Embroidery in the red

Press, 17 May 1989, Page 21

Embroidery in the red

By

PAULINE MOORE

Red colours our everyday lives. Red is the colour of fire, danger and anger, but it can be cheerful and warming. Such sayings as “red as a beetroot,” “in the red,” “red rag to a bull,” and “red letter day” use red to accentuate meanings. Red is such a strong influence in our lives that the Fibre Options Group from the Embroiderers’ Guild have used the colour as the theme for their exhibition, In The Red, at the Cave Rock Gallery in the Arts Centre until May 27. The Community of the Sacred Name is also exhibiting embroidery in the exhibition. The Fibre Options Group (F.O.G. for short) is a recently formed offshoot of the Embroiderers’ Guild made up of members with a particular interest in design. Many of the members have completed the City and Guilds of London examination. Work in the exhibition shows a wide range of

subject matter, using unusual and traditional techniques. Janet Swanson’s “Five Buttons” is a wall hanging in black, white and red using the technique of collage. She is also exhibiting machine-embroid-ered bowls made by a fascinating technique. Free-embroidered flowers are machine embroidered on to dissolvable fabric. The work is then placed

in boiling water to dissolve the fabric, placed on a mould and fixed firmly into shape with P.V.A. glue. Molly Hutton’s millinery shop window is a delightful collection of tiny hats using needle lace, surface stitchery, ribbon and flowers. Alison Wilson has made a striking wall panel called “Firebird.” It is an example of modern cut

work using a variety of materials and techniques to give interesting effects and textures — applique, using silver kid, bronze metallic paper, oyster shell, beads, silver thread and surface stitchery. Another clever creation, New Zealand In The Red, depicts the sharemarket crash. Red dollar notes disappear down a black hole. This is the first time the

Fibre Options Group has held an exhibition. Most of the work is for sale, another new venture for the group. The ecclesiastical embroidery by the Community of the Sacred Name is quite different from "In The Red.” It is a rare opportunity for the public to see the work for which the Community is renowned. Some of the techniques the nuns use are rare and would die out if the nuns were not using them in their work, says Sister Evelyn. The items they make are worn by the Anglican clergy or used in churches in New Zealand and overseas. The Community will be exhibiting a cope with appliqued embroidery. This is a full length nonEucharistic cape worn for special celebrations and the most ornate garment worn by the clergy. Two sets of burses and veils (used on the altar at the eucharist), chasubles (eucharistic garments) and traditional and modern stoles wil be in the exhibition, with eight pieces of white linen work.