Artists' tribute to Leeds mills' record breaking history
Members of the International Feltmakers Association spent 12 months examining Leeds Industrial Museum’s collection before creating their own textiles, clothes and 3D sculptures.
Each piece helps to chart the story of textile production at Armley Mills, where the museum is based, and was once the largest of its kind in the world with 50 huge looms working to produce textiles that were shipped across the globe.
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Hide AdThe artists involved attended workshops and investigated the museum’s archives to find out more about how the mill once worked before spending hours crafting their creations.
One sculpture shows the mill’s towering chimney, whilst a broad-brimmed hat depicts the nearby waterwheel, which can both still be seen on site today.
Chris Sharp, Leeds Museums and Galleries’ assistant community curator, said: “The pieces that have been created are a really impressive and a fitting tribute to the museum’s history as a place that played a key role in making Leeds one of the textile industry’s leading lights around the world.
“The imposing mill buildings and the array of impressive equipment we have on display are a window onto a time when the museum must have been filled with the noise and energy of production and they’ve clearly been a huge inspiration for the artists who worked on this project.
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Hide Ad“The collection they have produced will hopefully give visitors a different way of exploring our industrial heritage and a reminder of the skill and artistry that exists today.”
Wool Stories: The Felted Mill is open at Leeds Industrial Museum until October 21.