Home

Previous Exhibitions

Future Events

About Us

Shared Projects

Members Gallery

About Art Through Textiles

Background

 

In 1981 a group of older students embarked upon an evening class at Sheffield Polytechnic Department of Art and Design (now Hallam University).

The course looked at the links between art and fabric crafts. For many of us, textiles as a creative art form meant little; we were in the main, artists and accomplished dressmakers.  So we stepped, nay stumbled headlong, into the world of embroidery and decorative textiles – our eyes opened to the delights of hand stitching, machine embroidery, fabric printing and silk painting, not to mention Verina Warren and Constance Howard!

For many of us there was no looking back, we were addicted: a life changing exposure, which came to an abrupt end when college politics earmarked our studio space for other use.

Determined to continue, we set up a small group, meeting initially in each other’s homes and eventually in a small community room.

So it was in 1983 that ‘Art Through Textiles’ was born, the much loved child of a very determined and creative group of individuals, intent upon the development of our own work and the passing on of skills and knowledge of textiles.

Members come from a variety of backgrounds. A common denominator is the love of all textile skills as a means of creative expression and a wish to show, through our work, just how rich, lively and versatile textiles can be.

The work we produce makes use of all techniques and approaches. Good design, drawing to a high standard and close attention to detail and presentation are the hallmarks of the work we produce.

The group exhibits regularly, locally and nationally. Members work on joint projects and many are members of other working and exhibiting groups throughout the country. Many teach and lecture to groups around the country.

Now 29 years later, Art Through Textiles is one of the largest non-affiliated textile groups in the UK. Membership is approaching 100 and we meet regularly to run a programme of lectures, workshops and exhibitions.  Meetings are always well attended, lively and informative

The group has been responsible for creating strong, supportive friendships, fulfilling ambitions and satisfying creative urges. Individual strengths are harnessed and creative confidence grows through regular support and critical friendship

We all take a hand in planning and organising events and activities – it is a ‘group for

the group’.

The main function of the group is to promote Textiles as an art form by raising awareness through exhibitions and teaching. Other artists, galleries and the public hold the group and the work we produce in very high regard.

Members have successfully collaborated on a number of shared projects linked through colour and theme. One such venture was a pieced hanging to be located in the stairwell of the Salvation Army Citadel, the venue for our meetings. Component pieces use the colours and motto of the Salvation Army.

Summer 2004 saw the culmination of a joint venture between the City’s Botanical Gardens and Art Through Textiles,

This bringing together of gardens and textile art celebrated the 21^st birthday of ATT and the restoration of the City’s Botanical Gardens.

A member of ATT, interested in the art of Natural Dyeing, used plant material, harvested from the Gardens, to create dyes.

A series of ‘Dyeing Workshops’ based at the Botanical Gardens, took place from Spring 2003 to the summer of 2004, attracting interest from artists and the public.

Only plants harvested naturally from the Gardens were used, although demonstrations and expert knowledge showed the potential of natural dyeing for gardeners using their own plants. A subtle range of beautiful, soft coordinated hues was created from plants, petals, roots, bark and leaves.

A wealth of dyed fabric and threads, representing the seasonal changes of the Gardens, were produced and distributed to members who were invited to make a piece of textile work, the design for which, was to be based upon an aspect of the Botanical Gardens and should include some of the naturally dyed fabrics and threads.

Inspiration came from the colour, form and texture found in the plants, architecture, garden design and the newly restored glass pavilions containing plants from all continents.

Many members took photographs throughout the year, recording seasons; others spent time drawing and recording ideas in sketchbooks for studio use.

Each artist worked on their own piece using appropriate textile techniques and acknowledging the natural colour source of fibres and threads. Finished work was exhibited in the newly restored Gardens during the summer of 2004.

Art Through Textiles is an exhibiting textile group based in Sheffield. Formed in 1983, we are a group of artists from Yorkshire, Derbyshire and the North Midlands, with a strong professional interest in promoting and developing textiles as an art form.

Members come from a variety of backgrounds with a common love of all textile skills as a means of creative expression and a wish to show, through our work, just how rich, lively and versatile textiles can be.

The work we produce makes use of all techniques and approaches. Good design, drawing to a high standard and close attention to detail and presentation are the hallmarks of the work we produce.

Art Through Textiles is one of the largest non-affiliated textile groups in the UK. Membership is strong and we meet regularly to run a programme of talks and workshops led by members and invited artists and craftspeople. Members are regularly offered the opportunity to exhibit together.

Meetings are always well attended, lively and informative.

The group has been responsible for creating strong, supportive friendships. Individual strengths are harnessed and creative confidence grows through regular support and critical friendship