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'STITCHED UP 1999'

A Textile Festival in the Rural City of Wangaratta

© June Brown

Ozquilt Network Newsletter Issue #31 MARCH 1999

From June 18th to July 18th the rural city of Wangaratta in the north east of Victoria was 'alive' with a large range of textile events. Wangaratta has been a textile town for many years. Three of the major industries are Brucks Textiles, Australian Country Spinners and Yacka which have provided employment for many people in our town.

When Victorian Quilters Inc. chose The Exhibitions Gallery in Wangaratta to feature their annual exhibitions 'One Step Further' and 'Marvelous Miniatures', a small enthusiastic committee was formed to develop this idea into an exciting textile festival. The elaborate Marianne Gibson crazy quilt, made in Wangaratta in 1892 was displayed alongside the two contemporary exhibitions. This quilt has rarely been made available to the viewing public.

The old historic library building was opened especially for the occasion. It housed an exhibition called 'Bursting at the Seams' with contemporary works by five textile artists. Creative dolls by Barbara McCabe; creative waistcoats by Kerry Marsden; kites by Jim McKean; silk painting by Robyn Hooper and machine embroidered textile landscapes by Marian Greeves. Local quilting groups displayed their quilts and several of the schools had organised activities and displays to coincide with the festival.

Many of the business houses in the central business district were very enthusiastic about displaying textiles in their window spaces. The variety of textiles we saw included knitting, crochet, cloth dolls, international flags, woollen clothing, quilts, embroidered linen, antique sewing machines, antique wedding dresses and displays of textile books and magazines. The factory outlet shops at both Brucks and Australian Country Spinners (for those who like to knit in front of the fire!) were open for sales. Wangaratta also supports several craft/fabric/thread shops which had special displays for enthusiasts.

Milawa is a busy township approximately fifteen minutes' drive south from Wangaratta. It was well worth the drive to see several more exhibitions including 'Country Bear Collection', at the Milawa Cottage, 'Early Days', a quilt exhibition by Yvonne Voss at Royal Antiques & Inspirations, 'Make Do With A Wagga' a display of old quilts at the Milawa Cheese Factory and 'Australia Colours My World', an exhibition of wall quilts by June Brown at Brown Brothers Winery.

© June Brown 1999

Editor's note: This report refers to the first 'Stitched Up' Textile Festival which mainly showcased quilts. Subsequent festivals have featured embroidery and wool. The next one is expected to feature quilts again.

 

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