Pauline Burbridge and Amy Emms

7 Sep - 1 Dec 2012
Monday to Saturday, 10am–4pm

Quilt Museum and Gallery
St Anthony¹s Hall, Peasholme Green, York, YO1 7PW

GREAT HALL
Pauline Burbidge, PB Retro Interpretations in Cloth

It’s over 30 years since Pauline Burbidge made her first quilt in her studio flat in central London. Now thirty-six years on, quilt enthusiasts will be given the rare opportunity to view the collected works of one of our most influential contemporary quiltmakers and one of the key players in the revival of quilting in the UK in the early eighties.

PB Retro will showcase a wide range of work following the evolution of Pauline’s style from early geometric piecing to the free form, expressive use of collage and stitch, that has become her signature. Quilts will be loaned from Museums in the UK and the USA and Pauline will also be presenting a new body of work inspired by her love of nature and the rural landscape.


The exhibition will feature design work and making processes will also be shown, including video footage. A substantial, beautifully illustrated catalogue will be available for purchase.

BAILEY GALLERY
Amy Emms, The North Country Quilting Legend

Amy Emms played a key role in our quilting history by keeping the quilting traditions of the north East of England alive. She practised and taught Durham, or North Country, quilting, the techniques of which had been handed down through generations of female relatives.

She was taught to sew and quilt by her mother, who made quilts to sell to supplement the family’s income; by the age of seven she threaded the needles for her mother and at 14 was adding her stitches to the quilts. During World War II she aided in the country’s efforts by leading fundraisers and community activities. This work led naturally to forming quilting groups and to teaching her art form. In 1984, Amy Emms was awarded an M.B.E. for her outstanding contribution to the craft of quilting.

Her legendary status and reputation led to many commissions, and her love of quilting and teaching spread the once dying craft to a wide and appreciative audience, keeping it alive for future generations to practice and enjoy.