Boro/Kintsugi
A few years ago, I mended an existing ragged prayer rug using gold linen thread to address the topic of Islamophobia. (Blog article qv: https://joannesoroka.co.uk/how-to-make-a-tapestry-about-islamophobia/) The idea was to highlight the mending process, not to hide it, in the same way that those who…
Last Chance to See…
After the buzz of the private view, things settled down with my fellow exhibitor, Fiona Hutchison, and I taking turns with the invigilation of our exhibition, Invisible Threads are the Strongest Ties. The opening (in some circles called a vernissage, French for varnishing*, so completely…
Coordinating on organising an exhibition
In my last blog post, I was talking about collaborating with my friend Fiona Hutchison on putting together a two-person show. This post is on the same subject, but more about coordination, a similar but distinct topic. The themes of our work are similar but…
Collaborating on an exhibition
My friend and fellow tapestry weaver Fiona Hutchison and I are in the process of planning an exhibition which will open with a private view on the evening of the third of May. All exciting, of course, but as other artists have commented, making the…
Thanks, Brexit
I have regularly participated in international exhibitions in Europe for many years. There are several juried shows, ie a sort of competition where judges decide whether your tapestry is suitable to be included. So in December of 2020, having had a tapestry accepted, I sent…
Tapestry: Changing Concepts – exhibition highlights
Tapestry: Changing Concepts opened at the City Art Centre, Edinburgh in November and will run until March 2022. The show looks fantastic, with many pieces I would be happy to take home with me. We have also had some good press coverage: ‘Fresh Fruit of…
How to put together a tapestry show
In about two weeks, a big exhibition of tapestry will open at the City Art Centre in Edinburgh. Four years in the making, Tapestry: Changing Concepts is a collaboration between the venue and Scottish Tapestry Artists Regrouped (STAR*). Why does a show need four years…
Miniature Tapestries
Featured image, Flying, miniature textile by Joanne Soroka, 20 x 20 x 9 cm, cut Japanese paper, exhibited at Miniartextil, Como A large tapestry is a major commitment for an artist to embark on, since it may be three months or even more in the…
The Art is the Cloth
Tapestry weaving has gained a new prominence lately, with quite a few books published on the subject. They range from how-to ones to histories of the medium in general or about a given work, era or workshop. But until now, there haven’t been any that…
Stolen Tapestries
In the late 1970s a number of us formed the Scottish Tapestry Artist Group (STAG) to help promote tapestry weaving mainly by having exhibitions. Our shows included the work of both established artists and more recent graduates. We were excited when our third main show…