About New Fibre Art

Fibre Art in Britain has its roots among a number of artists who, in the late 1970s, no longer wanted their work to be classified under the heading of weaving' 'printing' 'embroidery', etc. Guilds were often bound to traditional work and experimenting and mixed media were frowned upon. Fibre artists who wanted their work to be exhibited became increasingly frustrated as galleries refused to show their work.
So, in 1979, the group Fibre Art was born and did pioneering work in raising the profile of fibre art, starting with a show at the Roundhouse in London.
In 1986 the original organising members wanted to move on to other things while other members felt a new order was necessary. A new group, New Fibre Art, emerged from the old, with many of the original members, but moving on, with principles of greater communication, no hierarchy and artist-led initiatives. During the 1980s, alternative venues had become more attractive propositions and NFA explored the possibilities of library galleries, arts centre galleries, college galleries. NFA T-shirts were printed and one became a roving exhibition
- worn by a member travelling widely throughout the East.
As the profile of the group rose, municipal galleries were increasingly interested. NFA continued to look outwards and organised a joint show with California Fibers in both England and America in 1992. And in in 2001. Exhibitions, of both large and small works, have travelled to Spain, France, Austria and Poland.
Perhaps the biggest breakthrough in recent years has been the NFA led initiative to exhibit outside. The rigors of the English weather provide a real challenge of durability or encourage a change through disintegration. The backgrounds of changing natural backgrounds provide inspiration and contrast favourably with an often sterile gallery interior. An outdoor location also provides artists with new viewpoints on their work, to escape from safe options and move forward.
In co-operation with Margaret Warhurst and her staff at Norton Priory Museum, Runcorn, Cheshire, the first outdoor fibre art show, 'Fibre in the open' was held in 1994. This proved very successful - seemingly fragile work braved six weeks of wind and rain. When it was learned that the 1996 European Textile Network Conference was coming to Britain, to Manchester, for the first time, the inspiration for 'Fibre on the Outside' was born. This time, artists from all over Europe would be invited to send work. Amazingly. a hundred artists from twentyone countries did send their work ,which was hung from trees, laid on grass, gravel and earth.
Many artists travelled hundreds of miles to put up their work from Finland, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland, Belgium and France. Coach parties from the conference, colleges, schools and other organisations came to view. The enthusiasm was almost unanimous. However, some visitors did question the validity of the concept of placing fibre art outside. Some felt that art work outside should only relate to the environment, others that it detracted from the natural beauty of flowers and plants.
It is exciting that this controversy can be stirred up. leading to much discussion. So often textile art is relegated to the title of 'decorative arts'; placing art work out of its 'safe' gallery setting brings the stimulation of being more 'on the edge'.
Fibre Transformed, a lottery funded project, took place over winter 1998/9, again at Norton. Work was photographed as it changed and disintegrated
NFA continues to forge personal and professional links with artists and arts projects in many countries; continues to experiment with ideas, break rules, mix media and to be excited by fibre art.

Judith Railton 2003

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	A brief history of New Fibre Art
	Fibre Art in Britain has its roots among a number of artists who, in the late 1970s, no longer wanted their work to be classified under the heading of weaving' 'printing' 'embroidery', etc. Guilds were often bound to traditional work and experimenting and mixed media were frowned upon. Fibre artists who wanted their work to be exhibited became increasingly frustrated as galleries refused to show their work. So, in 1979, the group Fibre Art was born and did pioneering work in raising the profile of fibre art, starting with a show at the Roundhouse in London. In 1986 the original organising members wanted to move on to other things while other members felt a new order was necessary. A new group, New Fibre Art, emerged from the old, with many of the original members, but moving on, with principles of greater communication, no hierarchy and artist-led initiatives. During the 1980s, alternative venues had become more attractive propositions and NFA explored the possibilities of library galleries, arts centre galleries, college galleries. NFA T-shirts were printed and one became a roving exhibition - worn by a member travelling widely throughout the East. As the profile of the group rose, municipal galleries were increasingly interested. NFA continued to look outwards and organised a joint show with California Fibers in both England and America in 1992. And in in 2001. Exhibitions, of both large and small works, have travelled to Spain, France, Austria and Poland. Perhaps the biggest breakthrough in recent years has been the NFA led initiative to exhibit outside. The rigors of the English weather provide a real challenge of durability or encourage a change through disintegration. The backgrounds of changing natural backgrounds provide inspiration and contrast favourably with an often sterile gallery interior. An outdoor location also provides artists with new viewpoints on their work, to escape from safe options and move forward. In co-operation with Margaret Warhurst and her staff at Norton Priory Museum, Runcorn, Cheshire, the first outdoor fibre art show, 'Fibre in the open' was held in 1994. This proved very successful - seemingly fragile work braved six weeks of wind and rain. When it was learned that the 1996 European Textile Network Conference was coming to Britain, to Manchester, for the first time, the inspiration for 'Fibre on the Outside' was born. This time, artists from all over Europe would be invited to send work. Amazingly. a hundred artists from twentyone countries did send their work ,which was hung from trees, laid on grass, gravel and earth. Many artists travelled hundreds of miles to put up their work from Finland, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland, Belgium and France. Coach parties from the conference, colleges, schools and other organisations came to view. The enthusiasm was almost unanimous. However, some visitors did question the validity of the concept of placing fibre art outside. Some felt that art work outside should only relate to the environment, others that it detracted from the natural beauty of flowers and plants. It is exciting that this controversy can be stirred up. leading to much discussion. So often textile art is relegated to the title of 'decorative arts'; placing art work out of its 'safe' gallery setting brings the stimulation of being more 'on the edge'. Fibre Transformed, a lottery funded project, took place over winter 1998/9, again at Norton. Work was photographed as it changed and disintegrated NFA continues to forge personal and professional links with artists and arts projects in many countries; continues to experiment with ideas, break rules, mix media and to be excited by fibre art. Judith Railton 2003 back to homepage