Quilting Together

About the exhibition

The Quilting Together exhibition presented a selection of quilts and drawings made by Nicola Perren in response to a series of hand-made quilts made by the Meltham Quilting Bee. The exhibition explored the experience of being part of this group of makers and constituted an investigation into 'amateurism'. As part of the exhibition, a new quilt was constructed and all visitors were invited (no experience necessary) to do some hand sewing and contribute to the quilt making.

About the researcher

Nicola Perren is an artist, maker and Senior Lecturer on Textiles BA/BSc(Hons) at the university of Huddersfield. She primarily teaches Woven Textiles, Drawing and Craft and was Course Leader on Textile Crafts BA(Hons) 2002 - 2015. Her research interests include Drawing, Amateur Engagement in Crafts, Community Making and Quilting. In 2005, Perren established SAMPLE, which included both a publishing and enterprise unit for education, and an annual publication of a catalogue that presented the work of the Textile Craft final year students over an 8 year period.

Perren graduated with a BA(Hons) in Textile Design from the University of Huddersfield before embarking on a career in international design studios within woven and carpet manufacturing, teaching designers how to use specialist CAD software. She completed an MA in Contemporary Fine Art at Sheffield Hallam University in 2012 and is currently undertaking a practice-based PhD working titled: Activating the Amateur in an Arts Practice at the University of Huddersfield.