16 May – 7 June 2023

Fine Foundation Gallery, Durlston Country Park, Swanage, Dorset BH19 2JL

‘What’s brilliant is that it’s far more challenging work than much work in Purbeck. Congratulations!’

This was the first iteration of seam collective’s A Visible THREAD as part of our Arts Council funded exhibition tour. seam artists took it in turns to be present in the gallery throughout the duration of the exhibition, talking to visitors and facilitating a range of participatory events and textile demonstrations (see the timetable below). Many of us were able to stay in the beautiful grounds due to the kind hospitality of Durlston Country Park.

The artists exhibiting at Fine Foundation were: Alice Marie Archer, Angie Parker, Helen MacRitchie, Jane Colquhoun, Joy Merron, Lou Baker, Lydia Needle, Nina Gronw-Lewis, Oly Bliss, Penny Wheeler and the late Dr. Linda Row.

‘Fantastically eclectic selection of art in a beautifully lit environment. Well worth the visit.’

Please touch!

The exhibition included a number of artworks which had been made to be touched:

‘ A beautiful, interactive exhibition of so much talent!’

‘Such variety! Thought-provoking, pushing different uses of textiles. Enjoyed the ecological themes too.’

Participation

Visitors were also invited to add something to a feedback installation – strips of recycled cloth and yarn or a label made with recycled cardboard. It was wonderful to see how the space was transformed over the course of the exhibition! This participatory installation was initiated by Lou Baker, facilitated by seam collective and transformed by visitors to the exhibition; you can read all the responses here. Many thanks to everyone involved!

Workshops and demonstrations

We also ran a number of workshops, demonstrations and participatory sessions (See timetable below)

‘Loved the exhibition – sitting, chatting, weaving and crocheting. Even my husband joined in!’

Read more about our exhibition at Fine Foundation in our blog posts: A Visible THREAD on tour, and A Visible THREAD: A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Wonderful Hosts.

You can also find out more about our research behind seam‘s A Visible THREAD exhibition tour in Making thread visible, how it started as a research residency in Spring 2022, and what we got up to during our residency on our blog.

Timetable of participatory events accompanying A Visible THREAD at Fine Foundation:

Date		Artists in the gallery	Events – all will be held in the gallery or just outside
May
Tuesday	16	Lou Baker, Oly Bliss	Baker & Bliss, Queer and Subversive Experiments – Free Join Lou Baker and Oly Bliss as they experiment with queer and subversive textile-based processes using second-hand clothing. You are welcome to join the conversation, take part or simply watch them as they work. Developing ideas from their collaboration at seam’s Holburne Open residency, they want to test new parameters in terms of unified colours and size. They will make a series of sculptures for either a multipart installation or future large – scale work. Materials and tools will be provided. You’re welcome to join in.
Wednesday	17	Lou Baker, Oliver Bliss
Thursday	18	Jane Colquhoun
Friday	19	Alice-Marie Archer
Saturday	20	Alice-Marie Archer	Alice-Marie Archer Seeding Textiles 11am – 2pm – Free From 11am-2pm Alice will be inviting visitors to the exhibition to try their hand at applying seeds to textiles, to take home to germinate. Feel free to bring natural fabric swatches or even old wool socks for a playful hands on session. Resulting pieces are sticky so please bring Tupperware to take them home in!
Sunday	21	Joy Merron	Joy Merron Cordage – Free Joy will be demonstrating how to make cordage from some of the plants growing around the gallery, as well as other common plants that can be used to make cord. Have a go at making cordage from plants.
Monday	22	Joy Merron
Tuesday	23	Jane Colquhoun	Angie Parker Krokbragd Weaving Demonstration – Cancelled
Wednesday	24	Jane Colquhoun
Thursday	25	Helen MacRitchie	Helen MacRitchie Lacemaking Demonstration – Free During the exhibition Helen will be demonstrating lacemaking. Visitors can come and observe her working and find out how lacemaking is incorporated into her felt pieces
Friday	26	Helen MacRitchie
Saturday	27	Helen MacRitchie, Nina Gronw-Lewis	Nina Gronw-Lewis Book Making With Collage 11 am – 1pm, £30 per person (Up to 8 participants) Nina has been making artists’ books alongside her sculpture practice for over 15 years. ln this 2-hour workshop she will lead you through the techniques needed to make your own individual folded book with abstract collage content, making each book unique. This workshop is suitable for beginners, all materials and tools are provided. Helen MacRitchie Free Knotting – Free A demonstration of the binding and knotting processes Helen uses with naturally dyed wool yarns.
Sunday	28	Helen MacRitchie	Helen MacRitchie Free Knotting (see above)
Monday	29	Nina Gronw-Lewis
Tuesday	30	Nina Gronw-Lewis
Wednesday	31	Nina Gronw-Lewis	Jane Colquhoun Make a Stick Character – Free 10.30 – 11.30am and 2.30 – 3.30pm (outside, weather permitting) Informal ‘drop in’ family workshops – make a stick character with found materials and scrap. Find a stick, or two, on the way to the gallery.
June
Thursday	1	Nina Gronw-Lewis
Friday	2	Nina Gronw-Lewis
Saturday	3	Lydia Needle	Lydia Needle – Felt a Bee 11am -1pm, £30 per person (Up to 8 participants) In this workshop, you will learn the basic principles of needle felting, using beautiful British wool. We will look at the anatomy of bees and how it can be represented uniquely and beautifully in wool and stitch. This class is suitable for complete beginners or those looking to hone their needle felt skills and to experiment with stitch. Please bring a small tin or container to work into, although Lydia will have a few spares.
Sunday	4	Lydia Needle
Monday	5	Lydia Needle
Tuesday	6	Lou Baker, Jane Colquhoun	Lou Baker Social Knitwork – Free Come and be part of Lou Baker’s Social Knitwork! Focusing on mellow making and conversation, join Lou as she knits in the gallery. Bring your knitting, crochet or stitched work, use some of the tools and materials provided, or just come and chat. Everyone is welcome.
Wednesday	7	Lou Baker, Penny Wheeler	Lou Baker Social Knitwork (see above) Penny Wheeler Back Strap Weaving – Free An extension to Social Knitwork – come and try back strap weaving where your body is part of the loom. Tools and materials provided.