Carol East's Stumpwork - 15th November 2012

Friends Evening Talks at the Alfred East Gallery, Kettering

Many of you will have seen examples of Carol's work in the craft showcase in September.

Carol kindly agreed to join the Friends of Kettering Art Gallery and Museum for the evening and share her world of stumpwork.

(a fascinating evening at the Alfred East Gallery: the November Friends talk)

As well as relating her own roller-coaster journey through the various personal and creative episodes that led her to this particular form of embroidery, Carol brought along numerous examples of her work and explained the historical context ...

Originally Jacobean, the essence of stumpwork is the raising of the needlework off the backing by means of stuffing, wire supports and related trickery.

(3 Dimensional embroidery: stumpwork by Carol East)

Early stumpwork featured buildings and people as well as floral motifs and insects and beetles etc.  A contemporary exponent, Carol tend to focus more on highly detailed floral items.

This was an illuminating and quite fascinating look into the world of a form of needlecraft entirely unknown to me.   The skill involved is remarkable and the 3D effect often very striking.  A very interesting evening at the Gallery!

If you missed this talk, but get the opportunity to see her work elsewhere, or listen to Carol's take on the topic, it is highly recommended

(Carol East with some samples of her work at the Alfred East Gallery)

Playgrounds of War - a Cold War Heritage

Playgrounds of War by Gina Glover is now on at the Alfred East Gallery.

A core component of the work are the photographic essays on the remains of the nuclear missile base at RAF Harrington (on the Lamport Road).

In coordination with the exhibition, Gina led a photographic workshop which began with a field trip to the launch pads...

 I joined the photographers and lecturers on the trip ...  These are some of my pictures ...

 

As a first timer to a Kettering Art Workshop, I have to say I found it excellent value and extremely interesting.   I had long had Harrington on my list of heritage sites to explore, and could not have wished for a more interesting way of doing so.   I think I also learned a little about the way skilled practitioners go about finding and setting up their photographs.

I hope we might encourage some of the participants to contribute pictures to the album I have set up on the Museum and Gallery Facebook Page.

Within days of the workshop visit, and with the exhibition on at the Gallery until 17th November, it has been announced this week that the Thor Missile Bases at Harrington and North Luffenham have been listed by English Heritage.  Guardian News article.  BBC News.

If you ever wondered how up to date the Kettering Museum and Art Gallery content was, now you know.  Already open by the time the BBC broke the heritage status story on the national news.

What did a Thor Missile look like?

Imagine that!

Harrington Museum
Museum and Gallery Events

Coming up: Friday 10th August at the Gallery

Friday 10th August: a fantastic lunchtime talk on the History of Seaside Resorts.  It looks to be the perfect way to get into the summer spirit! 

For further details and information on bookings, please see the main website ...

Friends Kagam visit Naseby Battlefield

(guide Ian Dexter explains the history of the Naseby Obelisk)

On Sunday 5th August a party of Friends of Kettering Art Gallery and Museum joined forces with The Battlefields Trust for visit to the site of the famous battle which, in 1645, settled the English Civil War.

(weapons demonstration at the Rupert Viewpoint)

Highlights of the visit included a firearms and equipment demonstration by reenactors, and an opportunity to drive down to the recently opened Sulby Hedges viewpoint (which is usually only accessible on foot).

Blessed with better than expected weather, and fortified with lunch at the Bull's Head in Clipston, our visit was guided by Ian Dexter of the Naseby Battlefield Project.

(umbrellas had to make a brief appearance at Sulby on an occasionally overcast day)

The visit included all the major battlefield vistas, and the monuments ... the Obelisk, near the village, The Cromwell Monument which marks (more or less) the Eastern end of the New Model Army infantry, and the brand new 'Blewcoats memorial' just opposite on Broadmoor, near to where Prince Rupert's Regiment stood 'like a wall of Brasse' while the Royalist army fled the battlefield.

(the Blewcoats memorial: click on any of these images for a larger version)

The tour ended at Moot Hill, just outside Sibbertoft (assemby ground of the hundred of Rothwell in Saxon times, and where Charles is said to have planted the Royal Standard) ... here, and on adjacent Wadborough, the remnants of Charles' army offered their last resistance.

Check the events list for future Friends' excursions.

• If you're looking for something to do with the family this summer, why not visit the 'Beside the Seaside' exhibition at the Manor House Museum.  There is plenty to see and do!
• Beside the Seaside   (free: on til 1st September)
   

Exhibitions open at the Alfred East Gallery

Now on: Rita Tomalin and Lee Burrows ... 'this is what we do' ... 30th June to 11th August.  Following their win of the Public Choice Vote at the Open 11 exhibition, Lee and Rita exhibit their work together in this shared exhibition.  51 works showing their love of painting ... and the themes that delight and concern them.

There is also a splendid exhibition of striking prints in the connecting exhibition space: Passion2Print, Leicester Print Workshop’s biennial celebration of contemporary fine art printmaking ...

(Rita and Lee in front of some of their paintings at the Preview)

Tonight at the Gallery

Don't forget Greta Paradine-Palmer will be giving a 'Friends' talk at the Gallery this evening ... 'dressed to Impress', on the decorative trappings worn by Indian elephants.

7.30pm.  Anyone can come along ... Friends of the Museum and Gallery come free, others can pay the £3.00 on the door (and, yes, you can join the Friends or renew tonight when you arrive ...)...