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Algarve |
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Christmas late-night shopping at ‘off the wall’ gallery
• 13 Dec 2007 •
 RUN by enamel artist, Susan Searle, ‘Galeria Off the Wall’ in Alte, is packed full of unusual gifts and glorious paintings. On the next two Thursday evenings – before Christmas – Susan will be staying open until 9pm with mince pies and mulled wine to add a festive flavour.
The eclectic collection of items for sale includes work by some of the Algarve’s best-known talents and some up-and-coming names.
There are intricate mosaics by Petra Kartak and three-dimensional wooden village-scenes, suitable for hanging on the wall, carved by John Greenslade. Michael Howitt is a wood turner crafting plates, bowls and goblets, as well as more unusual items such as pens. Liz Allen paints local landscapes, as does David Haines.
Due to his distinctive style, David is frequently referred to as the Algarve’s answer to Van Gogh.
Perhaps the gallery’s most unique exhibits are handmade tapestries by Gudrun Robinson. They are produced by the use of an ancient device known as a locker hook. Her work includes hand stitched replicas of modern abstract paintings using wools from Arraiolos, a town in Portugal renowned for its high quality yarn.
A few communities in Ireland, Australia and North America still use the locker hook for making rugs and blankets. In most other places the technique has become defunct. Gudrun, who is German, first came across the locker hook when on holiday in the Scottish islands.
She makes stitches on a cotton canvas that has a regular hole pattern as the base. The locker hook is a sturdy needle with a crochet hook at one end and an eye at the other.
The hook is used to pull up loops of yarn through the row of holes. The threaded needle then secures them so that a row of locker hooked stitches is made.
Gudrun is almost certainly the only person to have thought of using a locker hook to make works of art based on the modern masters. Each painting is replicated with stitch-perfect accuracy. Other tapestries have been worked to her own designs such as a maze of complex geometric shapes forming a Roman labyrinth.
She completes special orders that are as varied as Picasso’s ‘Blue Nude’ and a carpet detailing a family’s heraldic Coat of Arms.
Also at the gallery is her book explaining the craft of locker hooking and kits for people who want to try making items for themselves. On display are her delightful greetings cards with delicate woollen motifs.
Other hand made cards and small gifts, suitable as stocking-fillers, are on sale at the gallery.
Opening hours: -
Open December 13 & 20 until 9pm
At other times open on weekdays from 10am until 5pm
Location: In the centre of Alte, on a side road close to the front door of the parish church. |  Return to Top
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