Cut and Pinned: Working with Reclaimed Textiles with artist Louise Saxton

Louise Saxton worked in fine-art painting and printmaking for two decades before transitioning her practice into the reclamation of discarded materials from the home. This included vintage wallpapers, patterned envelope linings and since 2005, she has worked primarily with embroidery and lace made in past eras by past makers. She considers this long-term project ‘a silent collaboration’ with the original needleworkers.

Louise's new monograph Louise Saxton: cut and pinned (2024) focusses on her reclaimed textile oeuvre. The process of preparing this book has been a journey both to record her own textile-based art practice and to 'pay further homage to the original makers of the exquisite material of needlework’. Her beautiful book adds an even deeper voice to their creative labours and collective memory.

In this presentation, Louise introduces her textile oeuvre and discusses connections between her work, the Embroiderers Guild Victoria, and The Johnston Collection. She will also share insights on her publishing journey to 'leave a legacy in print' of the work she has created from reclaimed embroidery and lace over the past two decades. Copies of Louise's new book will be available for purchase at the presentation.

Louise Saxton is a Melbourne-based artist. She has made seven large bodies of work from reclaimed textiles,  including her major installations: Sanctuary at Heide Museum of Modern Art in 2012 and The Linen Project at Hawthorn Town Hall Gallery in 2018.   She has held three solo exhibitions with Gould Galleries (now Gould Creative) and exhibited widely in Australia and overseas. Her work is held in private and public collections in Australia, Malaysia, India and the USA.  For more information see: www.louisesaxton.com/about 

Your ticket includes tea or Market Lane coffee served before the lecture, and time to browse our exclusive range of books, gifts, and homewares at TJC Emporium. NOTE: Tickets for this event do not include access to our exhibition-house, Fairhall. Guided tours of the current exhibition can be booked separately.

This lecture is supported by The Colin Holden Charitable Trust.

Image: Louise in studio with Feint Heart in progress, 2015.