As part of this year’s Somerset Art Weeks Festival, Somerset Rural Life Museum will be celebrating Wool. Spinning a Yarn tells the story of wool in Somerset through art installations, an exhibition, workshops, talks and family activities.

In the Museum’s 14^th century Abbey Barn visitors will encounter a dramatic new installation by Nicola Turner. The striking artwork, created using hand-crafted woollen tendrils, will encompass the 8-metre height of the historic barn. Nicola Turner’s sculptures and installations use organic ‘dead’ materials to investigate interconnected ecosystems, both human and non-human. A film by Trevor Pitt will also be playing in the barn. ‘Somerset Yarning’ captures the personal stories of sheep farmers and artists who work with their fleeces. Opening at daybreak in the Mendips and closing at dusk in the Quantocks, the film weaves a poetic journey that follows how the fleeces from Fernhill Farm are carded, spun, felted and woven by artists from across the county.

In the Mapstone Gallery contemporary makers will display works made with wool. These include kimonos and handbags by couture-felt artist Liz Clay and wall hangings by hand-loom weaver Jade Ogden, who uses regenerative wool from the Mendips, and naturally dyed and recycled wool pieces by Penny Wheeler. There will also be pieces by Gladys Paulus, whose work straddles the worlds of fine arts, traditional crafts and ritual. 

Community artwork created through the Spinning a Yarn – Take Part programme will be displayed at the Museum, expect to see needlefelted bluebells, otters, damselflies and vibrant punch needle ferns described in wool.

Workshops for adults will take place offering a chance to learn hand-weaving, needle felting and natural dying from experienced artists and makers.  In our talks programme, Jen Hunter, from Fernhill Farm, will be talking about regenerative farming and textile artist Liz Clay will talk about her work creating hand-felted fabrics for haute couture. As part of Somerset Art Weeks’ family-friendly weekends weaver Jade Ogden will be running accessible weaving activities. 

‘We are delighted to be continuing our successful collaborative partnership with Somerset Art Works with this exciting and multifaceted project celebrating the story of wool in Somerset, with plenty of opportunity for all ages to explore this fascinating subject.’ Sarah Cox, Exhibitions and Programme Manager, South West Heritage Trust

Spinning a Yarn opens at Somerset Rural Life Museum in Glastonbury from 14 September to 30 November.
The Nicola Turner and Trevor Pitt commissions in the Abbey Barn will close on 2 November.
Booking is required for workshops and talks at https://swheritage.org.uk/news_tags/spinning-a-yarn/
Museum entry fees apply