Teamwork is the key for international artist Susie MacMurray who unveils her newest creation at Tatton Park next month.
Six months of painstaking work by Susie, her assistant Helen Newman and 10 volunteers has created Gathering, an art installation of 3,750 elements of red velvet and barbed wire.
The sewing will be over in the next few days before the assembled installation is suspended from the Mansion’s grand rotunda.
There her creation, inspired by East Cheshire Hospice, will be on display from June 27 to October 6 as part of Art Fair Cheshire 2019.
Susie’s helpers are volunteers from the charity, the group spending many hours at her studio sharing memories of lost loved ones.
Susie, whose husband John died 12 years ago, said: “We’ve had some very profound conversations mixed with a lot of hilarity.
“The making of this work reflects the whole idea of the piece which is a gathering of people to support each other and treasure memories.
“I want the volunteer makers to feel invested in Gathering. This is our work. It’s a collaboration, which is appropriate.
“We’ve had the shared impetus of the Hospice and have developed a great camaraderie within the group and I’d like to thank everyone for their generous support.”
Issy Cooke, from Mobberley, and Fiona Winderam, from Knutsford, are among volunteers who will then act as stewards during the display.
Fiona said: “We’ve created around 300 elements every week. Working on the project has been so rewarding and we can’t wait to be there at Tatton Park when the public gets a chance to view it.”
Susie added: “The rich red colour symbolises the body and its preciousness and the barbed wire isn’t about conflict but facing difficulty and struggle.”
Afterwards, individual elements will be sold for a £30 donation to the hospice, with small wall pieces also on sale.
Susie has also painted a water colour of Gathering. A limited edition of 75 signed and numbered prints costs £225 each. All proceeds to the Hospice.
For more information visit www.gatheringattatton.co.uk. The project is supported by Arts Council England and The Arts Society.
Art Fair Cheshire celebrates its 20th year with a week-long exhibition of more than 80 artists at Macclesfield Town Hall (Thurs, Sept 26 – Thurs, Oct 3) when a series of events take place. Art Fair Cheshire has a new website www.theartfair.org.uk.
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