A Morning with Sue and Rhiannon McLean

The detailed stitchings and heartfelt poems of Sue and Rhiannon McLean are striking a chord with the Ashburton Art Gallery visitors.

“Following the untimely death of my 18 year old son Lachlan in a house fire in 2007, I experienced a grief so profound it threatened my whole being. I came to realise that in order to move forward I needed to not only grieve ‘with my head’, but also to grieve ‘with my heart’.” – Sue McLean

You can’t help but feel drawn into these immaculately stitched, beautifully presented works of art. Each stitching marks Sue’s personal tumultuous journey through the grieving process, with every single thread, button and bead painstakingly and lovingly selected for a reason, and from her own collection.

So far the Gallery staff have had the pleasure of talking to many visitors about their feelings and responses to this particular exhibition. Almost everyone has experienced the death of a loved one, whether it be a family member, a pet or a friend, we are finding that people are relating to the works, and are walking away feeling touched and inspired. With the common comment being “I know someone that has to view this show!”

Both Sue and daughter Rhiannon will be at the Ashburton Art Gallery on Friday 27th July at 11:00am to share their story, and to discuss their work. This is a free event; please RSVP to the Gallery if you wish to attend, numbers are required for refreshments.