Town's history of cloth and art (From Stroud News and Journal)

Town's history of cloth and art

THIS year's Stroud Textile Biennale opens its doors this weekend in numerous venues, including Stroud Museum in the Park, Ruskin Mill and the Old Town Hall, throughout the Stroud Valleys.

The biennale is a celebration of contemporary textiles in all their diversity and glory, which fully acknowledges the Stroud area's history and heritage and its long association with cloth and the Arts and Craft movement.

The Festival will be presenting the work of over 30 designers and makers in a variety of venues around the Stroud Valleys.

Many of the artists contributing live and work in the Stroud area, but this year sees also work that has been created specifically for the Festival by some of the country's leading Textile artists, including Caroline Bartlett and Jilli Blackwood, who regularly exhibit in New York and London galleries.

They will be showing new work in the Expressions exhibition at Stroud House Gallery along with five other nationally acclaimed artists.

Judith Gait's gorgeous hand made quilts will be on display in the Subscription Rooms from May 17.

The Made in Stroud shop will be opening its doors, with Liz Lippiatt offering a workshop on May 14 alongside many other workshops throughout the Biennale and a window exhibition by members.

Cafes and shops will be hosting exhibitions, and two popular events running alongside will be the opening of two Cloth Mills by the Textile Trust.

The grand finale is a Market in the Subscription Rooms ballroom and the auction of flags created for the Festival by the famous and not so famous on Saturday, May 28.

The Textile Biennale runs from Saturday, May 14 to Monday, May 30. For full details, pick up a brochure from the Tourist Information office or visit www.stroud-textile.org.uk