Out of the Fold collaboration

 

The theme for Out of the Fold's 2026 exhibition is 'Material Dialogues'

For our group challenge this year we are working in collaborative pairs, drawn at random, to make new work on the theme

Some pairs are producing a single piece of work with both artists working on different elements

Other pairs are 'swapping' elements throughout the process and incorporating these into separately produced works

Some are discussing ideas and interpreting them using their own choice of materials and artistic practise.

The process is challenging and stimulating in equal measure. 

My partner is Frances Overy who lives near Norwich. The city was famed and made wealthy by the woven wool industry and the use of madder to dye the vibrant red cloth.

Norwich has many landmarks in the city which record it's textile history including the Madder Market.

I live near Sudbury which has a great tradition of silk weaving and whose mills still produce woven silk of the finest quality.

Sudbury also has architectural evidence of this past with streets such as Weavers Lane. Sudbury blue, also known as Lavenham blue, was achieved by dyeing with woad and indigo

Out third dye inspiration also comes from Norwich and the other product produced in the city -  mustard

Frances and I have both been dyeing a variety of wool and silk fabrics and are sharing these for the joint collaboration

What will we do with these fabrics? And how will the theme of 'Material Dialogues' be translated into finished work?

The other materials we are exploring are paper (Mary's favourite) wood (Frances is a wood turner), and plaster (a new material for both of us)

Weaving  is the link between Norwich and Sudbury, and so we will present our joint installation on a series of spools inspired by those used on the looms.

You will be able to follow the progress of our collaborations on this blog and on the Out of the Fold website where you can read regular blogs posted by group members www.outofthefold.com/category/blogs/

The whole series of work from the collaborations will be seen first at the Creative Stitch Graduate Show 2026 where Out of the Fold are one of the invited alumni groups

Venue: Needham Market Community Centre, School Street, Needham Market, Suffolk IP6 8BB

Dates: 18th and 19th July 2026

And then at our main exhibition in St Margaret's Gallery, St Benedict;s Street, Norwich NR2 4TU in Sept 2026