Looking forward to a brighter 2021, and dreaming of open galleries and enthralling shows, I have collected some of the best exhibitions hoping to open this year.
All of these include textiles in various ways – from garments and pattern, to interiors and photography.
If not physically open, let’s hope that these exhibitions will be available online in some form:
The women who make these Worry Dolls live mostly in the rural areas of Guatemala. This provides them with an important supplement to the income they get from agriculture. Now these dolls are famous in Guatemalan culture and are sold as souvenirs to travellers passing through.
The Aran Islands are set off the west coast of Ireland at Galway Bay. The Atlantic weather is relentless with cold Atlantic gusts making life hard bearing, isolated but beautiful. The islands were self sufficient lands where fishing and farming were peoples’ livelihoods. Rearing sheep for wool and food was a large part of it.
There is a resurgence of popularity with home made crafts and goods. I believe that people are reacting to the mass market and fast fashion brands that churn out items in their multitudes. Upcycling, the buzz word of the moment, is part of this reaction to overbuying.
Over 80 brands large and small gathered to show their Spring Summer 2021 collections. Most chose digital film to show their collections, while others live streamed a catwalk show. Only a few chose to have physical performances, with select appointments and limited numbers attending.
Everywhere we look there is cloth.
Look down and you will see that your body is covered in textiles. Perhaps you are also sitting in an arm chair, or leaning on a table cloth. Wherever you look there are fibres of different types, colours and textures. So, how can we know so little about it? I’m not sure, but what I do know is that this brief intro will only skim the surface.
I have been following Thread Stories for a few years, and have seen the designer grow
and grow in popularity. This Irish designer has a strong instagram presence, and has
featured in the likes of iD, Colossal magazine and The NY Times. Her masks are surreal,
sea creature-like forms that flow and fall around the head. They are made from yarn with
techniques like crochet, knitting and fringing. Each starts as a crocheted balaclava, which
is layered with thread to make wild 3D shapes.
