Autumn shows launched at Touchstones Rochdale

Jilly Edwards has been working as an artist using the medium of tapestry

1 More Image(s) In Gallery

Two new shows have been launched at Touchstones showcasing a new commission by London-based artist Rosa Nguyen and the work of Jilly Edwards, one of the UK's leading contemporary tapestry weavers.

Touchstones is an Asia Triennial Manchester 2014 Partner for the first time and is delighted to showcase Sanctuary by Rosa Nguyen incorporating ceramics, glass and natural plant material to create a thoughtful and contemplative space connecting to the festival theme of conflict and compassion.

Rosa Nguyen describes the fusion of her Vietnamese and French background and cultural experience as embodied throughout the personal visual and tactile language of form, colour and surface inherent to the objects she makes and the environments she creates with them. Her interest in Buddhist and Zen philosophies along with nature and our holistic relationship to it tells a poetical language of narrative display in her installations.

Jilly Edwards has been working as an artist using the medium of tapestry for forty years and her work is part of public and private collections in the UK, USA and Japan.

The tapestries in this exhibition explore Edwards' journeys through different landscapes, including new works in a vivid yellow colour palette, a new departure for Edwards. These began on two long train journeys where she passed fields of oilseed rape in the East Anglian countryside. The bright yellow colour of the crops brought Edwards a sense of renewed happiness which she went on to capture in thread.

Both exhibitions run until Saturday 22 November 2014. Admission is free.

Jilly Edward’s tour of Wanderlust and talk about her work is on Saturday 11 October, 2.30pm-4pm. There will be a chance to handle samples and look at sketchbooks with a focus on how Jilly translates her initial ideas into completed tapestries, particularly aimed at textile enthusiasts. Suitable for ages 16+, this is a free event, but pre-booking is required by ringing 01706 924492.