Our first meeting back after the August break we were excited to welcome several new members, some of whom came following our exhibition. We all look forward to getting to know each other. The group this evening enjoyed Lesley’s presentation and valued the wonderful samples of work she allowed us to examine up close.
As the title suggests Lesley focused on her love of making marks on paper or fabric, using paint and stitch. She began talking about her work using mono print on freezer paper and then using those marks to develop other pieces. She has learnt from other textile artists who stretched her thinking, including Matthew Harris and Angie Hughes. Lesley has used a variety of methods including felting, layering and stitching into her pieces. Abstract marks are turned into images with different meanings for example the beautiful Metropolis, the largest picture shown below which demonstrates mark making highlighted with stitch and beads.
Lesley was also an inspiring speaker as she discussed, in a matter of fact way, obstacles and hurdles to her work, that she has faced in recent years and that she has managed to work around. As for all of us Covid was a significant challenge and she took part in the hundred day challenge and a sketch book challenge. Adding to the challenge of lockdowns, prior to Covid she had developed chest problems and had became allergic to cotton lint. She turned to photography in response, still using stitching and mark making. She then broke her shoulder, so again made changes, focusing on smaller scale pieces, inspired throughout by her love of looking at marks in the landscape and making marks in response. A book based on the Covid experience and the phrases that became common place is pictured below. Lesley can be contacted on lesley@lesleybrankin.com. She can be found on instagram as lesleybrankinart.
Following the talk and before members circulated and had the pleasure of looking in more detail at Lesley’s work, we held the purple raffle.
Janet Molloy also wanted to post this message on this blog about the tailoring project in Uganda she talked about at our last meeting. “Can I thank all of you who began my fundraising in July to extend the classrooms and provide equipment for the many budding young tailoring students in Uganda hoping to begin a new course this September. The course will provide them with marketable skills so they can have the opportunity for a sustainable livelihood as adults. BETA members raised £100 at the meeting and the final total raised was well over a £1000. Thank you all very much” Congratulations to Janet for this achievement.
October’s meeting will feature Ruth Parkinson-John on Layered Cloth and Loopy Stitches. The raffle bag colour is black and white please bring relevant contributions. Look forward to seeing everyone there and a reminder that all are also welcome to sit and stitch, which continues on the first Saturday of every month.
Birmingham Embroidery and Textile Art 