Sculpting a Continent’

Andrew Warburton is using textiles to draw attention to the increase of colossal icebergs, some the size of New York, breaking off from Antarctica in these ‘calving events’ as a result of climate change. His textile installation was displayed every Saturday throughout June 2021 in Dewsbury town centre and was intended to raise awareness about climate change and hopefully inspire people to make changes to lessen our impact on the environment.

 

The first instalment of the hand tufted textile commission coincided with World Environment Day. Alongside the commission Andrew created opportunities for the public to have a go at hand tufting and contribute to a community created hand tufted textile by creating their own tufted lines on a stretched rug canvas.

Andrew has been designing and making hand tufted rugs for commercial and commissioned floor or wall artwork for over 30 years. He lives in Dewsbury and has a rug making company in Mirfield called Area Rugs. Andrew uses local wool spinners, yarn dyers and suppliers wherever possible to create his bespoke rugs and carpets.

Sculpting a Continent now has a new, permanent home in Kirklees College Pioneer Higher Skills Centre in Dewsbury town centre. We’re thrilled that Kirklees College has kindly agreed to give his commission a home in the new centre and hope it will inspire students to find out about this locally made creative practice with locally sourced material as well as stimulate discussions around climate change.

Andrew’s project is part of the Dewsbury Creative Town Programme funded by Kirklees Council and was commissioned in partnership with Woven in Kirklees.

Photo credit: Bokehgo Photography

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