The Making of a Market Town: 7 September to 3 November 2019
This exhibition of original textile art was inspired by the history of the market place in St Albans and the Eastern Region. It included an exciting and wide-ranging selection of work, incorporating both traditional and contemporary skills and techniques, all exploring the history and contemporary life of a market town. The exhibition was accompanied by two additional events: Coffee & Craft in the Courtroom (a drop-in session) and Sheep can help you sleep – a craft workshop run by ERTF member Alison White
The exhibition was a HUGE success. In the autumn 2019 ERTF bulletin, Chair Sue Dunkerley wrote:
Dear Colleagues
What a wonderful success the Making of a Market Town at the St Albans Museum & Gallery is. The private view was attended by about 80 including the Mayor. The feedback was that our exhibition was of a high standard and professionally hung with interesting boards and detailed labels. Craft in the Courtroom only had a few attendees but was enjoyed by those who did go.
Sarah Keeling, the Museum Curator wrote on 10 October,
‘The exhibition is still getting fantastic comments from all our visitors and some of the councillors have been in and particularly praised it as well!
In September the exhibition had over 4500 visitors – of course we only opened on the 7th September so that’s three weeks of visitors. We’ve also already sold just short of £900 worth of items relating to the exhibition in the shop which is definitely the best of any exhibition in the Keeper’s Galleries so far.
I’ve just topped up the pages in the visitor book as we reached the end and the comments are all still wonderful – lots of people talking about how beautiful the pieces are, the skill that went into making them and also how much they enjoy the historical elements being brought out in the artworks.’
This is excellent publicity for us. We have already picked up four new members. Thank you to all exhibitors and well done on such brilliant textile art.
From among the various tributes to members’ works, one in particular merits special mention. An eight year old girl, inspired by Alison White’s piece ‘Up the Hill to Market’ went home to create her own version – shown here on the left. The next generation of artists is well in evidence!
There are many good memories of this exhibition. Members who exhibited will no doubt incorporate images on their own pages. Here is a small selection of happy memories captured in photos.
