Landscapes and Gardens

This National Project is now at at end with our last exhibition closing earlier this week.

I think we have made a great contribution to this National Festival and would like to thank all who have helped in any way, whether it be making a piece, helping to hang, stewarding, making labels and those who have visited the exhibitions, which all helps Museum numbers and so encourages them to have us back for future exhibitions - hopefully.

Clumber was the first to open in May, 2016 - 45 pieces from 4 Branches, - Chesterfield, Lincolnshire, North Notts and Nottinghamshire. Arranging and hanging was achieved without too many problems, the main one being the bumpy brick walls and only being able to drill into the mortar. Nigel Dorrington - our National Trust contact at Clumber Park was pleased with the finished result he was quite willing to offer the space to North Notts for another exhibition in Spring 2017.

Thanks to the members who willingly Stewarded this exhibition - the only one we had to.

Dee Jackson's (Lincolnshire Branch) piece of work from this exhibition was selected by Nigel to go into the Exhibition at the Knitting & Stitching Show in Harrogate in 2016.

Melton Carnegie also opened in May, 2016 but caused quite a few problems beforehand as it was not quite as well supported by local Guilds as had been hoped, and in order to create, what then proved to be a very full room, we had to ask for pieces from Head Office as well Wrekin Branch, from the West Midlands. Again, it was well received by the Museum Staff and it is hoped we might use the space in the future.

We were then approached by Daventry Museum to see if we could help with a display of work during their Arts Week. Daventry Branch were unable to as their work was on display at Stowe with Milton Keynes Branch. Although this was only for about 2 weeks, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire had their work exhibited alongside some from Solihull Branch.

Pickford’s House, Derby, opened at the end of June, 2016 with 53 pieces from Ashbourne, Derbyshire, Trent & Erewash and West Bridgford. This was a comparatively easy exhibition as the Museum Staff created the Labels and hung the work.

The Exhibition at Belton House, near Grantham was instigated by the Chair of Grantham Branch and involved collaboration between Boston, Grantham, Rutland & Stamford and Belton House management.

All three Branches contributed to the building of the exhibition space in the stable block. Great care was taken because of the Grade 1 status of this National Trust property.

Almost 4000 visitors enthusiastically viewed the exhibition.

It was stewarded every day of the entire six weeks by members of all three Branches. No mean feat!

The Exhibition at Grantham Museum, opened on the 8th September, 2016, along with new work from Northamptonshire, Hinckley, West Bridgford and Market Harborough Branches. That Exhibition changed in early November with work from Ashbourne, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire and Trent & Erewash Branches to go alongside the Game of Thrones Hardhome Embroidery from the 1st December to the end of January 2017.

Work from Chesterfield and a few pieces from Lincolnshire Branches were on display alongside work from Macclesfield and Glossop Branches at the Silk Museum, Macclesfield until mid November, 2016.

So, to summarise - in the East Midlands - about 160 of our Members from 17 of our Branches, have exhibited about 150, pieces in 7 venues, most pieces being in at least two of the exhibitions.

Several Branches - Chesterfield, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Grantham and Leicestershire all produced a Branch Piece which encouraged those members with less confidence to take part. Both our YE Branches, Derbyshire and Lincoln all took part, Lincolnshire even selling theirs.

Pam Keeling