A finale exhibition by Ryde artist Jan Frith completes her mini tour of Isle of Wight venues.
Exhibited work celebrates sewing contributions and memories from Island participants following a two month series of creative sewing workshops led by Jan.
The exhibition features an old Singer Sewing Machine embedded with memories and impressive technology alongside sewn textile works from groups at Independent Arts, Network Ryde, Ryde Library, and with photography of some of the groups’ sewing hands by guest artist, Vincent Dupont-Blackshaw.
Sewing Memories on tour
Artist Jan Frith’s 2024 Sewing Memories project began at Ryde Library 2nd-22nd February, before moving to Quay Arts 26th Feb-24th March, and finishing 2nd-29th April at Independent Arts.
The project features her ongoing interactive artwork comprising an old Singer sewing machine embedded with digital technology and now containing over 200 sewing memories.
How it works
Stories about sewing and memories of people who have sewn can be read by turning the handle of Jan’s Singer sewing machine.
Originally the artwork was inspired by 1940’s stories of ‘Make Do and Mend’, but it now reflects a diverse collection of people who have sewn.
Whitmore: An impressively engineered and robust digital artwork
Ian Whitmore, Arts manager at Quay Arts says,
“It has been fascinating to see the different configurations of Jan’s Sewing Memories and how different groups at each of the various exhibition settings have responded to the modified Singer machine.
“It’s an impressively engineered and robust digital artwork that clearly references past and present and joins people together through the shared experience of sewing. Jan has also done a great job making her work very accessible and inclusive.”
A series of creative sewing sessions
Alongside the exhibitions Jan has led a series of creative sewing sessions supported in partnerships with Ryde Library, Network Ryde, Quay Arts and Independent Arts.
At Jan’s evening ‘Sew, Style and Upcycle’ sessions held at Network Ryde and Independent Arts young people were encouraged to experiment creatively with clothes and textiles for their own fun personalization and individuality.
‘Make Do and Mend’
‘Make Do and Mend’ was re-contextualised more meaningfully for a younger generation to appreciate that sewing skills are just as relevant and important: upcycling is on-trend and fashionable as part of a growing need to become more sustainable.
Creative participants in daytime sessions at Ryde Library and Independent Arts Creative Café group shared their sewing memories and experimented with different hand sewing and embroidery techniques.
Stitched textile artworks include an impressive array of skills as well as reflecting unique and personal stories of sewing.
Photography by Vincent Dupont-Blackshaw
Photographs of participants’ sewing hands by guest artist photographer Vincent Dupont-Blackshaw are included alongside. Vincent has captured the essence and joy of their careful hand sewing precision and concentration.
Tindall: Jan has brought a small scale humble Singer sewing machine to life
Kerry Tindall, Arts Manager at Independent Arts says,
“The way Jan has brought a small scale humble Singer sewing machine to life and amplified sewing for a multi-generational audience is important for our community participants, especially by giving individual voices and personal memory contributions a central stage in the exhibition space.
“We have not hosted a technology artist before at Independent Arts and it has been great to see increased interest from the scrolling memories content displayed on the street facing monitor.”
Dodd: Delighted that we have a collaborative sewing collage to display
Jo Dodd, Library Manager Ryde says,
“From singing about sewing to sharing memories, to exploring creative sewing from a new angle and people being able to experience Jan’s lovely old Singer machine reading the embedded memories, Jan has brought a lot of fun and sewing engagement to our community library. I am especially delighted that we have a collaborative sewing collage to display as a lasting sewing legacy at our library.”
Frith: Evokes a whole range of thoughts and memories
Jan says,
“For many people the act of sewing, either through handling an old Singer or picking up a needle and thread to sew by hand, evokes a whole range of thoughts and memories, connecting past and present generations.
“It’s wonderful to see the new memories that have been recalled and sewn together and to see the sewing hands as part of the ongoing Sewing Memories project.”
Where and when
The Celebrating Sewing and Sewing Memories exhibition can be seen at Independent Arts until 29th April 2024.
Entry to see the exhibition is free and opening times are Monday – Saturday: Weekdays between 10am-4.30pm and Saturdays between Midday-2pm. Independent Arts is at 48 The High Street, Newport.
Independent Arts
Independent Arts is a leading Isle of Wight health and wellbeing charity that provides creative enrichment and support for all stages of life, using the arts to improve quality of life and delivering vital services across the Island. To find out more about the charity and to consider donating, visit the website.
And if you would like to contribute a sewing memory of your own to the project, you can take part here.
Jan Frith
Jan Frith is a technology and film artist whose work explores past and present, chance and control, and human/technological relations. She
studied at Westminster University and Central St Martins (BA and MA Fine Art respectively). Find out more by visiting her website.
The Sewing Memories project is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
News shared by Jan, in her own words. Ed
