Display of weaving

Press, 30 April 1981, Page 20

Display of weaving

Members of the public will have no chance to buy thewinning entries in the Farmers’ weaving awards -which are on display at the C.S.A. gallery this week. The ■ top handwoven wall hanging and the winning entry >n the “off-loom techniques in fibre” section were both bought before the winners were announced at the special preview showing on Friday, the former entry by the judge and the latter by the Robert McDougall Art Gallery. The exhibition, which is for the centenary of the New Zealand Farmers’ Co-opera-tive Association of Canterbury, was introduced to fos-

ter and encourage the use of New Zealand wool in handmade articles “of the highest possible standards ”. In. the absence of the judge, Mr Robert Bell,, the president of the. Cirafts’ Council of Australia, the main address at the preview was given by the “doyen of local weavers,” Mrs Ida Lough. She praised the great improvement in New Zealand creative-weaving techniques in recent years and the “quiet good taste” oh display. She also “put in a plug” for the suitability of New Zealand wools, recommending to exporters the potential market of overseas craft shops

and the tapestry industry. The main prize-winners were both from Christchurch. Mrs Eileen Chisolm won $lOOO for her handr woven “Inlaid Corduroy Fleece Rug” and ih the olf? loom section Mrs Margaret Finnerty also won $lOOO for “Revelation II.” A merit award went to Mrs Marie Abbot, of Auckland, and a local area prize was won by Mr John Hadwen, of Murchison.

About 200 people attended the preview. The display will be open to the public until May 10, after which the winning entries will be taken on tour by New Zealand Farmers’.