Blanket Coverage, Llantarnam Grange Arts Centre 28th Nov - 30th Jan 2021
I am SO excited to announce that my latest curation project ‘Blanket Coverage’ for Llantarnam Gange Arts Centre in Cwmbran, S Wales, will be opening on the 28th November. It’s been in the pipeline for over a year, but when the COVID situation unfolded in March, it was hard to know what lay ahead. However, when Llantarnam Grange was able to reopen its doors in September, it has been full steam ahead getting this show together as planned.
We were delighted to receive funding from the Ashley Family Foundation to support the project. This has allowed us to be more ambitious with the accompanying education and engagement programme, and also to produce a stunning catalogue designed by Heidi Baker.
The exhibition is a long-overdue survey of contemporary woven blanket design featuring 12 designers and businesses, from the very established to emerging names. Margo Selby, Wallace Sewell, Beatrice Larkin and Eleanor Pritchard are all weavers who work closely with British mills to faithfully interpret their handwoven designs into production. Catarina Riccabona and Maria Sigma are passionate advocates for sustainability through their handwoven practice, both producing blankets of true character without design compromise. Llio James and Sioni Rhys Handweavers, are Welsh handweavers of blankets cleverly combining colour and weave structure to create captivating patterns.
Meghan Spielman a recent graduate of the Royal College of Art, has handwoven a new silk artwork specifically for this exhibition, referencing deconstructed blanket designs. Angie Parker a weaver is primarily known for her colourful Krokbragd rugs and artworks, has recently widened her repertoire to include blankets. Lockdown prompted a fresh appreciation for the brightly painted houses around her home in Bristol which led to a new blanket design which she put into production with the local Bristol Weaving Mill
No exhibition dedicated to blankets in Wales would be complete without Melin Tregwynt. The mill has been in the ownership of the Griffiths family for over a hundred years, and under the direction of the current directors, Eifion and Amanda Griffiths the mill has earned a worldwide reputation for its thoroughly modern twist on iconic Welsh double cloth designs. I’ve also had the pleasure of weaving a very limited edition 100% Cambrian Mountains wool design at Melin Tregwynt, especially for this exhibition.
Blanket Coverage highlights a diversity of practice, from the handwoven to the mill-woven, from the repeatable to the one-off, all with an impeccable eye for quality and attention to detail. All demonstrate evocative use of colour, weave structure and yarn choice resulting in thoroughly covetable and highly collectable blankets to comfort and furnish our homes.
Llantarnam Grange and I would be delighted to welcome you to the exhibition in person. The gallery is open 9.30am - 3.30pm Tuesday-Saturday and operating a covid-secure environment for visitors. The gallery will also be launching its new online shop in time for the exhibition opening. All work for sale in the exhibition will also be available to buy online for those unable to visit. Oh, and if you need any more encouragement to visit, there is a fantastic gallery cafe serving delicious food each day until 2.30pm.
Lastly, I’m planning to film a series of online interviews with some of the exhibitors which will be shared on social media over the course of the exhibition duration. Details to follow very soon…
