29/10/2009

9 January - 20 March 2010 - ‘The Celtic Fringe: Wholecloths of Wales and Scotland and ‘Namad: A Persian Journey in Felt' by Bita Ghezelayagh

The Quilt Museum and Gallery in York, starts its New Year with two exhibitions that show the contrast in decorative tradition between the UK and Iran.

While‘The Celtic Fringe' focuses on quilt patterns native to Wales and Scotland,  "Namad" A Persian Journey in Felt' looks at the variety and richness of embroidered Turkoman motifs. The Namad exhibition is shown in partnership with the Collins Gallery, Glasgow.

Traditional wholecloth quilts are generally made from one plain coloured fabric (sometimes two) and their interest lies in the many different patterns that have been stitched - usually by hand. In years past, certain patterns were used again and again in Wales and Scotland, thus giving a recognizable identity to the work. Thus, a quilt with hearts, thistles and fleur de lys might probably have been made in the Scottish Borders while a quilt with broad infilled leaves, hearts and spirals would probably have come from Wales.

Visitors to the Celtic Fringe exhibition will have their own opportunity to try and match design with country but they will also see quilts that have ‘associations'. Chief among these are Welsh quilts made especially for the Art Deco wing of Claridges Hotel in London in the 1930s and‘Hawick' quilts made by church guilds in the Scottish Borders around the same period. The Welsh Claridges' quilts strike a particular resonance since they were commissioned and purchased through the  Little Gallery just off Sloane Street in London.  The proprietor there, Miss Muriel Rose, was an important figure in the revival of quilting in Wales, during a time of great economic need.  

Bita Ghezelayagh, has practised as an architect, interior designer, film producer andcostume designer and now divides her time between London and her native Tehran. In ‘Namad: A Persian Journey in Felt',she presents a  collection of over 20 thick felted and embroidered ‘T' shaped tunics traditionally worn by Iranian shepherds.  The cloaks are made from fleeces sourced in the foothills of the Zagros Mountains and produced by hand felting methods in workshops in Borujerd and Khorramabad.

The tunics, which are both decorative and functional, are used as a canvas by Ghezelayagh to express her memories of growing up in Iran.

The decorative motifs she embroiderers are derived from the Turkoman culture and include geometric forms, stylised tulips and birds and symbols drawn from the folklore of indigenous tribes.

Electronic images relating to the exhibitions above can be obtained by contacting Janet Rae: janrae@ednet.co.uk

Editor's Note:  The Quilt Museum and Gallery has recently been ‘Accredited' by the Museums Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) in the UK. Accreditation means that the Museum has met nationally agreed standards relating to its operation, the way it looks after its textile collections and the services it provides visitors.

27 March to 3 July 2010:

‘Inspired by the Past: Traditional Practice and Contemporary Conversations' and ‘Breakthrough' by Contemporary Quilt

10 July to 16 October 2010

‘Sewing in Wartime' and ‘Under African Skies'