Actor and advocate Chloe Hayden makes her curatorial debut with “Powerhouse Materials: Textiles”. The free exhibition is at the Powerhouse Museum, Castle Hill.

The exhibition explores the Powerhouse textiles collection, with items speaking to Hayden’s sensory and cerebral obsessions. Each item centres on themes of horses, country life, fashion, and the importance of difference. Objects include Miu Miu boots, a robot bull, and papier-mâché cows. The selection of objects came from over 500,000 pieces in the powerhouse collection. Outside of Hayden’s choices, you can also explore a range of sewing machinery, embroidery, knitting, dyeing, weaving and patchwork.

Alongside the exhibition, there are free tours and activities, including the “Powerhouse Materials: Textiles Studio”. This workshop will run through the school holidays. It will enable visitors to create teddy bears inspired by the textiles in the exhibition. The activity reflects Hayden’s obsession with Teddy’s and the importance of reimagination.

“Powerhouse Materials: Textiles” will open every Saturday and Sunday until November. After this display, the “Powerhouse Materials” series will continue, with “Powerhouse Materials: Paper” co-curated by acclaimed children’s author Andy Griffiths.

Co-curator Anni Turnbull joined us to talk about this sensory-rich and diverse exhibition.