The Stitch Lives Of London – ‘A Modern Day Bayeux Tapestry’

 Rosalind Wyatt's art textile installation tells the story of London in stitch through historical garments and artefacts. The Stitch Lives Of London will be housed in a building by the Thames and its 100 metre length will mirror the undulations of the river.  Words of Londoners- rich and poor, famous and obscure- will be sewn into the very garments they have worn.  Hats, gloves, garments and shoes become the historical “canvas” for the epic story of London. Wyatt will direct the work of artists, writers, researchers, curators, historians, architects, and designers.

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The first piece completed for the exhibition is titled If Shoes Could Talk  and tells the story of 15 year old Mary Pearse, the daughter of a London shoemaker. The tiny Edwardian silk satin dancing shoes, donated by the Ward family from Wandsworth, are the canvas for these words written by a clerk at the Poor House where Mary stayed:

Mary Pearse ~ 15 years old ~ …states, that her Father is a shoemaker – & that her mother is living ~ that she has never been from home, till the evil example of a Sister, who has been a Prostitute some time, led her to think of quitting her Parents. She stole from her Father £7 ~ & took up her abode at No. 6 Charles street, Drury Lane, where she spent £5 ~ of the money, the remainder being recovered by her Father.

This sounds like a fascinating exhibition.



Read more about the project here

Via