Stitch Me Up For Life

Janet Hackney

The exhibition was curated in sections: The first section will include early works from her fashion and textile art college days, glove designs, prototypes and garments with accessories and supporting drawings. The second section included her textile landscape works in felt, batik, machine and hand embroidery, cross stitched works. The third section celebrated the costume work that she does for the volunteers at Castle Ward, the eighteen century National Trust property. This included  four ladies outfits, including Robe a La Francaise, The English Gown with supporting shifts, corsets, petticoats, stomachers, hooped underskirts, pockets, bonnets matching shoes, a dressed wig, a maids outfit in linen, plus a gentleman's outfit with embroidered waistcoat, breeches, jacket and linen shirt. For the fourth section Janet also spent several residency days in the gallery where she set up her sewing machines, holding a series of workshops and engaging with vistors.   

About The Artist

The span of Janet Hackney’s career in art and textiles reflects her artwork itself – strands of textiles, embroidery, modern digital technology, heritage and colour all coming together to create a unique and memorable range of pieces. She has taught art, needlework and textiles in schools in England, Malawi and Northern Ireland. An active member of the N.I. Embroidery Guild since 2000, she has exhibited with them throughout Northern Ireland. In 2017 at the invite of the New Zealand Embroiderers’ Guild she gave several talks and workshops on her textile work and techniques.