Golden Textures
Explore award-winning textiles from the Central Goldfields Art Gallery Collection and insights from their artists
Creek Drawing #16 (2017) by Judy HooworthCentral Goldfields Art Gallery
Golden Textures Award Exhibition
The Golden Textures Award Exhibition is held bi-annually at Central Goldfields Art Gallery in Maryborough, Victoria. It celebrates the region’s long connection with textile craft and textile manufacturing, especially in the early to mid 20th Century.
'Beneath Our Feet' by Jenny Bacon
Beneath Our Feet (2011) by Jenny BaconCentral Goldfields Art Gallery
Maryborough textile artist, Jenny Bacon, was the original curator of Golden Textures. She explained, "The Maryborough Knitting Mill was a major part of manufacturing here, during the time the town was the industrial hub of Central Victoria. It was a major employer in the town particularly for women."
In 2021 Jenny Bacon wrote the following about her art quilt titled Beneath our Feet:
"I was thinking about the history of Maryborough, Victoria when I was making this quilt. Situated in Central Victoria, the original inhabitants, the Dja Dja Wurrung called this area the Upside Down Land - the rock is on the top."
"The first gold rush brought many new people, part of the biggest migration in the history of the world, and when this petered out the area changed to deep lead mining for gold. The engineers and the skilled workers were later able to plan a new future when the gold seams were lost or finished, and Maryborough became the industrial centre of Victoria."
"This only declined at the end of the 20th Century due to globalisation but those of us who have lived here know that our history lies beneath our feet."
'Coastal Life 3' by Susan Mathews
2013 Winner
Coastal Life 2 (2013) by Susan MathewsCentral Goldfields Art Gallery
Susan Mathews is a textile artist, based in Ocean Grove, Victoria, Australia. She explains, "Since moving back to the beautiful Bellarine peninsula (after 35 years living inland in Yarrawonga) I have been captivated by the local vegetation. Having long been attracted to flora, especially our native plants, much of my work has focused on this topic."
"My artistic vision has always been closely tied to my surroundings and a sense of the place where I live. Every day I am thankful for the golden sand, the sound and sight of the sea and the gorgeous light which streams into my studio."
'Australian Print' by Sue Reid
2019 Winner
Australian Print (2019) by Sue ReidCentral Goldfields Art Gallery
Sue Reid is an Australian textile artist. With permission, and in collaboration with Aunty Cynthia Hardie, Reid reproduced original drawings by Yorta Yorta man Troy Firebrace using acrylic paint, hand embroidery and machine quilting.
The work acknowledges and celebrates the world's oldest continuous living cultures.
'Banksia Spill' by Ruth de Vos
2015 Winner
Banksia Spill (2014) by Ruth de VosCentral Goldfields Art Gallery
Ruth de Vos' quilts are pieced by machine in a process not too far removed from traditional patchwork techniques. She states, "I am an artist. I stitch hundreds of little pieces of hand-dyed fabric together to make bold textile paintings."
"I find inspiration to explore new ideas and designs in the way that everything works and fits together in this world. I also enjoy the challenge of pushing to their limits my sewing machine and the range of materials and techniques available to me."
'Creek Drawing #16' by Judy Hooworth
Winner 2017
Creek Drawing #16 (2017) by Judy HooworthCentral Goldfields Art Gallery
Judy Hooworth's work has been influenced and inspired by Dora Creek which flows near her home.
She is interested in the patterns created by the movement of light on water and the colours and moods created by changes in the weather day by day.
'Crown of Thorns' by Suzanne Lyle
2021 Winner
Crown Of Thorns (2020) by Suzanne LyleCentral Goldfields Art Gallery
Suzanne Lyle's Crown of Thorns was inspired by an indoor plant with abundant red flowers amongst its spikes.
Lyle said it flowered through the extent of the pandemic, "often bringing a bright spot to a dull day".
Central Goldfields Art Gallery, 2021.
