Celebrate 400 years of tapestry making in Britain at the next Garden Museum Late, from a recently restored 17th-century Mortlake Tapestry to our upcoming exhibition, 'Threads of Ascent: Tapestries by Clare Woods'. Be among the first to see Sabine Moritz's 'Lie Down in Green Pastures', the artist's first UK museum exhibition, and enjoy live music, a glass of wine and drop-in creative activities throughout the evening.
Threads of Ascent presents three newly commissioned large-scale tapestries created by Dovecot Studios, Edinburgh, from intimate watercolours by Clare Woods RA, transforming moments of close observation into monumental handwoven landscapes.
This Late will also celebrate the return of our Mortlake Tapestry after a meticulous year-long restoration process. Created in the 17th century, it is the earliest depiction of a woman gardening in our collection and has been hung in our galleries for the first time. Join the Garden Museum’s Curator Emma House for an introduction to the tapestry and the conservation process.
The evening also offers an opportunity to see Sabine Moritz: Lie Down in Green Pastures in her first UK museum show. Moritz draws on her recollections of growing up in the German Democratic Republic, exploring family, memory, home and displacement through richly textured sketches and intimate, emotive canvases. The majority of paintings have never been exhibited before, including a vast abstract work painted especially for the exhibition.
Workshops:
Textile Making
Join artist Cathy MacDonald for a hands-on textile workshop inspired by the rich colours, textures, and storytelling of the Mortlake Tapestry and Threads of Ascent. Drawing on historical and contemporary traditions, you’ll create your own beautiful hand-embroidered textile using a range of simple embroidery stitches and textile techniques.
Memory Landscapes
Inspired by Sabine Moritz’s exploration of memory and landscape, create a print informed by nature and imagination in this workshop led by Alice Ridgway, an artist specialising in woodcarving, gilding and traditional decorative arts. We will begin with collagraph printmaking, a technique that uses layers of material to make a textural print. Experiment with collage paper, paint and other embellishments to personalise your print. All ages and ability are welcome.
Accompany your evening with a trip to our café, which will serve its award-winning menu from 17.30 onwards. Booking advised!
Free