‘BANNERS FOR MACCLESFIELD’ DISPLAY IN BARNABY ART TRAIL
Over the last nine months a group of local people have met at Macclesfield Community ArtSpace in Sutton Mill, Macclesfield to create a 12 foot triptych of three Banners in a wide variety of textile techniques – embroidery, appliqué, quilting and stump work. The finished pieces are now on display in St. Michael’s Church as part of the Barnaby Art Trail, and will head the large Barnaby Festival Carnival Parade this Saturday 21st June.
The 3 Banners show landmarks of Macclesfield, the Silk Industry and many of the town’s colourful characters of the past. The initial idea came from Jill Maguire, a member of Artspace who has spent many years as a painter and weaver, and has worked on many Community Arts projects in Cheshire (Nantwich, Northwich, Sandbach, Congleton, Bollington ), but never in her home town of Macclesfield. The group she gathered together, while not professional needle-workers, have gained in confidence using textile techniques over the months to produce work of a high standard, and this has been evident as work on the banners progressed. They are on view in St Michael’s Church in the Market Place until June 28th, after which the group hope they will become a travelling exhibition in different venues around the town, finally settling into a permanent home for display to the public.
The Textile Group plans to stay together after this project and welcomes new members. Anyone interested is asked to contact Jill, artscps@talktalk.net or ring Jill on 01625 432437
Stephanie Ramage at work on one of the banners
Late May Update on Banner Project
The first banner is almost complete and for some of us, our sewing machine skills are developing quickly too. The second banner is well on the way; all the panels are finished and now we are putting it together; that’s stretching sewing skills considerably. Two new volunteers. Lynn and Karen, have joined us to work on a panel for the third banner and the rest of us are stitching/bond-webbing like mad. Monday night’s session was well attended; Glen, Patty, Rosemary, Beverley, Lynn and Karen, Andy, and myself concentrated on production, ably assisted, advised and encouraged by Jill.
Heather Delaney
Update on Banners project
The banners are making very steady progress; the first one of the three parts, depicting local places and buildings in and around Macclesfield, is almost complete. Panels have been completed for the second banner and we are beginning to attach the panels to the backing fabric.
We bought the backing fabric last week are now putting together the second banner, and would certainly appreciate any outstanding pieces bringing in, also an update how some of you are progressing with the third one. It’s that ‘all hands to the pump’ time where we only have 6 more weeks to complete the project ready to be used in the Parade and also to hang in St Michael’s Church. Over these remaining weeks there will be some extra sessions as we will need to be at the Mill for the piecing together and sewing.
Stephanie has offered to stitch our signatures on fabric which will be sewn and hidden inside one of the banners for posterity sake, so it would be good to have those too very soon.
Many people are involved; some attend regularly on Monday Evenings (7 to 9) and Wednesday afternoons (2 to 4) at Artspace. Anyone who wishes to contribute as we work hard to complete the banners is very welcome to come and join in.
Written jointly by Heather and Jill
