We are excited to welcome legendary weaver Jilly Edwards to our Gallery this month (Jilly Edwards – Woven Tapestries: Follow the Thread, 10 Aug- 12 Oct). Jilly will be on hand on opening day (10 Aug) to meet and chat with visitors (2-5pm) in our Gallery, but in the meantime we picked her brain about her career in tapestry.
How has your appreciation for weaving changed over the course of your career?
Of course interest and appreciation in woven tapestry has improved over the years. Exhibitions such as the Woven Image exhibition in the Barbican in ‘96 and more recently the Anni Albers’ exhibition at the Tate in ‘18 have widened the audiences.
I’ve always been appreciative of textiles. As a post WW2 child - and in a largely female family all who sewed, knitted and crocheted - I was given a loom at six and I just loved it.
Can you tell me a little about your creative process?
I always have sketchbooks/journals on my desk and in my bags when I go out, so drawing, writing and photography are my first point. Then, back in the studio, I collate the information into more ideas, many drawings until I know that one drawing says something to me and that it’s worth trying to translate the marks.
What inspires you in your work?
A word - a glimpse - a sound - a feeling - a memory.
Who inspires you?
Theo Moorman - Paul Klee were early inspiration - Mary Farmer - Bridget Riley - Patrick Heron and many more in many disciplines.
“Get sound business help and learn to talk about what you do and what inspires you - clients love a story. ”
Moonshine 1919, Paul Klee: Klee is an inspiration of Jilly’s:
What advice would you give to people beginning their weaving journey/career?
Like a lot of creative careers, it’s not about instant success, so make sure you know as much about the technical side as well as its creative side. Get sound business help and learn to talk about what you do and what inspires you - clients love a story.
Jilly Edwards – Woven Tapestries: Follow the Thread will run in our Gallery from 10 Aug-12 Oct 2024. Jilly will be in the Gallery on opening day to chat all things tapestry (2-5pm).