Hello there...
There is a very special exhibition currently showing at QAG,
complementing the Quilts: 1700-1945 show from the V&A which is nearing the end of its run.
Ruth Stoneley: A Stitch in Time,
showcases the work of the late Ruth Stoneley, an inspirational figure in the Brisbane art and quilting communities, until her untimely passing in 2007.
Ruth's embroidery and quilting moved from the traditional patterns of quilting into another dimension, as she made abstract and expressive works which reflected her own feelings, emotions and ideas.
She was a much-loved teacher and generously shared her gifts and expertise with many lucky students.
I was one of them for the last three years of Ruth's life, taking various classes in imaginative, free-form embroidery, her distinctive version of crazy patch quilting, and many other projects.
I treasure every item I made under Ruth's keen and artistic eye, and love to know she stitched a little bit here, a little bit there, on some of my pieces.
Ruth's life story is not mine to tell, but like all of us, she knew good times and bad, joy and heartache...
A series of black quilts - which I had never seen before, are shocking, powerful and emotionally charged...
A wedding dress ... it is not known if this was ever worn ...
An abstract take on traditional Log Cabin
Ruth Stoneley died of breast cancer in 2007..
Last piece:
I still meet and regularly stitch with a group of fellow students of Ruth..
Ruthie, we miss you...
Ruth Stoneley: A Stitch in Time continues at Qld Art Gallery until October 7.
Take care of yourselves and each other -
and have a great week!
xxxx
