York Minster

York Minster welcomes 'The First Day' Exhibition

Published Friday 1st June 2007 by Alix Peacock

York Minster will today welcome The First Day exhibition; a superb collection of textiles that focuses on the Great East Window.  The works have been produced by Sue Tuckett, Principal of the Norwich Art and Design School along with students from both York College and York St John University.  The exhibition will be on display in the Lady Chapel between today, 1st June 2007 and 30th June 2007.

John Thornton’s Great East Window, the current focus of York Minster Revealed, A five year project to open up the beauty of the Minster, has been the inspiration for the exhibition.  The works focus particularly on Thornton’s First Day Panel.  Sue Tuckett and the students have used the colour palette from this panel in the Great East Window to create beautiful textile hangings and scrolls.   Sue Tuckett has drawn inspiration for her large silk banners from several verses of the Old Testament, concentrating on the idea of light as a life force.  Students from York College have produced scrolls based on verses from Genesis and a set colour palette.  They have used a range of techniques.

Techniques used to create the beautiful works include drawing, painting, collage and digital technology.  Artist, Sue Tuckett said “The translation of traditional techniques through modern technology seems to me to be entirely appropriate in a building which at the time of its construction was radical and experimental in the use of materials and visual images.”

Notes to the Media

Sue Tuckett was born in Newcastle and educated at York School of Art.  She worked as a textile designer and then went on to train and work as a teacher.  Sue Tuckett went on to take up senior posts at the University of Gloucester and the University of Plymouth.  In 1996 she was appointed as Assistant Principal Academic at Norwich School of Art and Design and became Principal in 2001.  Sue Tuckett has exhibited nationally and internationally in solo and group shows.  Her textile work is part of public collections in France, Hungary, Poland and the UK.