‘Threads Through Creation’ is a body of work by textile artist Jaqui Parkinson. It comprises a series of very large textile pieces which are appliquéd and embroidered and which explore the themes of the Creation story in the Bible. This is an extensive artwork which took three years to make.
All the pieces are displayed on special stands, as seen below. Each one has great impact at a distance and then strikes the viewer forcibly again, close to. This is the first panel, entitled ‘In the Beginning’, suggesting the three persons of the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Close up, you can see the layers of fabric and the overlying stitched elements – a suggestion of the creatures to come. The whole piece conveys a wonderful sense of movement.
I also loved the second panel (‘God spoke – light!). The deceptively simple triangles of light, separating out the triangles of darknes, also cleverly include suggestions of land and sky, morning and evening which come later in the narrative in the creation story in the Bible.
A close-up of one of the ‘light’ areas in Panel 2 shows you the extensive textural stitching over the whole piece.
Another favourite was panel 3 ‘Water’. Water in the forms of snow and ice are included, along with rivers and seas.
This close-up of panel three shows the extensive range of fabrics used to create the watery effects.
Panel 7 shows ‘man’ and ‘woman’ on the land, surrounded by creatures of all kinds. There is so much detail in this panel that you could stand in front of it for ages!
A black stitched line is used extensively for drawing and emphasising shapes, as seen here.
This is just a glimpse at four of the twelve panels created by Jacqui Parkinson. I thoroughly recommend seeing it if you are able to.
The exhibition is on tour from 2021 – 2024 in British cathedrals. To check the dates and locations, go to Jacqui’s website: https://www.jacqui-textile.com/creation/ On her website you can also find information about her process and about her other artworks.
If you have always wanted to learn to quilt, I can help. I offer a ‘Quilt in a Day’ class, specially designed for absolute beginners. You do need to know how to use a sewing machine but you learn everything else you need for making your first small quilt on the day. I teach one-to-one in a relaxed atmosphere. The course is the studio next to my home in Ramsgate, Kent. Find out more here
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Amanda Jane Textiles 