ArtCan Unravelled: Group Exhibition of Contemporary Textiles

International non-profit arts organisation, ArtCan, will be popping up in South West London this March for a dual venue group exhibition focused on its artist members working with fibre and textiles. ‘ArtCan - Unravelled’ is co-curated by ArtCan members Catherine Sweet and Melanie Jordan.

Catherine says: “Textile art is one of the oldest art forms in human civilisation, and we encounter it in many different guises during our daily lives. While many early examples focused on function over form, contemporary creatives continue to push the boundaries of textiles as a medium, as well as incorporating new and diverse narratives into their work - whether that be through stitching, weaving, quilting, tapestry, knitting, crochet or something completely new.”

ArtCan Unravelled aims to highlight how the boundaries of practicality and aesthetics can be blurred with the variety of methods used to create textile art, and to ‘tug on the thread’ of the narratives created within the whole.

Melanie says: “Thread-based crafts are moving off of the sidelines to take centre stage. Once seen as ‘woman’s work’, and given less attention than other art forms, contemporary artists are increasingly using textiles to create powerful and thought-provoking art. For me stitching is slow and methodical, where the doing is as important as the finished outcome. Soft and tactile, yet able to draw attention to uncomfortable concepts.”

The exhibition will be in two halves, including in the front gallery space at RuptureXIBIT in Hampton Wick between 11th - 17th March, plus, running concurrently, ArtCan will have a dedicated pop-up space at the Landmark Arts Centre during their bi-annual Contemporary Textiles Fair (15th - 17th March). The venues are 10 minutes from one another on public transport.

RuptureXIBIT will be open 10am - 6pm from Monday - Saturday, plus 10am - 2pm on Sunday. The Landmark Arts Centre will be open 10am - 5pm over the weekend, with a preview on Friday evening.

There will be a series of public talks and demonstrations across both venues during the exhibition run, including a panel discussion with Kate Howe, who heads up the RuptureXIBIT space, on the benefits of artistic collaboration and curating in community spaces. Register via https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/artcan-unravelled-in-conversation-with-kate-howe-tickets-807629450427 

Find the full programme for talks and demonstrations across both venues via www.artcan.org.uk/unravelled

To register for the private view at RuptureXIBIT, on Tuesday 12th March, 6pm - 8pm, visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/artcan-unravelled-private-view-tickets-807615187767

To register for free entrance on the preview evening at the Contemporary Textiles Fair, Friday 15th March, and/or to receive 2 for 1 tickets to the Fair over the weekend, visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/artcan-unravelled-preview-at-the-biennale-contemporary-textiles-fair-2024-tickets-807650272707 

Participating Artists:

Abigail Weston, Adele Cloony, Alison Aye, Anne Griffiths, Carol Ann Eades, Carole Bury, Catherine Hill, Diana Burch, Elizabeth Griffiths, Elly Platt, Gillian Brett, Hannah Pratt, Hilary Rosen, Jan Lee Johnson, Jane Higginbottom, Jo Cooper, Joanne Olney, Jonathan Armour, Kate Marsden, Marsha Roddy, Melanie Jordan, Nerissa Cargill Thompson, Rebecca Tucker, Sabatin Bascoban, Sophie Levi-Kallin, Su France, Sumit Sethi, Svetlana Atlavina, Sylvie Millen, Tracey Elizabeth Downing, Vicky O’Leary.

For more information, visit www.ArtCan.org.uk