[A]bbot Hall is inviting people to get fab with fabric this Easter and re-create a Claude Monet masterpiece.
Hundreds of pieces of fabric have been woven together in a three-dimensional rag-rugged homage to Monet’s Haystacks: Snow Effect painting which is on display until 28 April.
During the Easter holidays between 10.30am-1.30pm visitors to Abbot Hall Art Gallery can help complete this rag-rugged haystack.
Shannon Quigley from Lakeland Arts, said: “Visitors will work on our mini-masterpiece in the gallery where the Monet hangs. We hope they get crafty and help us finish the haystack during the Easter holiday.”
The Fabricating Haystacks activity is one of several hands-on Easter craft sessions taking place at Abbot Hall Art Gallery, and the Museum of Lakeland Life & Industry in Kendal and at Blackwell, The Arts & Crafts House at Bowness-on-Windermere.
There is no need to book for our craft sessions – just turn up.
The events complement an exciting range of exhibitions and displays on show across all venues.
At the Museum of Lakeland Life & Industry visitors can create a suffragette rosette. This activity is available each day of the holiday and is inspired by the museum’s exhibition Votes for Women: Suffrage and Women’s Lives.
A large Lake District textile tapestry replicating the landscape of Cumbria in wool is also taking shape at the museum. It’s taken months to come together and during Easter visitors are invited to contribute to this giant artwork from 2-4pm.
Paint Like Monet is an evening event at Abbot Hall on 5 April from 7-9pm in the Bakestone Cafe. Professional artist Hamish McLain will guide people step-by-step from a blank canvas to creating their own masterpiece. Free glass of wine or soft drink on arrival. Tickets are priced £25 from www.abbothall.org.uk or 01539722464.
A talk about the History of The Royal Academy takes place at Abbot Hall on 19 April at 6pm. Titled ‘Who’s In and Who’s Out?’, the talk will look at the origins of the RA. Tickets are £10 / Friends £7.50 from www.abbothall.org.uk or 01539722464.
At Blackwell craft a large-scale communal paper garden sculpture inspired by artist Katie Spragg’s ceramic works. The Paper Sculptures activity takes place all day in the activity rooms upstairs at the house.
Blackwell’s tearoom also has a special Easter menu which will run from Good Friday to Easter Monday.
Lakeland Arts has several fantastic exhibitions and displays on show throughout Easter and beyond.
Abbot Hall:
Exhibition: Tracing the Landscape: Cumbrian Farm Women (until 9 June)
This exhibition examines female roles in farming, their hopes, frustrations and place in an industry often seen as a ‘man’s world’.
Display: Claude Monet: Haystacks: Snow Effect (until 28 April)
See a Monet masterpiece right here in Kendal. This is the first time a Monet painting has been on show in Cumbria. Dated 1891, it is from a series of paintings widely regarded as among Monet’s best.
Installation: Katie Spragg (until 28 April)
Ceramic artist Katie presents two digital works: Stop frame animation In the Meadow explores memories, experiences and interactions with nature. And While Away invites visitors to recline in a chair to watch grass made of porcelain blow in the wind.
Exhibition: History of the Royal Academy (until 9 June)
Abbot Hall joins Royal Academy’s 250th anniversary celebrations. Trace the history of RA through historical and contemporary work from our collection. Artists include JMW Turner, LS Lowry, John Nash, Victor Pasmore and David Hockney.
Museum of Lakeland Life and Industry:
Exhibition: Votes for Women: Suffrage and Women’s Lives (until December).
We explore the history of the suffragists and suffragettes, women’s lives in Cumbria.
Blackwell, The Arts & Crafts House:
Exhibition: Katie Spragg: Ceramics (until 10 May)
Ceramic artist Katie Spragg showcases eight new pieces inspired by Blackwell itself alongside existing works.