There is still time to see the work of one of Britan’s best-loved contemporary artists in Helston over the next two weeks.
The Museum of Cornish Life is hosting a large work by Grayson Perry as part of an exhibition which also showcases the town’s own rich collection of textile art.
‘Comfort Blanket’ is eight metres long and explores the stories and new traditions being made in Britain today.
It features his own unique takes on popular culture, while the local exhibits celebrate and remember people and events in and around the Helston and Lizard communities.
The artist has loaned the work to the Museum of Cornish Life as part of its Talking Threads exhibition.
While he is perhaps best known for his ceramic work, Perry also works with tapestry and textiles. Comfort Blanket depicts ideas, words, phrases and people from our cultural life which everyone will recognise, all in Perry’s slightly irreverent and distinctive colourful style.
The artist has described ‘Comfort Blanket’ as "a portrait of Britain to wrap yourself up in, a giant banknote, things we love, and love to hate".
Alongside the famous work are items from the museum’s own rich collection of textile art.
Museum director Annette MacTavish said: “We’re so proud to have this Grayson Perry tapestry displayed in the museum. It’s attracting lots of new visitors who can also see some of our own textile treasures. Some are very old indeed, but many are much newer, and may be familiar to visitors.”
Among the museum’s own collection are handmade quilts and banners that date from the 1900s to the present day. They have been made to celebrate new as well as nearly forgotten traditions, from Tea Treats to Flora Day, and events such as civic celebrations and the Olympic Torch relay.
Some have been made by school children, while others have been created by local people who are talented amateur textile artists.
Annette added: “Talking Threads gives us the opportunity to share these large and rarely seen community textiles as the scale of them makes it hard to find a permanent home.
“Looking at them helps you to feel what people were excited by or proud of and wanted to share.”
The museum has free entry, although donations are welcomed, with the exhibition running until Wednesday, November 22.
Support has been given from Arts Council England as part of mc7, a three-year project to develop a new model of collective working and programming for seven Cornish museums.
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