Mabel & Co will bring its current collection to The Aldeburgh Gallery this October, giving visitors the chance to see its woven textiles, ceramics and letterpress work together in the heart of the town.
For the Suffolk makers, it is a return of a different kind. Mabel & Co knows Aldeburgh well: the town was home to the studio’s founders for many years. This is, however, the first time the full breadth of its work will be shown there.
The textiles begin with a close attention to material. Mabel & Co works with yarn spun from British rare-breed fleeces, chosen for the character and quality needed in woollen weaving. Many of the traditional breeds associated with this kind of fleece were developed over generations to live in demanding landscapes, from coastal ground to high pasture.
That connection between fleece and finished piece is central to the studio’s work. The makers are currently tracing the process in a new series, How to make a blanket, beginning with sheep and fleece before following the yarn through spinning and weaving. At the exhibition, visitors can meet the results in person: blankets and other textile pieces made with the time, skill and material knowledge that such work demands.
Alongside the weaving will be Katie’s ceramics and Mabel & Co’s letterpress work, offering a fuller view of a practice rooted in traditional making while remaining distinctly its own.
Exhibition details
| Venue | The Aldeburgh Gallery, Aldeburgh High Street |
| Dates | Thursday 22 to Wednesday 29 October |
| Opening times | Daily, 10am to 4pm |
| On display | Woven textiles, Katie’s ceramics and Mabel & Co’s letterpress work |
The exhibition runs at The Aldeburgh Gallery on Aldeburgh High Street from Thursday 22 to Wednesday 29 October, open daily from 10am to 4pm. Leave time afterwards for the beach, or to make an afternoon of it in the town.