Treasured textiles workshop

This event celebrated the final month of the 2022 Meroogal Women’s Art Prize, with artist and educator Melinda Young in a rich full-day program, presented in partnership with Shoalhaven Regional Gallery.

Enjoy a tour of the exhibition led by curator Joanna Nicholas, and an artist talk at Meroogal, followed by a hands-on textiles and jewellery workshop at Shoalhaven Regional Gallery.

Embracing the spirit of the resilient and resourceful women who lived at Meroogal, workshop participants will make a wearable object incorporating a treasured textile. Bring a favourite or meaningful piece of textile to repurpose into a new and beautiful object, or work with found materials provided on the day.

You’ll learn how to deconstruct textiles, and techniques for coiling, stitching, and string-making. You can also learn to make jewellery findings, such as earring hooks and brooch pins, or use the materials provided.

Please note:

  • No experience necessary
  • Recommended age: 16 years and older
  • All materials will be included, but please bring along a textile, or textiles, you are happy to work with and deconstruct on the day
  • Lunch is included, please note your dietary requirements in the booking form
  • Transport: Driving is recommended as participants will need to make their way from Meroogal to Shoalhaven Regional Gallery
  • Access: Meroogal and Shoalhaven Regional Gallery are wheelchair accessible, please let us know if you have any access requirements

About the artist

Melinda Young is a contemporary craft artist and educator living and working on Dharawal Country. Exploring materiality with an emphasis on found or repurposed materials, Melinda’s cross-disciplinary practice spans jewellery, textiles, installation and interactive public art projects. She has exhibited extensively in Australia and internationally, and her work is held in public collections and included in numerous publications.

Alongside her making practice, Melinda has spent more than two decades working within the contemporary craft sector as an educator, curator, gallery manager and writer. She is an associate lecturer at the UNSW School of Art & Design, and is undertaking a PhD in human geography and creative arts at the University of Wollongong.

Exterior of Meroogal with Jacaranda trees in bloom
Past exhibition

Meroogal Women’s Art Prize

The biennial Meroogal Women’s Art Prize, now in its 19th year