Julia Caprara

Article Added: 12/11/2008
Julia Caprara

It is with great sadness that The Textile Directory has learnt of the death of Opus School of Textiles principal Julia Caprara on 24 October. Julia was an encouraging teacher and a popular artist who has inspired great work in many of her students.

Back in 2001 Julia created a special piece for the Knitting and Stitching show which comprised a ball of barbed wire inspired by the terror attacks in New York. Her intention was for visitors to attach messages of sympathy and support to the ball as they visited the show – as a gesture to the victims and their families.

Julia’s only regret at the time was that the barbed wire was fresh, bright and new and not the ageing patina she associated with World War I sights. The organisers have since found that ball of barbed wire and over the years it has acquired that aged patina Julia was hoping for.

The organisers of the Knitting and Stitching show will be placing the ball in the entrance hall of the Harrogate event and invite everyone who knew Julia (or knew of her through her books, art or teaching) to stitch or handwrite their messages for her and attach them to the wall as you arrive. Show organiser Andrew Salmon says, “She loved colour – so please don’t be timid. Black and white was never her thing! Please don’t think you have to put your thoughts into words. Julia would never have thought you needed to be that literal!”

If you are not able to visit the Harrogate show but would like to contribute to the wall then please post your messages to Creative Exhibitions Ltd, c/o Harrogate International Centre, Kings Road, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG1 5LA. Please ensure your messages are no bigger than the size of a postcard and arrive by 23 November when the show opens. The messages will be presented to Julia’s husband Alex after the show.

Everyone here at The Textile Directory would like to offer our condolences to Alex and all at Opus at this very sad time.