moonlit: ru’s solo exhibition at the devon guild of craft

Moira and I (along with Han+Fee+Ursa) went to see Ru’s ‘Moonlit’ solo exhibition at The Devon Guild at Bovey Tracey, Devon yesterday.
It was simply stunning… beautifully conceived and brilliantly presented; thoughtful and thought-provoking.
It’s about the daily ritual of noticing, recording and making and how this can “foster mindfulness and an appreciation of the quiet transformation happening around us” – and captured using the physical acts of stitching, binding, folding, printing, collecting and preserving.
There are a number of inter-connected themes, including:
1. Individual stitched moons in sync with each moon’s phase (384 nights/13 moons);
2. Hand-stitched ‘Silver Lining’ coat based on the ‘Buried Moon’ folktale (the silver lining coat whispers protection and courage – and, hidden from view to all but the wearer, incorporating stories and poems stitched into the lining);
3. Messages in bottles - a veritable museum of (nearly) lost and (not quite) found objects capturing and preserving small fleeting thoughts/fading memories/mundane conversations/everyday stories/wishes+secrets/words of wisdom;
4. Printed feathers, including ‘Like Pigeons For Home’.

So much to absorb and ponder.
It all feels quite magical (and it is).
 
The exhibition lasts until 11 July (the gallery is open Wednesdays-Saturdays, 11am-5pm each day). If you get a chance to see it, I strongly recommend that you do so!
You can find out more about Ru’s work on instagram @ruth.broadway and @rubypaperparade