62 Group: Making as Learning

2024 marks 62 years of the 62 Group, which was founded in 1962 with the aims of ‘championing the role of textiles in art’. The group will be celebrating their 62nd birthday year with their upcoming exhibition, Making as Learning, set to take place in the iconic Salts Mill in Bradford. This exhibition will celebrate the enduring legacy of former 62 Group member Audrey Walker, both an educator and artist, whose influence continues to inspire the textile arts community.

Image: Claire Barber, Shimmer Effect.
Image above: Helen Yardley, Samples for Cerise Wall Felt.

The theme, Making as Learning, invites artists to reflect on their creative processes, drawing inspiration from their personal archives—be it notes, samples, yarn wraps, dye recipes, film stills, journals, or sketchbooks. This exhibition explores the tangible and intangible qualities of the making process, questioning what can be learned from our methods as they evolve or disintegrate over time.

Image: Reef detail, Marie-José Gustave.

The exhibition, Making as Learning, will be held in the atmospheric top room of Salts Mill, a former spinning room measuring 168 meters long. This historic and visually stunning space provides a unique environment for the artworks, offering natural light that fluctuate with the weather through ceiling windows. Many of the works are site specific, installation-based, and grand-scale, interacting with this dynamic space.

Image: Feather to Chain Stitch in a Column, Isobel Currie. 

Founded in 1962, The 62 Group of Textile Artists has dedicated over six decades to championing the role of textiles in contemporary art. The group’s longevity and commitment to self-sustainability highlight their resilience and adaptability in the face of changing educational priorities.

Making as Learning will take place at Salts Mill until 1 November 2024. 

Find out more and plan your visit:
www.62group.org.uk/exhibitions/making-as-learning