Talking Textiles - 30 June to 6 July 2011

EAST continue their "Talking Textiles" tour at Snape this week - starting on Thursday 30 June. The exhibition will be in the Pond Gallery at the Snape Maltings centre, near Aldburgh, Suffolk, IP17 1SR. Opening times 10am to 5pm every day. Plenty of other shops, places to eat/drink and visit in the Maltings area.

Venue Magazine

Do you know about this FREE magazine, available in all counties covered by the ERTF.
I picked up the Summer issue yesterday - you will likely find it at galleries or libraries.
Venue Magazine
It has articles and information about art events in the Eastern region, as well as What's On pages, and of course adverts for many galleries, and art related opportunities.

Gallery of Words - exhibition extended until 30th July 2011

I recently visited this exhibition of work which combines textiles and calligraphy; I found it very inspiring and beautiful. It should have finished on the 18th June but has now been extended until 30th July. Full details on the ERTF website.

Suffolk textile art

TAGS [Textile Art Group Suffolk] are exhibiting again [18th year] at the Pond Gallery, Snape Maltings, Nr Aldeburgh, Suffolk IP17 1SR [Gallery newly refurbished]
It will be a lively exhibition where you can see and buy original, contemporary textile art work, and have a lovely day out at the Maltings [beautiful marshes, excellent pub and cafe food, free parking] Hope to see you there.

Essex Local Meeting

A small group of Essex based members met together on Friday to discuss organising a regular programme of locally based events in the manner of the other 'area' groups. Over tea and lots of lovely cakes a whole range of exciting ideas were put forward and provided a great framework for establishing such a programme. Much discussion and laughter once again emphasised the value of artists who usually work in comparative isolation having a focus to come together to forward their art and creativity. The first event of the programme was agreed for August so watch this space!

Herts Local Meeting

We had a very interesting meeting with Janet Edmonds, it was good to have some Cambridge members and ERTF's new vice chair with us. Janet told us all about the process of writing a book and we had a lovely oportunity to look at all the samples she made for it, in detail.

After that we took our ideas for our panel at bit further, you can see some of us below.

But you will have to wait to see the panel, we feel it has jewel like colours.

All Hert's members are welcome to out next meeting on Sturday 24th June when we will be finalising our ideas for our panel.Details are on the web site.

Firstsite, Colchester, Essex

Firstsite is a visual arts organisation based in Colchester, Essex, and from September will have a new building. They send out regular e-newsletters which you can subscribe to. Firstsite
They also offer many opportunities to artists in the region, such as seminars, courses and activities, and currently have jobs for artists on advertisement. Deadline for applications 24th June. Please see
Extended information can be found on the ERTF website under Essex area.

Sat 2nd July Embroiderers' Guild Regional Day, Essex

Click to enlarge - more information for Members under Essex: Events/Workshops. This event is open to non members of the Embroiderers' Guild.

Getting Essex Moving: Friday 10th June 2011

A meeting to discuss crerating a regular programme of events based in Essex and London has been arranged in Hornchurch on friday 10th June between 1-3pm. This will be your chance to have your say about how the Essex/London area of ERTF should move forward. Over tea and cake we will try and sort out a regular programme of locally based events that will allow us to 'take textiles forward' and have some fun along the way. (for example a small but perfectly formed group of 'Essex Girls' visited the recent PRISM exhibition together)
It will also be an opportunity for those members working towards the Norwich exhibition to discuss their work and to learn more about the Regional challenge.
If you wish to attend please contact the Essex rep. and she will forward you details.

Cambs visit to The Manor

What a wonderful dayout! We wandered through the picturesque village of Hemingford Grey and then discovered the beautiful gardens of 'The Manor' where we even had time to stop and smell the roses! We sat down to share our scrumptious picnic and the clouds opened..... but not to be discouraged, we ate on through the rain eventually picking up our table and relocating to beneath a handy tree. The chatter and laughter continued unabated. Then the sun returned and after a little sketching and quite a lot of photography it was time for our tour of the house. An ancient house with a fascinating history and glimpses into the novels of Lucy Boston who lived there last century. Her patchwork Quilts were shown to us, each with it's own story. We had such a lovely day that we all agreed we must do it again next year.

Alison White

Burnham Art Trail: 25th June/3rd July

The Burnham-on-Crouch Art Trail, Essex, has two Members of the ERTF participating - Nicola Hughes, Venue 11 and Beverley Folkard, Venue 22. See website Please click on poster to enlarge.