‘Uncommon Threads’ – A Naarm Textile Collective group exhibition
17 October – 28 October 2023
FortyFiveDownstairs Gallery – 45 Flinders Lane Melbourne
Following the success of Naarm Textile Collective’s first exhibition, Stitching Change, Naarm Textile Collective is building on the increasing interest in contemporary textile art with a new exhibition for 2023 titled Uncommon Threads.
Uncommon Threads will be a collaborative group exhibition of textile artists from Victoria. The exhibition will showcase progressive art forms using textiles and exploring the relationship of textiles to other art disciplines. Our goal is to provide a contemporary exhibition exploring the limitlessness of textile art.
Uncommon Threads will raise awareness of contemporary textile arts to the general public, bringing artists together to build their artistic ability and introduce them to new audiences. The exhibition will highlight textile artists and the quality of their work. Artists at all stages of their career will be included enabling opportunities for mentorship and collaboration. The exhibition showcases innovative works, using a range of materials and techniques that challenge and subvert traditional ideas of textile art.
Uncommon Threads will highlight and explore the emotive properties of textiles to generate, communicate and preserve memories along with creating discourse for the future. The exhibition centres on the value of textiles in our lives and on the role of textiles in the process of preserving culture, telling stories, recollecting past events, recording experiences, as well as stimulating discussion of cultural and political issues.
An open call to Victorian textile artists is now open. Please read the Conditions of Entry before applying.
To assist with putting on the exhibition a fundraising campaign has commenced with Australian Cultural Fund. Donations of $2 of more made through ACF receive a tax deduction. With the end of financial year coming up it’s a great time to donate. Please share our campaign as widely as possible. Visit our campaign page here.
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 will be 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.
FortyFiveDownstairs Hours
Tuesday – Friday 11am – 5pm
Saturday 11am – 3pm
Opening event Tuesday 8 February 2022 5pm – 7pm
Uncommon Threads is supported by the City of Melbourne Arts Grants Program
Important Dates:
Entries Close: 6 August 2023
Notification: 20 August 2023
Delivery of Selected Artworks: 10am – 11am 16 October 2023
Exhibition Dates: 17 – 28 October 2023 – FortyFiveDownstairs
Exhibition Opening Event: 5 – 7 pm 17 October 2023
Collection of Artworks: 10am – 11am Sunday 29 October 2023