Events Calendar
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Central Stories Museum and Art Gallery - Helen Brooks, Rag Rug Exhibition
Location: Central Stories Museum & Art Gallery
Region: Alexandra
Dates: Mon, 7 December 2020 - Fri, 8 January 2021 @ 10am - 4pm daily.
The creation of Rag Rugs in Helen Brook’s family spans generations and the St Bathans based artist has followed in the footsteps of her grandmother and mother.
This exhibition at Central Stories Museum and Art Gallery in Alexandra brings together not only her own creations, but also those of her mother and sister.
Rag Rugs are traditional rugs/mats made from recycled old clothes, linen, bedsheets etc. Rag rug making was practiced by the poor – it was a low-income necessity. Textiles used to be very labour-intensive to make and were never thrown away – they were re-used and re-used until they fell apart. Rag rugs were very common in working-class homes in the UK in the 19th century, but the origins could be much earlier, although it’s difficult to be accurate: as it was a low-status craft the history isn’t well documented. In the 19th century, people used coal sacks or food sacks (flour, sugar etc.) as backing, then if they were lucky they could find a tool for pushing or pulling bits of old cloth through the backing to make a rug. People also improvised tools, using things like large nails.
Helen still has the frame her grandfather made for her grandmother. She said “He used to make her rug tools by filing down old keys and fashioning a handle. Now I purchase hooks from England where they still know how to make them.”
Helen has facilitated workshops in Scotland and here in New Zealand. She stated that in Scotland the craft was popular due to the long winter evenings which were good for making rugs by the fire.
Helen said “I cut up the rags by hand. The material having been given to me, or I have used my old merino vests, t-shirts, skirts, cardigans and blankets. Rug making is a very soothing occupation. Ones thoughts going into the rug.”
“As I am an artist, I often create scenes or pictures and enjoy working out the colours to use. It is also great to get the children cutting up the rags. I think it would be great for children to be able to do them at school as a calming influence, and also as an incentive to recycle old clothing.”
Grandad said about Grandma
“When she’s rugging she’s rugging” Quote from Helen Brook.
Location
Central Stories Museum & Art Gallery
21 Centennial Ave, Alexandra
January 2021
Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
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1 | Central Cinema - The Bee GeesWed, 30 December 2020 - Sat, 2 January 2021 @ 30th [email protected]. 2nd [email protected] Eade Gallery - 'Final Destinations/ Just Beginnings', Peter Walker.Sat, 2 January 2021 - Sun, 31 January 2021 @ 10am - 5pm daily. | |||||
Central Cinema - Secret ImpressionistsWed, 16 December 2020 - Sun, 3 January 2021 @ 16th [email protected]. 3rd January@5pm | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Central Stories Museum and Art Gallery - Helen Brooks, Rag Rug ExhibitionMon, 7 December 2020 - Fri, 8 January 2021 @ 10am - 4pm daily. Craigs Aspiring Art Prize - Opening and Exhibition.Fri, 8 January 2021 - Tue, 12 January 2021 @ Opening evening - 8 January @ 6pm. Exhibition open | St Bathans Rhythm and Gold Multi Arts FestivalSat, 9 January 2021 - Sun, 10 January 2021 @ 10am daily Eden Hore Central Otago Photographic ExhibitionWed, 29 December 2021 - Sat, 9 January 2021 @ Wed 1pm - 4pm, Thurs - Sun, 10.30am - 4pm |
Queenstown Contemporary - Alan Waters - A Retrospective Exhibition.Sun, 20 December 2020 - Sun, 10 January 2021 @ 10am - 4pm Daily. St Bathans Rhythm and Gold Multi Arts FestivalSat, 9 January 2021 - Sun, 10 January 2021 @ 10am daily | 11 | Craigs Aspiring Art Prize - Opening and Exhibition.Fri, 8 January 2021 - Tue, 12 January 2021 @ Opening evening - 8 January @ 6pm. Exhibition open | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
Lakes District Museum Gallery - Small Works ExhibitionFri, 11 December 2020 - Sun, 17 January 2021 @ 10am - 4pm Daily. | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
Cromwell Museum - Works by Rachel HirabayashiMon, 7 December 2020 - Sun, 31 January 2021 @ 10am - 4pm Daily. Alexandra Musical Society - Call for Interest.Tue, 15 December 2020 - Sun, 31 January 2021 @ Call for Interest Central Stories Museum and Art Gallery - 'Thursday's Child' Photographic Collaboration and Book Launch by Annemarie Hope-Cross and Eric Schusser .Fri, 18 December 2020 - Sun, 31 January 2021 @ 10am - 4pm daily. Eade Gallery - 'Final Destinations/ Just Beginnings', Peter Walker.Sat, 2 January 2021 - Sun, 31 January 2021 @ 10am - 5pm daily. Hullabaloo Art Space - 'LAND: recent work' by Eric Schusser.Sun, 31 January 2021 - Sat, 20 February 2021 @ 10am - 4pm Daily. |