A new textile art exhibition, Common Threads, by Rowan Bridgwood, will run from Thursday 2nd April to Monday 6th April 2020 at The Fish Factory Art Space, Penryn, Cornwall. The free to attend opening night will take place on Wednesday 1st April from 6.30pm.
Rowan Bridgwood uses hand embroidery to weave together personal memory, mythology, and literary fragments to symbolise her concerns for our world; of politics, relationships, and the female experience. Bridgwood’s work is centred around women, their bodies and experiences. The domestic ‘women’s work’ of needle and thread that for years were many women’s only creative outlet now allows her to explore marginalised histories and personal stories.
Fabric is one of the most common textures to human touch. The familiarity attached to textiles creates strong emotional responses, not dissimilar to those we have to the person who owns them. The feelings textiles provoke, their tactility and the value found in the time and skill taken to create a handmade piece makes it an ideal medium for weaving thoughts and memories into art.
Rowan Bridgwood is a self taught hand embroidery artist from Manchester. She has been involved in several group shows in the UK and USA. She co-runs community based textile art group, Mcr Sew Social. This is her first solo exhibition.