Guest Speaker - Nikki Parmenter
Location: Box Moor Trust, London Road, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 2RE
Talk and workshop by Nikki Parmenter 29th April 2023 at Box Moor Trust Hemel Hempstead
Nikki was a very lively and inspiring speaker sharing her enthusiasm for large scale brightly coloured creative textile art.
She uses free machine embroidery on unconventional materials, some of them recycled such as bubble wrap, clear plastic, foam and insulation materials. Nikki finds her inspirations through an eclectic mix of interests, some examples of which are : the threat of climate change on the barrier reef, a 12th century Persian poem , the 1917 poem ’Wild swans at Coole’ by WB Yeats and Buddhist Mandalas. Her work is created in very bold colours , shapes and patterns often painted in thinned down acrylic paint before stitching.ShNikki’s art work has been widely exhibited, including some created for specific locations. A large 3D work exhibited at Gawthorpe Hall in Lancashire was inspired by a tulip motif on a vase from Hall’s collection linked to the 17th century Dutch ‘tulipmania’.
Nikki illustrated her talk with beautiful images on the large screen, answered many questions and shared lots of examples of the techniques and materials she uses: clear PVC, iridescent cellophane and photocopies on acetate .
The Hunderwasser lollipop workshop afterwards was our chance to use our creative skills to make our own smaller-size work of art. Nikki had lots of examples, ideas and materials for us and circulated around the room with boundless energy and enthusiasm to assist anyone needing input.
The tea, coffee and cake and lovely bright venue at The Box Moor trust added to the enjoyment of the day.
Kirsten Yeates