A new exhibition celebrating Northern Ireland’s Year of Food and Drink 2016 has opened at the Castle Espie Gallery in Comber.
The ‘Our Food So Good’ quilting exhibition by the Loose Thread Quilters has drawn inspiration from the wealth of quality produce available in Northern Ireland. Thirty talented quilters have chosen a variety of food and drink themes that reflect nature’s bounty and the amazing products and food experiences available across Northern Ireland. These include quilts featuring apples from Armagh, Glenarm salmon, cocktails at the Merchant Hotel, ice cream from nearby Glastry Farm and tea from SD Bells.
Loose Thread Quilter Anne Marcus said:
“This year’s exhibition is particularly special not only as it is the first exhibition of our 20th anniversary year but it’s also a celebration of Northern Ireland’s Year of Food and Drink 2016.
We had no shortage of inspiration for our food themed exhibition, and it has been such an interesting experience to see how each quilter has been inspired to bring their own unique style to the table; no two quilts are ever the same.
This exhibition showcases a variety of styles from the more traditional to new techniques and we have members who have only recently taken up quilting exhibiting alongside established quilters. By bringing this exhibition to the Castle Espie Gallery we hope to show that quilts are also beautiful works of art for the home.”
Kathryn Cochrane, Marketing Manager at WWT Castle Espie added:
“We’d like to congratulate the Loose Thread Quilters on another remarkable exhibition in this their anniversary year and thank them for starting this year’s gallery programme with such a vibrant exhibition. The feedback from our visitors has been so positive. Next week we will be joining this celebration of local food with the opening of our newly refurbished Kingfisher Kitchen overlooking Strangford Lough. I’d encourage anyone with a love of food and art to visit this delightful exhibition between now and the end of January.”
Loose Thread Quilters is a small group of active quilt makers drawn from all over Northern Ireland. The group was established in 1996 to promote the practice and art of patchwork, appliqué and quilting for the traditional quilt maker and the contemporary fabric artist. The membership covers a wide range of abilities from beginners to tutors of the craft, all united by a common love of fabric art. Through a programme of exhibitions around the country, fellow quilters and the general public are able to enjoy the work.
Loose Thread Quilters’ Our Food So Good exhibition is on daily from 10am to 5pm in the free to visit Castle Espie Gallery and continues until Sunday 31st January.