Main gallery

The Fabric of Nature and its Community

 An exhibition of embroidered textiles curated by Janetje van der Merwe
10 June to 1 July 2023
 
The Fabric of Nature and its Community is a collection of textiles embroidered by hand and curated by Janetje van der Merwe.  These were created by three community groups:  Keiskamma Art Project from Hamburg in the Eastern Cape; Kaross from Letsitele in Limpopo and Mapula Embroideries from Winterveld in Gauteng.  All three projects are established embroidery groups in South Africa who have works hanging in galleries in South Africa and abroad and they feature in many national and international publications on textile art.
 
The Kaross embroidery project has produced beautiful and evocative quality African embroidery items.  The magic of their products can be found in the extremely skilled stitching and the affinity for unusual and artistic colour combinations.  A new technique is included known as mark-making done by needle and thread.
 
The Keiskamma Art Project is part of the greater Keiskamma Trust, a South African non-profitable organisation dedicated to the holistic care of the communities that live in the area.  They are known for large scale artworks that adorn walls far and wide.
 
Mapula Embroideries, in its 32^nd year since its founding, are internationally known for their depiction of historical events and social history through their embroideries.