The second of our two new members who recently joined the Textile Study Group is Gillian Cooper. Gillian is based near Glasgow and joins us with a practice based across patchwork, quilting and sketchbooks.
Gillian explains:
“One step, one mark, one stitch. On their own, they are fairly meaningless, but repeated and gathered together, these ordinary everyday gestures become part of a rhythm that connects body, place, and process, forming the foundation of my creative practice.
My work investigates the shifting rhythms that emerge as I move between these media. Each transition generates a new iteration, a new way of seeing and interpreting place and experience.
Many of my pieces are constructed from fabrics with history and often coloured or altered by the environment which inspires them. These materials carry memory, grounding the work whilst they are transformed with new narratives.
Teaching runs alongside my art practice and it informs much of what I do. Both rely on experimentation, and the willingness to explore new techniques and ideas — an ongoing dialogue between process, material and discovery.”
And what it means to Gillian to join the Textile Study Group:
“I am delighted to be joining the TSG. For many years I have been inspired by the work of its members – their art practices and their generous approaches to sharing with others. The group’s commitment to maintaining an active art practice alongside teaching deeply resonates with me, and I’m thrilled to become part of such a like-minded and creative community.”
Images:
2,512
2020, Botanical-contact-printed and rust stained fabrics.
A Walk in the Woods
2023, 72 x 110cm. Cotton, linen, flax, hemp and silk. All botanical-contact-printed. Cyanotyped. Hand and machine stitch.