Throughout the month of April we are very happy to welcome The British Tapestry Group (London Region) to the gallery with their ‘Woven Worlds’ Tapestry Art Exhibition. Contemporary image-making and the ancient art of tapestry weaving combine to create rich and varied worlds of colour and texture.
From 2nd - 29th April come and see the wide range of hand woven art works on display and sale. The group are also offering during the month exciting demonstrations to see how tapestry’s are made and workshops to try your hand and create your own.
The British Tapestry Group
The British Tapestry Group (BTG) promotes and explores the concept of woven tapestry as a contemporary art form. By raising public awareness through its exhibitions and regional activities, the BTG showcases the combination of craftsmanship and artistic inspiration which is translated into woven works. The BTG welcomes professional UK and international tapestry weavers as well as those who are starting on their weaving journey.
Read more at ‘The British Tapestry Group’ website: https://www.thebritishtapestrygroup.co.uk/
The London Regional Group currently has 26 members from Greater London and surrounding counties; A mix of established and up and coming artists, some working with conventional materials and techniques, others pushing the boundaries of what might traditionally be considered ‘tapestry’. Many of the members teach as well as their own art practice.
Tapestry is one of the oldest forms of woven textiles. The techniques used have remained the same for centuries. Remnants of tapestries woven in ancient Egypt have been dated as far back as 3000BC.
In the Middle Ages master weavers’ studios designed and wove great, colourful tapestries for wealthy clients. In the Renaissance artists such as Raphael were commissioned to produce cartoons for studios to copy, giving weavers less freedom of interpretation. Surviving tapestries from these times can still be seen, though they sometimes look rather dull and predominantly beige, blue and red. That’s because vibrant yellows, greens, purples and browns have disappeared as the dyes used have faded away.
Today, tapestry weaving is dominated by individual weavers producing their own designs, though a few studios where large tapestries are woven from artists’ cartoons still survive. Traditional fibres (wool, silk and linen) continue to be used, together with cotton and other more modern materials.
Come and meet the artists and find our more about this beautiful tapestry art form.