An art project aimed at uniting the community after the trauma of lockdown saw over 200 people contribute to making an enormous memory quilt.
The event at The Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society was organised by Falmouth-based artist, Jessica Voke.
The five-day event explored the traumatic experiences of first time mums during the periods of national lockdown in a week of communal making, to which the whole town was invited.
Setting up an exhibition and workroom in the ground floor gallery room of The Poly, the people of Falmouth were given an open invitation to drop in, grab a cup of tea, and spend some time working together with strangers, slow-stitching an enormous community quilt.
Each participant hand-embroidered a small scrap of fabric, which was then added to the patchwork by a volunteer team of quilting experts collaborating with textile students from the university. The resulting quilt of vibrant rainbow colours grew as the week progressed.
Before sitting down to stitch, participants were invited to listen to an audio installation of local mothers speaking about their difficulties during lockdown.
People found themselves reliving traumatic memories and even shedding tears and sharing embraces with fellow stitchers, who not long before had been strangers.
Jessica Voke she believes it was necessary for the community to assemble and address the traumas caused by isolation, in order for healing to begin.
The event was very well attended, with over 200 local people contributing to the quilt, including the Falmouth mayor Steve Eva.
“The demographic was wonderfully mixed, enabling older residents to spend precious time sitting together with students and discussing their differing experiences of both lockdown and daily life,” said Jessica.
“Plenty of lockdown mums attended, seeking catharsis for what they endured. Attendees commented on the remarkable atmosphere in the gallery as the richly-embellished quilt gradually emerged; each stitch made by a Falmouthian during conversation with a stranger. “ As such, the quilt is the community's connectedness made visible.
The week ended with a ritualistic enfolding of some local mums in the finished quilt, alongside powerful poetry performances.
Finally, an emotional toast was raised to the end of social isolation and the 50-strong crowd raised their glasses and cheered for a more connected future.
The finished community quilt and audio installation will be on display at the Falmouth Art Gallery, 24th April – 20th May 2023.
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