Exhibition explores journeys: the Silk Road and beyond
*Featured photo: Copyright Judy Hooworth
Renowned textile artist Judy Hooworth draws on her travels tracing the ancient Silk Road, through China, Central Asia and Europe, for the rich and exotic works in her new exhibition, opening at Newcastle’s Timeless Textiles Gallery in February.
The exhibition, Journeys: the Silk Road and beyond, features evocative quilted textiles that explore the rich diversity of texture, pattern and colour experienced by the artist on her journeys.
Hooworth was fascinated by marks made by the individual hands of artisans that she discovered on walls and doorways, carvings, tiles, embroideries and even in contemporary graffiti. Her photographs of these small details inspired each composition. She draws, mono prints, discharges and paints fabrics, continuing a tradition of spontaneous mark-making while interpreting in her own style.
The resulting works will transport the viewer on their own journey of discovery to different cultures.
Journeys: the Silk Road and beyond exhibition will be opened on Thursday, 3 February. It will run from 2 February to 12 March 2022.
Opening TBC dependent on COVID 19 restrictions (announced via social media)
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Judy Hooworth, who studied at the National Art School, began making quilts in the late seventies. Her passion for textiles, particularly quilt making, has framed her career as an international artist, teacher and author. She has exhibited widely here and overseas and her work has appeared in many books and magazines. Her quilts are held in public and private collections including the Powerhouse Museum and the Museum of Art and Design in New York.
Recent successes include  Best in Show AQIPP (Australian Quilts in Public Places), Melbourne 2021;  Surface Design Award, Quilts=Art=Quilts, USA, 2020 and 2021; Quilt National, USA 2021; Best Contemporary Quilt / Professional, Sydney Quilt Show 2021; The New Quilt , Hawkesbury Regional Gallery 2021; Award of Excellence  Art Quilt Australia 2017; Golden Textures Contemporary Art Quilt Award, (Acquisitive) 2017.
Other exhibitions include Stitched Up , the Lock-Up and Timeless Textiles Gallery, Newcastle, Wangaratta Contemporary Textile Award 2017.
Judy’s Dora Creek quilts are featured in Art Quilts International: Abstract and Geometric by Martha Sielman published by Schiffer Publishing USA 2016 and Quilt National 2017: the Best of Contemporary Quilts published by the Dairy Barn USA.
