Quilt Festival - Farfield Mill

Farfield Mill have been holding a Quilt Festival since 19th January. All the galleries are being used, each housing a different range of quilts but all linked by the 'love of layering'. In one of the main galleries - The Howgill - is the exhibition of new work by Quilt Art 'Voices'

I went to a very interesting and quite inspiring talk by Elizabeth Brimelow. She began by talking us through the current exhibition 'Voices' by Quilt Art, a group which started in Britain in 1985 to develop quilts as an artistic form in their own right. The group of artists mainly from Europe, all use quilt making techniques, but they challenge the stereotypical notion of a quilt by making them in 3D or making them from unusual materials or displaying then in unusual ways. Some used paper, or paint as well as fabric, or layered their quilt so you could see through from one side to the other, so it was really interesting to look at the quilts close up and see all the detail. I really appreciated hearing a little more about the background of some of the artists, as it helped me understand their exhibits in the festival.

Elizabeth with one of her quilts

Elizabeth then went on to give a talk and slide show about her own life and work as a quilter. She bought with her many of her own pieces which she talked about and she encouraged us to get up close and feel the textures and have a really good look.

Elizabeth Brimelow 'Journey' (I think that was the title)

Elizabeth Brimelow from 'Shingle One & Shingle Two'

Some other pieces from Quilt Art 'Voices'

Sara Impey - 'Alternative Colour Chart'

detail from 'Alternative Colour Chart'

Dirkje van der Horst-Beetsma. 'Lost in Translation'

detail from 'Lost in Translation'

Janet Twinn - The end of Summer

 Dominie Nash - Foliated Calligraphy 3

The K2 Gallery is given over to the work of Pauline Burbidge and her 'Quiltscapes'and 'Quiltline'. I saw some of Paulines work at the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham last August in her Retrospective: Interpretations in Cloth. But it has been great to be able to take time and really have a good look at her work. 

In the Loft Gallery Lynn Setterington has her exhibition 'Signatures' showing her hand stitched cloths and quilts.

Lynn Setterington - 'Self Portrait'

The Dover Gallery has exhibits from Cumbrian members of the Quilters' Guild of the British Isles. There are about 25 pieces under the title  'Created in Cumbria: the Art of Layering'. All are very different and show a great variety of quilting skills. Two which took my eye are below

Debbie Woolley - 'Lakeland Winter'

I liked this quilt because of the colours, but mainly as the original machine pieced appliqué top was sectioned up and repositioned - that must have taken some nerve!

Lyn Armstrong - 'Wainwright Quilt'

 I liked this quilt as it had a bit of everything - there is inkjet printed fabric, painted silk, hand embroidery, beading and machine embroidery. Knowing the Wainwrights books and having walked quite a few of his Lakeland walks it really is a lovely original idea for a quilt.

The Weavers Gallery has work by Effie Galletly. 'Quilted Landscapes', her work is inspired by the Hebridean landscape. I loved this  quilt as the landscape reminded me so much of a holiday we had on the Isle of Tiree.


Effie galletly -'Port Nan Long'

There are also exhibits from the York Quilt Museum and Gallery and a few pieces which have been loaned by local people.  This quilt , on loan, was hand made by Ann Bigland in 1886. She was bed-ridden when she made it - the quilt is made up of 5,760 pieces! Ann lived in Burniside, near Kendal. The colours are still really vivid, and the  fabrics so interesting.

Ann Bigland - Log Cabin Quilt

 The festival continues until 7th April, and is well worth a look if you are in the area.