Dementia 2 – Confusion

House of Smalls


A new exhibition at the House of Smalls called ‘Between the Lines’ prompted me to create a new piece of work called ‘Dementia 2 – Confusion ’ for the Dollhouse gallery

‘Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.’ ~ Dylan Thomas. ‘Between The Lines’, an exhibition relating to ageing and all that comes with it.

House of Smalls
Exhibition artists
Exhibition artists

The exhibition takes place at The House of Smalls, Cambrook Court, High Street, Chipping Campden, Glos GL55 6AT from 3rd February – 2nd March 2024.

About the artwork: Dementia 2 – Confusion

For years I was unsure what ‘living with dementia’ actually meant, then in early 2023 the meaning became very clear. A family member started displaying signs of confusion. On reflection, we realised that there’d been subtle symptoms of Dementia there for some time – the kind of symptoms that aren’t really noticeable when you see someone day to day – until you start to question it.

Dementia is devastating. It’s a rollercoaster of physical exhaustion, and emotional and mental anguish for both patient and carers.

This piece is part of a series about an experience of Dementia and in particular Vascular Dementia.

Dementia 2 – Confusion

“Nothing feels the same…. I don’t know what’s going on” Mary S. 2023.

In the earlier stages, memory loss and confusion may be mild. The person with vascular dementia may be aware of — and frustrated by — the changes taking place, such as difficulty recalling recent events, making decisions or processing what was said by others. In the later stages, memory loss becomes far more severe. – Alzheimer’s Association.

Being forgetful, absentminded, or not quite remembering are often put down to old age or even menopause – but when does it become noticeable that there is something more going on?

Size 11.5 x 11.5cm. Hand embroidered cotton cloth, vintage Sylko thread.

Vascular dementia is the second most common type of dementia. – Alzheimer’s Research UK.

Dementia 2 - Confusion
Dementia 2 – Confusion

This is one of a series of small artworks that I’ve created that fit in perfectly with the scale of the Dollhouse exhibition.

Update: ‘Between the Lines’ dollhouse exhibition

Crone

House of Smalls

A new exhibition at the House of Smalls called ‘We Are The Witches’ prompted me to create a new piece of work called ‘Crone’ for the Dollhouse gallery. 

“Being a witch means living in this world consciously, powerfully, and unapologetically.” ~ Gabriela Herstik.

The exhibition takes place at The House of Smalls, Cambrook Court, High Street, Chipping Campden, Glos GL55 6AT from 11th November – 16th December 2023.

About ‘Chrone’

“The witches in fairy stories are almost invariably old women, like the crone—withered and malevolent. Old women no longer have to contend with the vagaries of the desiring gaze, and without an inherent eroticism a woman is a creature even less knowable than before. Being a witch promises us a lodestone: a legacy, a lineage of women, weird and wise, who came before us. And it promises a compass with which to navigate the unknowable territory of growing older.”  Sam George-Allen.

Chrone
Chrone

As a woman in my 50’s I’ve never really thought of myself as old.  This year however, something happened that made me think differently.

I was sitting alone in a train station, minding my own business, and avoiding engaging in conversation with two young men. One moved in close, called me a ‘Cranky Old Woman’ and both walked away. I felt uncomfortable and I know it was meant as an insult, but it really made me think. 

As women we go through years of unwanted attention from men to suddenly becoming invisible to them – but when do we cross this invisible line in time? – and at what point in our lives are we perceived by society as old, crones or witches?

Size 11.5 x 11.5cm. Hand embroidered cotton cloth, vintage Sylko thread.

Update: ‘We are the Witches’ Exhibition

Chrome
Chrome
We are the Witches Dollhouse Exhibition
We are the Witches Dollhouse Exhibition

I’m enjoying making small artworks that fit in perfectly with the scale of the Dollhouse exhibition.

Away from the Chaos

My latest piece – a mini artwork called Away from the Chaos – has been chosen by curator Ivonne Fernandez for the ”Miniatur-Ausstellung zum Thema Autismus – Autism” Doll House exhibition at Villa Mosaïk, Steubenstraße 79, Aschaffenburg, Germany.

The artwork

“Children on the autism spectrum often play in an inflexible, rule bound way. The features associated with autism, including cognitive rigidity, pervasive anxiety, and resistance to change.”

For people on the spectrum routine, repetition, and ritual bring order to an otherwise chaotic world.

The colour blue’s association to autism originated with the autism advocacy association known as Autism Speaks. Their “Light it Up Blue” campaign calls for people to wear blue to promote autism awareness. Blue is also the organisation’s primary colour and is associated with a calm feeling and acceptance in an otherwise loud and busy world for people on the spectrum.

Size 11.5 x 11.5cm, perle & embroidery thread, hand embroidered onto vintage cotton cloth.

Away from the Chaos hand embroidered art
Away from the Chaos
Away from the Chaos - detail
Away from the Chaos – detail

This is the third Doll House exhibition I’ve taken part in in Germany and the UK.

Artists taking part in the exhibition
Artists taking part in the exhibition