Artist . Designer . Singer Lace Specialist

 About


Statement


I create lace artworks, from discarded and recycled materials, using a free-machine lace technique pioneered by the embroiderers of the Singer Sewing Machine Company in the late nineteenth century. The lace work is built slowly, one stitch at a time, in air, without the use of vanishing fabric.


There is a mistaken belief that the sewing machine creates with minimal input from the practitioner. Through the practice of Singer lace work (which I have been exploring since 2017) I hope to deepen understanding of the nature of practices that make use of a machine as a hand tool and dispel the notion that they are void of human touch and, as such, less skilful.


Conscious of my impact on the planet, I hope my artworks communicate that all waste has the potential to be reused and can be beautifully transformed, without damaging the planet.

Biography


Assunta had a fashion industry career for ten years as a garment technologist and designer, before going into teaching. During her training year, as a secondary school design and technology teacher, she became concerned about the lack of value placed on traditional craft skills in education.


Consequently, she undertook an MA in Fashion Textile Practices at the University of Huddersfield, investigating how traditional craft practices can work with modern technology to support innovation. She engineered a sustainable three-dimensional lace material which is durable, reusable, and deployable.


In 2019, Assunta graduated from her MA with distinction. The research was entered into the Responsible Design category of The Bradford Textile Society Competition and awarded a commendation.


Assunta manages The Gallery in Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire. The Gallery was founded in 2013 to provide a creative space for local artists and makers to sell their work. In 2023, to celebrate The Gallery's tenth anniversary, local artists, and its beautiful location in the heart of the Colne Valley, Assunta curated  her first exhibition, TEN. 


Assunta continues to develop her experiential knowledge of Singer lace work, producing sustainably stitched art which she has exhibited internationally.

Exhibitions

TERRA Exhibtion

'Waste to Wonder' was displayed at TERRA, a multimedia group art exhibition, curated by ART from HEART, at the Espacio Gallery, London, 19th to 23rd October, 2022.



The exhibition aims to shine a spotlight on environmental issues. To inspire and empower other artists and audiences to engage and respond to the climate crisis, rather than being passive observers, as the climate emergency accelerates.


Waste to Wonder

Recycled Polyester Thread Lace Work and Paper Food Packaging. 47.5 x 37.5cm. 2022.

The Broderers' Exhibition: The Art of Embroidery

'Moss Pockets' was juried into the Worshipful Company of Broderers fine art exhibition, displayed at the Bankside Gallery, London, 22nd to 27th February, 2022.


The aim of the Broderers' exhibition is to promote the art of embroidery as fine art.



Moss Pockets.

 Recycled Polyester Thread Lace Work. 23 x 28 x 6cm. 2022.


Meet the Locals

'Sunburt' was selected by the Fronteer Gallery in Sheffield to be exhibited at their 'Meet the Locals' exhibition, showcasing local and regional artists. 5th to 22thJanuary 2022.



Sunburst.

Recycled Polyester Thread Lace Work and Wastepaper Food Packaging. 39.5 x 30cm. 2020.


Surface and Depth

The Society for Embroidered Work (S.E.W) 2021 exhibition. The society promote and support stitched art worldwide.

Sculptural lichen lace, 'Swirls', was selected by S.E.W to be exhibited at Rome Art Week, at the gallery Palazzo Velli Expo, 26th to 30th October, 2021. Rome Art week (RAW) is a contemporary art project that involves the whole city of Rome through events in art galleries and open studios of professional artists.



Swirls.

Recycled Polyester Thread Lace Work and Wastepaper Food Packaging. 41 x 28.5cm. 2021.



un/framed

An international fibre art project promoting textile art works in embroidery hoops from around the world, in cooperation with SwissFibreArts and Vielfaeltig-Produzentengallerie.


Lichen Lace was juried into the un/framed project. Exhibited at Gallery Kunstraum, Winterthur, Switzerland, 3rd to 10th October, 2020 and Gallery Klostertorkel, Maienfeld, Switzerland, 5th to 20th December 2020.  The pieces were inspired by my daily walk during Covid-19 lockdown.



WOVEN in Kirklees Festival 

A celebration of local textile heritage and emerging innovative developments in research, industry and arts and crafts. 

WOVEN in Kirklees commissoned the exhibiting of Hybrid Lace, my Fashion Textile Practices MA research project at Temporary Contemporary, Queensgate Market, 8th to 16th June, 2019.



The Bradford Textile Society Design Competition  
My sustainable hybrid lace research was awarded a commendation (Responsible Design Category) and was exhibited at The Dye House Gallery, Bradford, 1st to 9th May 2019.

Contact

Please direct message me via my Instagram Account.


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