‘Soldiers in Petticoats’ is the latest exhibition from the Andover Embroiderers’ Guild, which opens on Saturday 25th August 2018 at the Andover Museum.
In this, the centenary year of Women’s Suffrage, the local embroiderers are celebrating the ordinary women who fought so hard to gain the vote, often at a huge personal cost – shunned by husbands and families, brutalised, imprisoned and force fed. Alongside them are other women who have fought inequality and changed our world for the better.
The centrepiece of the exhibition will be a display of work created on vintage and antique handkerchiefs. They tell the stories of Suffragettes, Suffragists as well more modern campaigners such as author Maya Angelou and Malala Yousafzai in stunning stitched detail.
Alongside this new body of work will be a wide display of embroidered pictures and three dimensional work created by the Guild, some from the very early years and a selection of ‘travelling’ books – each created by multiple artists, to showcase techniques and ideas. Some pieces are for sale.
The exhibition will be officially opened by local textile artist and founding member of the Andover Embroiderers’ Guild – Margaret Beal – who is a renowned tutor and the author of two books on cutting, fusing and mark making using a fine tipped soldering iron. She continues to be a very active member of the local Guild.
The group is also marking twenty years of stitching together and promoting the art of Embroidery in all its forms and hopes that this latest exhibition will encourage new members to join – the Guild, which meets once a month, has a full programme of guest speakers and workshops throughout the year. No previous knowledge or experience of embroidery is needed.
The official opening will be by Margaret Beal at 11am on Saturday 25th August and will run until 13th October. Opening Times are Tues-Fri 10am until 5pm and Sat 10am -4pm – admission is free to the exhibition.
To find out more about Andover Embroiderers’ Guild visit the website www.andoverembroiderersguild.co.uk
