Laminae (detail) photocredit Art Van Go

The Textile Study Group are delighted to announce that they have selected their first Textile Study Group Graduate of the Year, in association with the Embroiderers’ Guild.

Andrea Butler has been chosen from this year’s selection of students for the Embroiderer’s Guild Graduate Showcase.

Andrea says of her work “My current practice has evolved from a personal exploration into the transformative power of drawing. A drawing can become a meditative experience, releasing one’s spirit from the limits of the corporeal body and dissolving time and place.  My work considers the changes experienced by the body and the psyche as they move between these alternate states of being.

Intertwined with this notion of metamorphosis is a preoccupation with the theme of protection; more specifically how the corporeal body acts as a protective skin around an intrinsic, ethereal self.”

The selection team felt that Andrea’s work was “outstanding,showing extensive research and considerable attention to detail.”

Integument, photo credit Andrea Butler

Andrea is a graduate of the Julia Caprara School of Textile Arts and for the future also has an interest in teaching.

Andrea will be presented with her certificate at the Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace, 8-11 october 2009, where she will be exhibiting her work as part of the Embroiderer’s Guild Graduate Showcase.

As part of her award Andrea will take up a place at the Textile Study Group Summer School workshops at Harper Adams next summer from 26 – 30 July, the tutors will be Jean Draper, Shelley Rhodes and Sarah Burgess.

The Textile Study Group gratefully acknowledges the assistance of the Embroiderer’s Guild and is delighted to have made such a strong start in fulfilling it’s ambition to support new graduates and build connections within innovative stitched textiles. The group look forward to working with Andrea Butler during the coming year.

Andrea can be contacted at andreajbutler@btinternet.com

Sarah Burgess. Chair Textile Study Group

August 2009

Copies can be obtained from Bailey at 7 Lancaster Terrace, Newent, Glos,
GL18 1EA. The book is £12.99 plus £1.50 post and packing.