‘Stitching Change’ – A Naarm Textile Collective group exhibition
Online exhibition opening 12 October 2021
8 February – 19 February 2022

FortyFiveDownstairs Gallery – 45 Flinders Lane MelbourneStitching Change is a new and exciting exhibition highlighting the abundance of local textile artists in Victoria and the quality of their work. The exhibition showcases the progressive art form of textiles including work that explores the relationship of textiles to other art disciplines.
‘Stitching Change’ is a new and exciting exhibition highlighting the abundance of local textile artists in Victoria and the quality of their work. The exhibition will showcase the progressive art form of textiles including work that explores the relationship of textiles to other art disciplines.
‘Stitching Change’ takes shifts and changes as its theme, in particular it is centred on the way in which practices have transformed during the COVID-19 pandemic. These shifts may be around changing attitudes, the introduction of new materials and techniques, along with the impact of innovative ideas and evolving technologies.
‘Stitching Change’ will highlight and explore the emotive properties of textiles to generate, communicate and preserve memories along with creating discourse for the future. It centres on the value of textiles in our lives and their role in recollecting past events, telling stories and recording experiences. The exhibition enables participating artists to explore projects that manifest as transformations in their practice.
The exhibition is being curated by Tamara Russell from the Naarm Textile Collective, an artist led organisation aiming to incorporate and challenge the boundaries of textile arts practice. Together, promoting and supporting artists using textiles in their artworks and encouraging the exploration of unique pathways to creation and individuality through their work.
The exhibition was held at FortyFive Downstairs located at 45 Flinders Lane, a location that has a rich history for textile production, design and innovation. This exhibition aims to update the Flinders Lane story with the inclusion of Contemporary Textile Art. The participating textile artists can be found here.
You can download the Stitching Change Catalogue here. To purchase works please contact the artist directly.
Watch many of the artists talking about their work at the Online opening here.
Visit the Exhibition page to see the final works on show at Forty Five Downstairs gallery, Melbourne.

Stitching Change was part of @craftvictoria Craft Contemporary in October 2021, the festival celebrates community and the shared human impulse to create.
