Threads of Survival

I’m please to announce that Covid 19 Part 1 has been selected to take part in the Threads of Survival exhibition. This touring exhibition will be in the J.H.Adams & Sons building, Adams Heritage Centre, 17 Main Street, Littleport, CB6 1PH, 1st – 29th October 2022 and in Chorley in February 2023. Check for the latest exhibition dates here.

COVID-19 Part 1 in the Threads of survival exhibition
COVID-19 Part 1 part of the Threads of survival exhibition

A quote from a recent Threads of Survival blog post

“Thoughts on the impact of solid words gathered by Lancashire textile artist Catherine Hill. Threads Of Survival were thrilled to receive an email from someone who had seen our work on Instagram and wanted to know if there was any way we could include her work. We’re proud of the fact that our project has been focused on anyone and everyone coming on board and having a go – no matter what background or skills/experience. But we have to acknowledge that we’ve been blessed with textile and visual artists who have joined us and been incredibly generous with their time and their creative ideas. It’s been a real support knowing that our grassroots community approach is recognised as valuable by professional artists.

Collecting words and phrases of the Covid era has been an element of our quilts … Catherine Hill, a Lancashire textile artist, chose to capture the mental state of so many of us dealing with the repetitive routine and circular patterns of the LockDown year 2020/21. Catherine’s work has been shown in galleries and exhibitions recently and we discussed the decision to put her textile pieces behind glass and inside frames. We’ve had our own discovery with one of our patches and Catherine agreed that placing textiles in a frame and behind glass gives the work a different presence to the viewer. Catherine’s Covid19 – Part One joins us for the winter tour into 2023 and we are delighted that she has asked to join the collection.

This is what she has to say about her piece. Some people write memoirs or biographies – I make hand-stitched embroideries. Originally my art was created for my children as a medium to share my own childhood memories and has since evolved and expanded to collect and record aspects of my own daily life – this included life during the first UK lockdown which I felt needed documenting in some way. The piece is about our shared experiences in March 2020. It was designed in late summer and stitched just before the November 2020 lockdown. As I was stitching it, I found myself doubting that some of these things had actually occurred – no planes in the sky and the loud sound of birdsong.  We all lived through a joint experience in March that we’ll remember for years to come.”

Threads of Survival blog.
Threads of Survival logo
Threads of Survival

I’m honoured to have this piece included in the project.

Update October 2022:

Images from the Littleport exhibition.

Covid-19 Part 1 in the Littleport exhibition
Covid-19 Part 1 in the Littleport exhibition

Update January 2023:

The touring exhibition is showcasing artworks at St Laurence’s Church Gallery, Chorley, 31st January – 26th February 2023.

Update March 2023:

The exhibition visits Halifax in the Calderdale Valley, 7th March – 13th April 2023.

The exhibition comes to Halifax Central Library & Archives, Square Road, Halifax HX1 1QG, as part of a nationwide tour that has seen the quilts visiting locations across the country, including Gawthorpe Hall in Burnley, the Royal Museum in Truro and Dewsbury Minster. After Halifax it will be moving to Rotherham Minster, in May.

Update May 2023:

The touring exhibition reaches Rotherham, South Yorkshire 4th – 30th May 2023.

In May 2023, Rotherham welcomes ‘Threads of Survival’, a national exhibition of 28 quilts and textile art made by over 160 people. The artworks will be showcased in two venues in the centre of Rotherham: Riverside Gallery in Riverside House and Rotherham Minster.

Update June 2023:

The touring exhibition visits the Huddersfield Art Gallery Unit 7,  The Piazza Centre, Princess Alexandra Walk, Huddersfield HD1 2RS, 9th June – 10th July 2023.

Covid 19 at the Huddersfield Art Gallery
Covid 19 at the Huddersfield Art Gallery

Image courtesy: Laura Nathan

Huddersfield Temporary Art Gallery
Huddersfield Temporary Art Gallery
A quick photo before the artwork os collected - Covid 19 Part 1
A quick photo before the artwork os collected – Covid 19 Part 1
Thank you to the curators for caring for my work
Thank you to the curators for caring for my work

New Grooves Exhibition in Notting Hill

Detail from "Covid 19. Part 1" - A Red hand embroidery documenting our shared experiences from 2020

I’m pleased to announce that “COVID -19 Part 1” has been selected for the New Grooves Exhibition in Notting Hill, London.

This exhibition of prints will feature images of artwork from each of the many virtual exhibitions hosted by New Grooves Gallery during the pandemic.

The exhibition runs from 13th – 21st August 2021 at the Blaze Image Gallery, 111 Talbot Road, Notting Hill, London W11 2AT.

New Grooves Exhibition in Notting Hill information poster
New Grooves Exhibition in Notting Hill Poster
Embroidered text sharing a personal journey through Lockdown 2020 New Grooves Exhibition in Notting Hill
COVID 19 – Part 1: a personal journey through Lockdown 2020

An online exhibition preview is available where you can and vote for your favourite artwork – Please vote for me!

screen shot - exhibition preview featuring Covid 19 artwork by catherine hill
Screen shot – Exhibition preview.

“We would like to exhibit EVERYONE’s work …. All artworks will be exhibited in the form of prints so that everyone has the opportunity to exhibit their work! We’re donating all the profits to Create Charity, a charity whose focus is on creative and mental health – something which is super important to us.” – Zoe & Eleanor, curators at New Grooves.

Update: So happy to read the exhibition review by ‘Round Lemon’. Here’s a quote from it;

“Among the many forms of art presented like jewelry, sculpture and sea glass is a much needed emphasis on the art of embroidery, a form of art that is underrepresented and underrated in the world as we know it through spectacular artists like Tracy Davidson, Claire Graves and Catherine Hill.”

Round Lemon

Alone Together Exhibition

COVID-19 Part 1 in the Threads of survival exhibition

I’m pleased to announce that “COVID -19 Part 1” has been selected for the Alone Together Exhibition. The exhibition can be viewed online throughout Spring 2021 via the Gallery website.

Alone Together exhibition poster
Alone Together Exhibition poster
Alone Together Virtual Exhibition Space
Alone Together Virtual Exhibition Space

Screen Print - Covid-19 Part 1 in the exhibition space
Screen Print – Covid-19 Part 1 in the exhibition space
Screen Print - Covid-19 Part 1 in the exhibition space
Screen Print – Covid-19 Part 1 in the exhibition space
Exhibition Artists - Alone Together Exhibition
A selection of the Exhibition Artists
Covid-19 PArt 1 - part of the Alone Together Exhibition
Covid-19 Part 1

“Covid-19 has isolated the public more than ever. The concept for this project was to document the societal shift due to Covid-19 and examine if and how the public opinion on social sustainability had changed due to the pandemic. I believe it is necessary to reflect on what we have been through and to have a virtual ‘space’ to come together in the midst of the struggle. This exhibition has been named ‘Alone, Together’ because of the unity we have found amidst the isolation.

The exhibition aims to document experiences of Covid-19 and lockdown, gathering a range of outlooks and responses of these events from a wide range of people. Gathering work from varied ages and backgrounds- anyone is welcome to take part. I hope that this exhibition can bring people together, create a community, and demonstrate that even though we are all navigating uncertain and difficult times, the unity we have found is one amazing takeaway from this experience.

Please explore the website to view the full exhibition and get some exposure for the wonderful artists exhibited. Feel free to share! Happy exploring!” The exhibition and website were designed and built virtually by Shannon Skye Robinson (Curator).