House of Smalls Archives

23rd September 202423rd September 2024

Insomnia

A new exhibition at the House of Smalls called ‘The Time of Her Life IV’ prompted me to create a new piece of work called ‘Insomnia’ for the Dollhouse gallery.

The exhibition takes place at The House of Smalls, 103 Henderson Row, Stockbridge, Edinburgh EH3 5BB from the 28th September – 27th October 2024.

‘This exhibition will feature the very diverse and relatable work of women artists responding to their thoughts, feelings, and emotions as they traverse the restless waters of perimenopause, menopause, before and beyond. It’s always a very emotive, honest, powerful, funny, and uplifting show.’ ~ House of Smalls.

Insomnia

‘In the morning you beg to sleep more, in the afternoon you are dying to sleep, and at night you refuse to sleep’. – Unknown

Difficulty sleeping is one of the most common complaints of women during menopause.

Changes in our hormones during menopause can impact our mental health as well as our physical health. Feelings of anxiety, stress and depression are closely linked with insomnia.

Size 11.5 x 11.5cm. Machine and hand embroidered cotton cloth, Aurifil thread.

This piece forms part of a series of small works created for the House of Smalls.

27th July 20243rd September 2024

Peterloo

A new exhibition at the House of Smalls called ‘Moral Fibre’ prompted me to create a new piece of work called ‘Peterloo’ for the Dollhouse gallery.

The exhibition takes place at The House of Smalls, 103 Henderson Row, Stockbridge, Edinburgh EH3 5BB from 1st – 25th August 2024. Part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

‘A good life is like a weaving. Energy is created in the tension. The struggle, the pull and tug are everything’ ~ Joan Erikson

Artists in the Dollhouse 'Moral Fibre' exhibition — Artists in the Dollhouse ‘Moral Fibre’ exhibition

Peterloo

“If we don’t vote, we are ignoring history and giving away the future” Pat Mitchell.

Our vote matters.

With each election, I think of those who came before us. Those who fought to give us the Right to Vote. Emelia Pankhurst and the fight for Women’s Suffrage; and the peaceful protestors at Peterloo in 1819.

On 16 August 1819, 60,000 people congregated in St Peter’s Field in Manchester – the largest ever political gathering of working-class people. Folk from towns across Lancashire marched to the field carrying banners with slogans supporting political reform and the right to vote; included were workers from Middleton near Rochdale, carrying a banner of locally woven blue silk, with the words ‘Liberty, Fraternity, Unity, Strength’ in hand-painted gold lettering.

Their peaceful protest turned bloody when Manchester magistrates gave orders to disperse the crowd. The Yeomanry pulled out their sabres and charged the crowd on horseback. An estimated 18 people died and more than 650 were injured in the chaos.

The tragic incident is known as the Peterloo Massacre. A moment when ordinary people stepped up to protest in a way that has made its mark in history and with a legacy that lives on to today.

Size 11.5 x 11.5cm. Hand embroidered cotton cloth, DMC embroidery thread.

The Middleton banner is part of the Touchstones Rochdale archives.

Credit: Touchstones Rochdale, People’s History Museum.

This piece forms part of a series of small works created for the House of Smalls.

Update August 2024:

Peterloo in the ‘Moral Fibre’ Dollhouse exhibition.

3rd February 202429th February 2024

Dementia 2 – Confusion

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

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.

“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.