Exhibitors: Jo Barker, Mary Farmer; Amber Fry; Jacob Monk; Eleanor Pritchard; Mary Restieaux; Ann Sutton; Jun Tomita
In 1982 legendary Swiss-born textile designer Marianne Straub (1909-1994) organised an exhibition for Kettles Yard, Cambridge called Textiles Today. Just over forty years on, Fen Ditton Gallery is mounting a show as a response to that exhibition by bringing together three generations of artist weavers: 7 from UK and one from Japan (although he studied in the UK), two of whom Mary Restieaux, and the late Mary Farmer, were also in the original exhibition.
The exhibition takes a wide angle on the world of weave. Articulate modern responses to the fine art tradition of high warp tapestry is shown in the work of Edinburgh based Jo Barker and a work from the Estate of Mary Farmer alongside other kinds of experimental, thoughtful, unexpected, and striking responses to the world of warp and weft. The show leads out from the exceptional career of the most senior textile designer, recently awarded a medal for Lifetime Achievement by the Worshipful Company of Weavers, Ann Sutton, who moved between designs for industry to radical art installations, something shown at her remarkable solo exhibition at the New Art Centre, Roche Court in 2022. We will include a recent wall piece from Ann alongside some newly archived design samples and early artworks from throughout her career.
The move between the worlds of fine art and design, underpinned by the craft of weave, is echoed throughout the selected exhibitors. Mary Restieaux, whom we showed at Fen Ditton in Green Shoots last year, has been a leader in the art of ikat for decades, moving this art into new territory alongside working as a colour consultant for Paris fashion houses. Emerging artist Jacob Monk, also exhibited at Fen Ditton last year in Copper and Wool, is developing his interest in the potential of ikat for domestic textiles and has recently returned from a Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust study trip to Japan where he visited, amongst others, Jun Tomita. Tomita who specialises in indigo shibori studied with Mary Farmer at Farnham in the 1980s. We are delighted to be borrowing a Tomita work from London based Japanese art specialist Katie Jones. The youngest contributor, Amber Fry, is actively researching new possibilities for plant dyes through growing plants in her own allotment in Kent as she develops her weaving career, currently as studio assistant to London textile designer Margo Selby.
Fen Ditton Gallery is also delighted to announce that we are commissioning an exclusive limited edition Fen Ditton blanket, designed by Eleanor Pritchard, developed from her interest in, and knowledge of, East Anglian and Fen landscapes. A special edition of 20, woven in collaboration with a British mill and with British wool yarn as part of the mix, this new edition will be launched when the show opens. More details soon.
The exhibition will also be supported by a series of special talks and activities all of which will further explore the world of textiles today.
1 October – 1 November 2026
Fen Ditton Gallery, 23 High Street, Fen Ditton, Cambridge CB5 8ST