Catherine Hill Textile Artist Archives

3rd September 202411th September 2024

Lancashire Library Open 2024

I’m pleased to announce that Moors of Home has been selected for the Lancashire Library Open 2024, celebrating Lancaster University Library’s 60th Anniversary. Thirty two artworks are taking part in the exhibition.

The exhibition will be in show at the Lancashire University Library, Alexandra Square, Lancaster LA1 4YW from 13th September – 4th October 2024.

Lancashire Library Open 2024

The exhibition theme is ‘How does the library inspire you?’

Libraries and books are the cornerstone to my work. They act as a valuable resource and inspiration. A portion of my work is focussed on my love of Lancashire Poetry.

The central panel is an extract from the Lancashire poem ‘Pennine Ramble’ written by Ebron, first published in “A Lancashire Miscellany”, a newspaper column featured in weekend editions of the Oldham Chronicle between 1956 and 1959.

My own words around the outer border depict a memory from my childhood of visiting my Grandparents in Stacksteads, Lancashire. Designed in Spring 2021 during lockdown in the UK. Cotton cloth eco printed with plants from my lockdown garden.

27th July 20243rd September 2024

Peterloo

A new exhibition at the House of Smalls called ‘Moral Fibre’ prompted me to create a new piece of work called ‘Peterloo’ for the Dollhouse gallery.

The exhibition takes place at The House of Smalls, 103 Henderson Row, Stockbridge, Edinburgh EH3 5BB from 1st – 25th August 2024. Part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

‘A good life is like a weaving. Energy is created in the tension. The struggle, the pull and tug are everything’ ~ Joan Erikson

Artists in the Dollhouse 'Moral Fibre' exhibition — Artists in the Dollhouse ‘Moral Fibre’ exhibition

Peterloo

“If we don’t vote, we are ignoring history and giving away the future” Pat Mitchell.

Our vote matters.

With each election, I think of those who came before us. Those who fought to give us the Right to Vote. Emelia Pankhurst and the fight for Women’s Suffrage; and the peaceful protestors at Peterloo in 1819.

On 16 August 1819, 60,000 people congregated in St Peter’s Field in Manchester – the largest ever political gathering of working-class people. Folk from towns across Lancashire marched to the field carrying banners with slogans supporting political reform and the right to vote; included were workers from Middleton near Rochdale, carrying a banner of locally woven blue silk, with the words ‘Liberty, Fraternity, Unity, Strength’ in hand-painted gold lettering.

Their peaceful protest turned bloody when Manchester magistrates gave orders to disperse the crowd. The Yeomanry pulled out their sabres and charged the crowd on horseback. An estimated 18 people died and more than 650 were injured in the chaos.

The tragic incident is known as the Peterloo Massacre. A moment when ordinary people stepped up to protest in a way that has made its mark in history and with a legacy that lives on to today.

Size 11.5 x 11.5cm. Hand embroidered cotton cloth, DMC embroidery thread.

The Middleton banner is part of the Touchstones Rochdale archives.

Credit: Touchstones Rochdale, People’s History Museum.

This piece forms part of a series of small works created for the House of Smalls.

Update August 2024:

Peterloo in the ‘Moral Fibre’ Dollhouse exhibition.

26th July 20248th September 2024

2024 Harley Open

I’m pleased to announce that the Giant Cauliflower Harvest and Summer ’76 have been jury selected for the 2024 Harley Open.

Over 1200 artworks entered. After two rounds of jury selections 186 artworks were chosen for the final exhibition.

The exhibition will be on show at The Harley Gallery, Welbeck, Worksop, Nottinghamshire S80 3LW, from Saturday 27 July to Sunday 13 October.

The jury includes guest judge Selina Skipwith, an independent art advisor and curator, who curated previous Harley exhibitions including In Good Company and John Burningham’s Bedtime Stories.

Giant Cauliflower Harvest part of the 2024 Harley Open

Voting for the People’s Prize will take place throughout the exhibition, with the winner announced at the end of the show. The People’s Prize is £750 sponsored by the Welbeck Estates Company.