October ushers in change as the evenings grow darker, temperatures fall, and leaves turn golden brown. Instead of retreating indoors, fill the coming weeks with inspiring events – from a showcase of Scotland’s forgotten textiles to an illuminating ethnobotanical walk.
Stitched: Scotland's Embroidered Art at Dovecot Studios
Edinburgh’s Dovecot Studios is collaborating with the National Trust for Scotland to present a vibrant exhibition of embroidered textiles, sourced from the trust’s portfolio of historic properties. Ornate armchairs, intricate bed hangings, and hand-stitched tablecloths are among the more than 80 pieces set to occupy the space, alongside detailed design drawings and profiles of the makers. This is the first time many of the craft pieces will be seen by the public, following a two-year conservation programme focused on the restoration of these delicate items.
Stitched: Scotland's Embroidered Art is on at Dovecot Studios from 25 October to 18 January.
Frances Palmer: Pedestal Explorations at the Garden Museum
London’s Garden Museum is celebrating the work of American ceramicist Frances Palmer, specifically her explorations of the pedestal form, in a new exhibition. Visitors can expect a curation of footed vases, tulipieres, bowls, and vessels handmade from white earthenware, porcelain, and terracotta, all designed to hold floral arrangements. The display will open with a talk by the artist, who will share historical pedestals which served as inspiration and discuss her experiences as an author, gardener, and photographer in addition to the craft.
Frances Palmer: Pedestal Explorations is on at the Garden Museum from 8 October until 20 December.
Vanessa Bell: A World of Form and Colour at MK Gallery
Mapping the pioneering oeuvre of modernist artist Vanessa Bell, this large-scale exhibition provides a comprehensive overview of her drawings, paintings, ceramics, and furniture. With 120 pieces on display, it will be the most extensive survey of her work to date. Beyond celebrating her material legacy, A World of Form and Colour will highlight how she created opportunities for women artists by establishing creative collectives, and explore collaborations between Bell and her sister, the novelist Virginia Woolf.
Vanessa Bell: A World of Form and Colour is on at MK Gallery from 19 October until 23 February.
Autumn Foraging at Blair Castle & Craignish Peninsula
Join wild plant expert Tamara Colchester for a slow-paced foraging walk through the grounds of a Scottish castle or along a scenic peninsula. These educational walks guide small groups through diverse habitats and introduce the various flora found in each, from edible mushrooms to medicinal herbs. Participants will leave with a wealth of autumnal recipes to try out at home, as well as useful identification techniques for future excursions. All profits from the walks are used to offer free walks for refugees, asylum-seekers, and other marginalised groups across Scotland.
Register for Autumn Foraging at Blair Castle on 5 & 6 October and Craignish Peninsula on 26 October.
Barbara Walker: Being Here at the Whitworth
Barbara Walker’s art offers a poignant portrayal of Black presence and resilience in Britain. In Being Here, the artist’s first major exhibition, she addresses themes ranging from the policing of Black life to the search for belonging through evocative figurative works. Spanning her career from the 1990s to today, the varied curation features graphite drawings, rarely seen paintings and archival documents, alongside her Turner Prize-nominated series Burden of Proof.
Barbara Walker: Being Here is on at the Whitworth from 4 October until 26 January.
Words by Bébhinn Campbell.
Image 1: The Pond at Charleston, c. 1916, oil on canvas, 29.5 x 34.8 cm, Charleston Trust. © Estate of Vanessa Bell. All rights reserved, DACS 2024. Image credit: Charleston Trust.
Image 2: Gold table runner embroidered with flowers (detail) from Hill of Tarvit. © National Trust for Scotland.
Image 3: Textile conservator Bevan O’Daly working on a Jane Younger bedcover with an embroidered panel in the Glasgow Style from the Hill House. Photography by Phil Wilkinson.
Image 4: Courtesy of Frances Palmer.
Image 5: Vanessa Bell, Still Life with Plaster Head, 1947, oil on board, 53.5 x 44.5 cm, Charleston Trust. © Estate of Vanessa Bell. All rights reserved, DACS 2024. Image credit: Charleston Trust.
Image 6: Potted by Phyllis Keyes, decorated by Vanessa Bell, Music Room Vase, c. 1932, Ceramic, cast from an Italian or Spanish original, 22 cm x 13.5 cm x 13.5 cm, Charleston Trust. © Estate of Vanessa Bell. All rights reserved, DACS 2024. Image credit: Charleston Trust.
Image 7: Blair Castle & Gardens. Photography by Isabella Ramsay.
Image 8: Barbara Walker, Parade III, 2017. © Barbara Walker. All rights reserved, DACS/Artimage 2024. Photo: Chris Keenan 2024.
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