NOT WHAT IT SEAMS

Exhibitions by the PSG in partnership with Bankfield Museum, Halifax

The exhibition catalogue is available to order in the UK, now £3.50 including p&p. How to order...

Looking for a challenge, the PSG made the most of an opportunity to develop a partnership with the Bankfield Museum in Halifax. The Museum is home to an outstanding collection of costume and clothing related accessories from Britain and around the world. The Curator, June Hill, helped the Group to use the collection at the Bankfield to support their research into clothing-related work.

Research weekends saw the members of the group drawing, photographing and exploring the fascinating collection. Details of seams, sewing samplers, tiny shoes, gloves and cuffs were amongst the areas of interest as well as bark cloth and woven ceremonial coverings from the African sub continent. The insides of garments, details of boning, stiffenings and linings provided an impetus to explore the constructional aspects of garments as well as the decorative ones.

The members' individual researches at the Museum and their own personal studies and interests were also developed in their twice-yearly sessions together. These afforded the opportunity to exchange ideas and explore work further with invited tutors such as Sally Payne.

The first stage of the PSG's work resulting from this research was shown at the Knitting and Stitching Shows 2004, in the exhibition entitled NOT WHAT IT SEAMS - First Thoughts, and included experimental ideas - drawing and design work as well as samples and more developed work.

This was an unusual opportunity to see and take part in the development process towards new work by one of this country's most prestigious textile groups.

The second stage of the PSG's partnership with the Bankfield Museum culminated in a major exhibition, NOT WHAT IT SEAMS - Further Thoughts at the Bankfield Museum, Halifax, June - August 2005. Larger scale pieces and further resolved work were successfully shown alongside the earlier explorations, in the wonderful setting of the Temporary Exhibitions Halls of the Bankfield Museum.