Artist inspired by Macclesfield's silk industry opens first solo exhibition
A Macclesfield artist has opened her first solo exhibition.
'Unravelling Interrupted' has gone on display at Tegg's Nose Gallery in the country park.
It showcases the work of Aimee Spilsted, who has explored the vulnerable resilience of human psych and the evolving legacy of Macclesfield's silk industry.
Aimee said: "We are all a little bit broken and in need of repair.
"Reaching out is often the first step of emergence.
"Opening up reveals vulnerability and invites kindness.
"If we make space for renovation and renewal, we can become something other. Stronger, more beautiful."
Having lived in Macclesfield for over eight years now, Aimee says she has become moderately obsessed with Paradise Mill and the preserved Jacquard looms and artefacts.
Working primarily with wood, textiles, metal and ceramics, Aimee has created 'contemplative' pieces designed to resonate with the tenuous threads holding us together, objects and people that keep us grounded, and the unexpected voids within our hearts.
She charred wood surfaces using shou sugi ban-inspired techniques, and adorns marks of distress with 24k and 9k gold leaf.
Black threads from a spool that once belonged to the Macclesfield silk industry are used to bind areas that would otherwise fall apart, and fibres that were painstakingly removed from the needles of a jacquard loom in Paradise Mill help strengthen worn areas of reclaimed silk and cotton in layered running stitch.
Aimee also shaped functional aluminium tomato puree tube golden inners with a tiny jewellers hammer, into reinforcement patches and staples.
Paint remnants destined for landfill add layers of resurfacing, rubbed back to reveal an origin story.
Unravelling Interrupted is on display seven days a week until Tuesday, June 3.
On Wednesday (May 28) Aimee will be holding a free meet-and-greet session from 9.30am to 11.30am.
Visitors will have a chance to peruse her sketchbooks, drawings and informative objects.
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