Embroidery: Oppression to Expression
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Thu 17 Jun 2021 - Sat 25 Sep 2021
A new exhibition at The David Roche Foundation, showcases over 100 exquisite embroideries from 1600 to the present day. Due to the fragile nature of textiles, many of the works on display have never been exhibited before. The exhibition embraces traditional European styles from Georgian England to William Morris, and forward to contemporary textile practice in Australia, including the internationally renowned couture of Paolo Sebastian created in Adelaide.The exhibition covers the Arts & Crafts movement, Religious embroidery, English Regency, Samplers, Animals, Fashion and Contemporary. It traces the development of embroidery from a religious application and a domestic craft used to prepare young women for a life of household duties, to a powerful contemporary artistic expression of social and political values.
A wide array of embroideries are on display in
, by women and men, young and old, in different styles and stitches that have developed and flourished and waned in popularity across the centuries. David Roche AM (1930-2013) was fascinated with embroidery throughout his life, even making his own pieces in his youth. He collected many antique embroideries, of which twenty-three are on display in this exhibition, including many of his favourite subject - dogs.
The earliest item, on loan from the State Library of South Australia, is an English embroidered bookbinding for a book of Psalms, dating to 1603–1625. While some more recent ecclesiastical work has been lent from several Adelaide churches, including the magnificent c.1900 St Dominic's Priory Cope and the Banner of the Guild of Perseverance.The mainstay of embroidery, the instructional 'sampler' worked by young girls is well-represented and illustrates the humble to exquisite from a carefully crafted late-17th century example through to a pair of brightly coloured Port Adelaide samplers by sisters Laura and Rosina Butler of the c. 1870-80s. This section also includes some delightful depictions of animals, architecture and figures by girls as young as 10.
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 galvanised South Australian contemporary textile artist Sera Waters to create the
#survivalistsampler project. Sera, seeing how samplers acted as a record of lives past, recognised the format as a perfect way for people to record public and personal moments in the current day to share on social media. Sera's work is joined by four other participating artists, including Kay Lawrence.Embroidery long played a significant role in European fashion and rare eighteenth-century waistcoats are displayed alongside other historical pieces, including an apron and stomacher. Australian couture by DI$COUNT UNIVER$E and Paolo Sebastian, the latter lending two gowns from their East of the Sun and West of the Moon Autumn/Winter Collection of 2019–2020, illustrate the varying roles embroidery plays in contemporary fashion.
It was the women's movement of the 1960s and 70s that reimagined the possibilities of the domestic and feminine craft of embroidery and since then artists have continued to apply these skills and techniques to voice their own concerns. Today embroidery operates more widely: Paul Yore uses it within his arts practice to challenge religion, sex, politics and popular culture. South Australian artist Makeda Duong uses embroidery as a vehicle to explore issues of mental health and politics; while Amy Joy Watson's utopic Australian landscapes in metallic thread remind us of the ancient land we inhabit and conversely our impact on the planet.
A major survey of embroidery practices, is drawn extensively from South Australian public and private collections as well as examples collected by David Roche over his lifetime. is now showing exclusively at The David Roche Foundation House Museum until 25 September 2021.Opening Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 10 AM - 4 PM. No booking required.Guided Tours: Wednesday, Friday & Saturday 11:15amEntry: $12 adult. $10 concession. Children under 12 free.Plan your visit at www.rochefoundation.com.au , Facebook and Instagram
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!date 17/06/2021 -- 25/09/2021
%wnadelaide
189297 - 2023-06-16 03:17:07