More about our visit to Melbourne Now

After lunch, we wandered off to see some of the exhibitions.  Roger, the curator, had spoken about the MaterialByProduct exhibition that used works from the NGV collection to inspire contemporary weaving. So that was our first stop.  The inspirational pieces were gorgeous in themselves and were set up in a glass case that had a mirror underneath the fabrics so you could see the backs of them too.  I think I liked the backs as much as the fronts.

You can see a reflection of some of the modern interpretations in the mirror too.  

There were some paper cutouts by Sangeeta Sandresegar that I also loved. 

Then I decided to put the camera away and just enjoy it all.  There is so much to see that it will be necessary to go again.  

visiting Melbourne Now at the NGV

As it will be the Australia Day long weekend next week, out tapestry group decided to meet this week instead.  And as it is still the holidays and there are summer school courses on at the guild rooms, we decided to meet at the NGV and see some of the Melbourne Now exhibition.
Another group from the guild had made arrangements to meet also and had even made arrangements to have a talk by one of the curators of the textiles and fashion section. They very kindly asked us if we would like to go with them.  Of course we said yes.
So we got to see a sample of some William Morris pattern weaving

and some coptic weaving from the collection.

We were also given an insight into an upcoming (in 2017!) English embroidery exhibition of works from the collection.  We had a very interesting discussion of what is involved in setting up such a collection and how much effort is needed to research and conserve the materials that are already in the collection.  It was a wonderful opportunity to see behind the scenes.

Then we parted ways with the weaving group, had lunch and ventured in to the Melbourne Now exhibition.  It is huge!  There are quite a few interactive parts.

You get to put little vinyl birds onto the wall.  

It was children's day too, which was very well attended. It was lovely to see all the families there, all the different groups of people, just wandering around having a lovely day.

I must remember that they keep the gallery rather cool, it would have been a perfect place to go these last few days.  Thankfully, the temperature has dropped a great deal and it was much more comfortable today.  I am almost feeling too cool - never happy.