and Ireland. I would give anything to discuss our mission with Ruskin himself – maybe as we gazed across the lake at Old Man of Coniston from the terrace at Brantwood!
Exhibitors
Madder Cutch & Co., Newton Paisley, Dalston Dolls, Erika Janavi, Judi Archer, Laura’s Loom, Hedgerow Couture, Flax Project CIC, Ponda.bio, Kathleen Mullaniff, Julia Langley, Shape Furniture, Chloe Haywood London, ROCWORX, The Stitch Society, Karen Quickfall, Social Socks, Sustainable Rope, Kathleen Mullaniff, Newton Paisley, Jennifer Wright, Meg Rahaim, Zoë Bicat, Carolyn Blake,The Green Salon Collective and Zoë Burt.
I have a few items of Ruskin Lace in the exhibition and you can see older examples of Ruskin Lace around the house, including a sampler, a cushion, a Ruskin Lace and patchwork quilt bedspread and several display mats. Well worth a visit if you are in the area!
