Tag Archives: narrative threads

Emotional Repair Exhibition

Posted in Exhibitions, Inspiration, Narrative Threads, Textile History by

I am currently working on a new exhibition at Gawthorpe Hall Textile Collection which is in an amazing National Trust building in Lancashire. The textiles there are a private collection assembled by Rachel Kay Shuttleworth (1886- 1967) who lived in the house and opened it up to share her collections and her knowledge.

 

I first visited the Gawthorpe in 2015 to look at their pincushion collection  as inspiration for Memorial Pincushions,  which celebrate the life of my beloved aunt. The first half of collection were included in my Narrative Threads exhibition in 2015  and some in Salisbury Textiles Open in 2016. Emotional Repair will be the first time all 46 (each one representing a year of her life) will be displayed together and alongside the original inspiration pieces from Miss Rachel’s own collection.

 

Late in 2016 I began talking to Jenny Waterson, curator of contemporary exhibitions and learning at Gawthorpe Textile Collection about showing this piece and others in a solo exhibition which is now confirmed for 28 March – 24 June 2018. Over the last year I have been developing new pieces of work and groups which will form this exhibition. I also returned to Gawthorpe in the autumn to look at more textiles, this time selecting pieces about mourning and remembrance, as well as unfinished pieces which I consider very poignant and full of potential stories of loss.

Emotional Repair covers a wide range of personal and emotive subjects focused around loss and remembering and includes work made over the last two years as well as brand new pieces currently in development.  Much of this work is deeply personal and touches on subjects which are hard to talk about so it may seem strange that I want to share them in this very public way, but we all know just how healing and cathartic it can be to make things when having a tough time. Textiles have such strong associations with domesticity, personal lives and family memory that they are the perfect means to express emotional stories. For me this works so well with the Gawthorpe Textile Collection, although Miss Rachel didn’t collect with this emotional response in mind, it is still one woman’s personal selection and it is displayed and preserved in her family home which brings an intimacy and personality beyond most museum collections.

The exhibition opens 28th March and continues until 24th June 2018.

Masterclass Rescheduled 9&10 January

Posted in Exhibitions, Narrative Threads, Work With Me by

My weekend of creative experimentation workshops at NCCD has been rescheduled for 9th & 10th January, the final weekend of the exhibition

Spend a weekend immersed in creative, slow, experimental techniques inspired by Ruth Singer’s work. The workshops include simple, experimental natural dye techniques, embroidery and using found objects. You can create a series of samples, pieces to incorporate into other work or art textile pieces to frame.

Full details of the workshop can be found here.

Ruth Singer Narrative Threads
Star Quilt
Ruth Singer: Metamorphosis

Narrative Threads workshop for Gifted 15

Posted in Community, Work With Me by

Precious objects

Join me for a free, drop in workshop for adults during Gifted 15 at the National Centre for Craft & Design on Saturday 28th November 2015 10am-4pm.

Ruth Singer. Figures of Africa

Bring along an every day object or piece of junk and transform it into a precious amulet with some simple textile techniques.

 

Narrative Threads Catalogues

Posted in Books, Narrative Threads by

The catalogues for Narrative Threads are now available to buy!

24 page full colour catalogue with details of the work in my Narrative Threads exhibition. This A5 catalogue is full of information and pictures including details of the work in the exhibition, my working processes and inspirations. Designed by Sophie Hardwicke and printed in the UK on recycled paper.

Printed catalogue with lovely stitched spine is £8 including postage

A PDF version is just £4 and will be emailed to you.

Click here to buy.

 

Narrative Threads exhibition film

Posted in Art Textiles, Exhibitions, My work, Narrative Threads by

I’m delighted to share my new film about my work for Narrative Threads, made by the fantastic R&A Collaborations.

The exhibition opens on Saturday 14th November 2015 and continues until Sunday 10th January 2016.

Exhibition events:

  • Preview event:  Sat 14th Nov 2-4pm. Free
  • Drop in activity for 16+: Saturday 28th November 10am-4pm. Free
  • Masterclass: Sat 5th & Sun 6th December. £50 one day £95 for both
  • Exhibition talk + Q&A: Sat 12th December 11am-12.30pm. Free

JL4A7276

 

Narrative Threads Opening 14th November

Posted in Art Textiles, career, Exhibitions, My work, Narrative Threads, Residencies by

My solo exhibition, Narrative Threads, opens on Saturday 14th November The National Centre for Craft and Design, Sleaford, Lincolnshire. This exhibition is the culmination of a year-long residency at NCCD, funded by Arts Council England.

Please join me to celebrate the opening of the exhibition on Saturday  2-4pm with cheese and wine! It includes lots of new work, community collaborations and the textile memories project.

I will also be launching a fabulous 20 page catalogue of the exhibition with new photography and background to the pieces in the exhibition and my working processes.

Ruth Singer Narrative Threads

Ruth Singer Narrative Threads

 

JL4A7518

 

Exhibition events include a weekend masterclass on 5th & 6th December and Artists’ Talk and Q&A on Saturday 12th December as well as a collaboration project which you can join in with on Saturday 28th November as part of Gifted. The exhibition continues until 10th January 2016.

I will *also* be continuing my artist residency at NCCD and will be in the exhibition on various dates which will be advertised on my website, on social media and through my mailing list.

Narrative Threads Masterclass January 2016

Posted in Art Textiles, Narrative Threads, natural dye, Work With Me by

Alongside my Narrative Threads exhibition  at the National Centre for Craft & Design, I am running a weekend masterclass on 9th & 10th January 2016 (rescheduled from December). Spend the weekend immersed in creative, slow, experimental techniques inspired by my work. The workshops include simple, experimental natural dye techniques, embroidery and using found objects. You can create a series of samples, pieces to incorporate into other work or art textile pieces to frame.

Various dyes
Ruth Singer: Metamorphosis
Ruth Singer: Metamorphosis
Star Quilt
Ruth Singer: Metamorphosis
Eco print with leaves and flowers

 

Day 1

Our first task of the weekend will be to manipulate and colour cloth using natural dyes, plants, food, rust and inks. We will experiment with shibori dye, hand painting colour and creating patterns from rusty metal to create original and exciting patterns and marks on cloth. We will also dye threads and other materials to use on day 2.

Day 2

Using the cloth we have created in day one (or purchased on the day if you have not attended day 1) we will look at using simple embroidery stitches to create marks and patterns on the dyed cloth. We will experiment with layering and cutting away the fabrics to create new textures. We will also explore ways of incorporating found objects into our work to add depth and narrative to the pieces.

£50 per day or £95 for the weekend, including basic materials, with additional materials available to purchase at the workshop. Book with NCCD on 01529 308710 info@nationalcraftanddesign.org.uk.

 

Ruth Singer: Metamorphosis
Criminal Quilts – Ruth Singer. Photo by Ashley Brown
Rowan leaves to represent Rowan Ward. Hand embroidery.
Hand embroidery (reverse)
Ruth Singer. The Beauty of Stains
Ruth Singer, Criminal Quilt
Stitched stain
Ruth Singer: Metamorphosis

 

Daily Make (17)

Posted in Ruth Singer by

This week I’ve started a new commission for Harefield Hospital

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and made some dye bundles at the first community workshop

 

The patchwork continues to grow (on the cat, as usual!)

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Puss & patchwork. My usual evening. #dailymake2015 #missmayacat

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I rarely get a day just stitching, so attending a workshop on Indian embroidery was a real treat this week.

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My first ever shisha mirror! #embroidery #dailymake2015

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Some preparation for my artist residency day

 

and some stitching stains during the residency day

Daily Make (15 & 16)

Posted in Narrative Threads by

I reworked The Beauty of Stains, making the stains permanent through stitch.

 

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Stitching stains. #narrativethreads #dailymake2015

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I’ve made a lot of paper pieced patchwork for Narrative Threads.

 

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Patchwork on the train #dailymake2015

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I’ve started a birthday present for my mum but I’m not going to show it here in case she looks. I know she doesn’t look at Instagram.

 

I even made a fascinator for a workshop sample.

 

I’ve started my research visits to museums to inspire new work for my solo exhibition Narrative Threads.