ADVANCE NOTICE OF TAPESTRIES’ EXHIBITION
A STUNNING Exhibition of tapestries is currently being planned to take place at Etherley Methodist
church next month.
The church is on the road towards West Auckland, on the right-hand side going down over. These
huge tapestries, made by renowned textile artist, Jacqui Parkinson, are from the Deo Glora series
and measure 2m by half a metre each. The panels on display at Etherley are the Journey (10 panels
based on the Stations of the Cross), and the Servant King (10 panels based on a song by Graham
Kendrick), and all these panels have never been displayed in County Durham before. The Journey is
especially relevant at this moment as Easter approaches.
They have just been reconfigured as easy-to-display banners, each a set of 10. They include
depictions of Angels, Creation, The Journey (based on Stations of the Cross), River of Life (including
the story of Jonah), Prayer, Our Father (the Lord’s prayer, using extraordinary designs developed
from schools workshops), The Servant King (based on a song by Graham Kendrick) and Rites of
Passage.
Jaqui said, “My focus is on creating powerful images on a large scale together with fine detail and
intimacy through the stitched line. I usually use dyes, vibrant silks, metallic leathers and gold leaf.
“My Christian faith is the creative trigger in most of my work. I aim to create beautiful panels for
everyone’s enjoyment. My work is designed to catch the eye and set you thinking.”
Jacqui was born in Manchester, lived for most of her adult life in London until 2008, and now
lives in Devon. She set up the Lantern Arts Centre in Wimbledon and taught drama in Kingston. The
action-packed storytelling and large visual impact of immense sets can still be seen in her textiles.
Jacqui now principally works in textiles – on a large scale suitable for cathedrals and other large
spaces – and she is always open for changes in direction!
The exhibition in Etherley will be held for 2days only, Saturday the 12th of April and Easter
Saturday, the 19th of April from 10.00am to 3.00pm each day. Free entrance, and they have an
arrangement to use the terrific car park behind the Bell`s Factory opposite the Church, which will be
free and clearly sign posted. The cafe will be open all day.
