A Stitch In Time Exhibition

The most ubiquitous fibre in nature is cellulose, the primary component of all plant cell walls and the most abundant organic polymer on Earth. It is also a crucial, essential material for fabrication in every culture, invested with centuries of codified meaning. Artists like Sheila Hicks and Olga de Amaral draw influence from the textiles and ancient techniques in South America. They build on this legacy whilst experimenting with colour, materiality and pattern. As Anni Albers suggests, "Being creative is not so much the desire to do something, as the listening to that which wants to be done: the dictation of the materials." 

At Paul Smith, they love using materials in imaginative ways; this often leads to incorporating new methods of production and results in iconic new designs. For this exhibition, they have selected artists who share this spirit of reinvention, and challenge conventions in material, process, and form. Through experimentation and play, they weave, stitch, fold and thread through these conventions to find new modes of representation. In this process, they demonstrate how materials used in the growing category of “fibre art” can restore meaning to our relationship with the natural world and encode a message from this moment, a “stitch in time” that is deeply personal but often politically resonant. 

“A Stitch in Time”, brings together works by a new generation of artists working in the genre of fibre art today. These artists seek to defy classification and challenge artistic hierarchies. Some embrace specific techniques and heritages to incorporate layers of meaning into their work, whilst others push the boundaries of traditions and perceptions of the medium. By elevating embroidery and sewing craft techniques, they transform ready-made and second-hand fabrics into powerful reflections on identity and social issues. 

This show includes several exquisite pieces by Alice von Maltzahn working with a combination of stitch and Japanese Gampi Silk Conservation paper. (Ref: CON13736 XM) Find Alice at www.alicevonmaltzahn.com