Once a month join this informal creative workshop for some stitching, chatting and sharing, inspired by the museum’s collections.
Create and share textile responses to the topics explored, using techniques taught by artist Helen Mather.
Bring along your own sewing projects to work on while watching and listening, or switch on your camera and microphone to join in the conversation and shape ideas worth fighting for to be explored in future workshops.
Keep an eye on Instagram @phmmcr to see the latest creations, and share yours using #fabricofprotest.
All textile abilities welcome, suitable for ages 11+ (under 18s must have an accompanying adult present during session).
Click the ‘show previous dates’ button to find other Fabric of Protest resources, starting from June 2020.
This month’s inspiration:
One of ten treasures from PHM’s collection, the political print Universal Suffrage or The Scum Uppermost by George Cruikshank, 1819. The print was designed to warn people of the dangers of reform and revolution just one month before the Peterloo Massacre of August 1819; when at a time of inequality, working people were demanding the right to vote.
Throughout lockdown we have seen inequalities made more visible. People are once again calling for change, reform, and a dismantling of the systems that do not work for everyone. This resource shows you how to make a 3D textile piece which will reflect the piling up of symbolic objects in the political print. With words stitched onto them, the 3D shapes can be dismantled and reassembled in ways to demonstrate ideas for change.