Stole: The Show – 24 artists work on new exhibition

 A stunning and diverse collection of stoles, created by twenty four contemporary artists, will be on show at Newcastle’s Timeless Textiles Gallery from 16 September this year.

 Stole: The Showexhibition will be co-curated by Gallery owner and textile artist Anne Kempton and artist Rod Pattenden. They have invited a variety of artists and crafts people to create work using the format of the stole. These mantles worn around the neck are found in many spiritual traditions. For instance, animal fur stoles were worn in Western countries as a symbol of wealth and status. 

 Artists and crafts people, including the curators, will explore their responses to stoles through a variety visual means.

Pattenden says people carry their responsibilities upon their shoulders, as well as their hopes and aspirations.

 “As frail humans we carry our lives on our shoulders,” he said. “We also carry the hopes and concerns we have for others and for our common future as the human community. These artists have taken up the challenge of visualising these burdens.”

 Kempton and Pattenden are excited to show off the range of work by practitioners working in diverse media. Through the creation of stoles, they will explore subject matter that is intimate but that also investigates the nature of community, spirituality, politics, the environment and our common good.

 Artists include Alexandra Banks, John Barnes, Margot Broug, Jan Clark, Catherine Croll, James Drinkwater, Penny Dunstan, Andrew Finnie, Peter Gardiner, Petra Holden, Sandra James, Sachiko Kotaka, Anne Kempton, Glenn Loughrey, Chris Mansell, Rod Pattenden, Giselle Penn, Wilma Simmons, Kris Smith, Braddon Snape, Richard Tipping, Robyn and Eric Werkhoven, and Graham Wilson.

 Stole: the Showshows at Timeless Textiles Gallery in Hunter Street, Newcastle between Wednesday 16th September and Sunday 1st November 2020.