Contemporary Lace lecture at the Bowes Museum

Took time out last week to travel up into Teeesdale for a lecture inspired by the wonderful Blackthorn lace collection, which is owned by the Bowes Museum.

Given by a lace enthusiast with a doctorate in lace (!!!), we were treated to examples of contemporary lace (after a potted history of bobbin/needle lace). Examples of Dutch wire fencing lace and Middle Eastern structural lace designed to capture salt and so grows as a structure were very interesting. However, I was disappointed that the only reference to contemporary fashion lace was with regard to the beautiful but very traditional wedding dress worn by Kate Middleton. Nevertheless this was made up for by a glimpse of the lecturers large scale lace interpretations of Venetian architecture.

Lace from the collection and contemporary lace of all types, inspired by the pieces displayed, are on still on view in the Textile Gallery. Although most of the work was not my taste (partially due to the restrictive rather garish colour palette, set in the brief) I loved a combination of felting and lace which produced a beautiful length of work

Elsewhere in the museum the world class art collection  (Canaletto, Sisely etc) is well worth a view.