2011: Melanie Kay
The Textile Study Group are delighted to announce that they have selected their Textile Study Group Graduate of the Year in Association with the Embroiderers’ Guild.
This year the Textile Study Group Award was won by Melanie Kay, a young 1st class graduate (Bolton University) living in Manchester. All the applicants for the award were highly talented in many different ways, some were young and others more mature. Although there were a couple of very close contenders, the final decision was unanimous. It was felt that not only was the technical quality of Melanie’s work outstanding, with some great draughtsmanship and strong colour, but her work was also very thought provoking. She gave new life to materials such as old beer cans and items of waste and with them touched on issues such as gender and alcohol abuse.
Melanie was presented with her certificate at the Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace, where she exhibited her work as part of the Embroiderers’ Guild Graduate Showcase.
Her enthusiasm for embroidery and the desire to communicate this to others came across strongly in her application. It was felt that she would make the very most of her week on next year’s Textile Study Group Summer School at Harper Adams in 2012, where the tutors will be Kay Greenlees, Ruth Issett and Mary Sleigh.
The Textile Study Group gratefully acknowledges the support of the Embroiderers’ Guild and is delighted to help new graduates with this award. The group looks forward to working with Melanie during the coming year.
