By Bonny Burrows
The long-awaited sequel to the Cardinian Embroidery Project is now on display at the Pakenham Hall.
Eight years in the making, including six years of stitching, the latest piece showcases the flora and fauna of the shire with a special emphasis on rare and endangered species.
Works on the community created piece began in March 2009 when Friends of the Cardinian Embroidery decided to create another display to follow the original work which highlighted the region’s places of local significance.
While the original project had 219 people stitching over a two-year period, the latest piece had “far less” regular passionate embroiders, but the assistance of many others.
“This time we had fewer stitchers involved and we decided to slow down so we only held one two-hour workshop per fortnight, which meant that the two panels took six years and eight months to finish in a total of 165 workshops,” project co-ordinator Eleanor Taylor said.
As with the first display, the group followed strict textile conservation advice from experts at the National Gallery of Victoria which meant no adhesives or chemicals of any kind, no animal fibres which attract insects and only cottons and linens and archival quality textile paints and threads.
“These panels, like the originals, have been designed and made to last for centuries and the latest ones are completely sealed in their frames to avoid accidental damage or insect infestation,” Ms Taylor said.
She hopes the latest embroidery piece – unveiled on Friday 19 May to creators, councillors and the general public – will attract spectators far and wide to the region to learn about all Cardinia has to offer.
“We have created a second tourist feature in Pakenham which will, hopefully, attract a steady stream of appreciative visitors like the original panels in the Cardinia Cultural Centre which have busloads of tourists coming to see them regularly,” Ms Taylor said.
People wishing to view the work can visit the Pakenham Library and Hall during business hours.
A booklet explaining the panels, its subject and creators has also been complied and is on sale at the Pakenham Library and Cardinia Cultural Centre for $5.
