New Open House The Moving Needle on textile techniques and collaboration
Artist: Carie Donohoe
The Moving Needle is an artist group that is new to the Open Houses – can you tell us a bit about it and how it was formed?
We are a group of eight textile artists. We formed in November 2019 after some of us had completed a City & Guilds course in Design & Craft focussed on patchwork, quilting and textile techniques. We wanted to continue to benefit from the invaluable support, feedback and encouragement of fellow artists.
Having formed in November 2019, lockdown the following March slowed us down, but we continued to meet via zoom, showing each other our work and planning new projects – we even sent work through the post to one another! We had our first exhibition in 2021 and this will be our third exhibition. We have had a few people leave and new people join us which has been a great.
Tina Proctor – Fabric, thread
Would you like to tell us a bit about your work as a group of artists?
We are all textile artists. Some of us have backgrounds in embroidery, some in patchwork and quilting. We are all excited about trying out and learning new techniques.
What do you find are the benefits of working and exhibiting together as a group?
Working toward exhibitions and trying out new techniques together keeps us motivated and making new work. Having a new member each year always adds something to the group – injecting new skills, new perspectives and new energy, which keeps us all on our creative toes!
Can you tell us about your exhibition title ‘What Lies Beneath’ and also about ‘Chain Reaction’?
This Exhibition has “What Lies Beneath” as its main theme. We have all produced individual work responding to this theme and the variety of techniques used is mind boggling! Expect machine stitch, hand stitch, naturally dyed fabric and thread, 3D pieces of work, stitching into paper, embroidery, appliqué, reverse appliqué, drawn thread work, photobroderie and more!
Tracie Bignell – Thread, handmade silk paper
We also undertook a group project called “Chain Reaction”. One person chose an artwork and made a textile piece in response to it, then sent a photograph of their piece to the next person. Each of us responded only to the artwork created by the previous person in the chain, without knowing what came before. We will be exhibiting the results this May.
What are you most looking forward to in taking part in the Artists Open Houses
It’s always fun to share our work. Getting feedback from friends, family & members of the public is so interesting and (usually) a great experience for us.
We will also have work for sale – cards, handmade notebooks etc. We will be cashless.
Visit The Moving Needle at:
Fishing Quarter Gallery, 201 Kings Arches, Brighton, BN1 1NB
No.13 on the Central trail
Liz Ganney – Metals, fabric, thread