Wednesday, 9 October 2024

Event Details

'Threads of Life', by participants at the 'Threads of Life exhibition' workshops, Liverpool World Museum, 2009; facilitated by Janet Wilkinson and Susan Beck. (Photo: Martin Melaugh)

'Threads of Life', by participants at the 'Threads of Life exhibition' workshops, Liverpool World Museum, 2009; facilitated by Janet Wilkinson and Susan Beck. (Photo: Martin Melaugh)

 

Exhibition:From Threads of Life to Following the Thread
Description: "Following the Thread" developed out of an exhibition of arpilleras and quilts from Chile, Peru and Northern Ireland at the World Museum Liverpool in 2009 which was part of the Liverpool Irish Festival 2009. Susan Beck and Janet Wilkinson designed and delivered a series of 20 workshops on the theme of Heritage, to enable people in Liverpool to create personal arpilleras and figures that told their own stories. Two textile hangings from this project, 'Threads of Life' and a collection of small arpilleras by the Granby Soft Furnishing Group, were displayed at the Verbal Arts Centre in 2010.

This exhibition was part of a continuous series of arpillera and quilt exhibitions hosted by the Verbal Arts Centre in Derry and curated by Roberta Bacic, from 2008 to 2013. Each exhibition, comprised of a piece or pieces created by community groups from different parts of the island, other countries, or individual women, was displayed for a number of weeks before being replaced with a new exhibition.
Commissioned by: Verbal Arts Centre, and curator
Date(s): 15th August 2010 - 31st October 2010
Venue: Verbal Arts Centre, Derry / Londonderry, Northern Ireland
Stable Lane and Mall Wall, Bishop Street Within, Derry/Londonderry, BT48 6PU, Northern Ireland
Curator: Roberta Bacic
Facilitator: Verbal Arts Centre
Outcome: The sentiments expressed by workshop facilitator Susan Beck are illustrative of the power of arpilleras, particularly arpillera dolls, to connect with viewers: "Whatever the amount of time taken or the degree of skill applied, the arpillera figures make an instant personal connection with their maker. They are truly little people made of cloth, and are very powerful indeed."




Documents: • Exhibition leaflet - Aug 2010 - view
 




Textiles Displayed:Threads of Life
Granby Soft Furnishing Group