“We must make our lives as we sew, stitch by stich.” ~ Marceline Desbordes-Valmore
Exhausted. Joette Maue
Did the Goddess Athena pass down the art of embroidery to the world, as Greek mythology credits? The art of Embroidery has been traced back to the 5th Century in China and it is found in myriad cultures throughout the world.
The materials and techniques of embroidery carry a rich history, allowing artists of varying abilities to explore diverse concerns, images, and concepts. Many artists use embroidery to explore contemporary issues of gender, identity, cultural history and memory. Other artisans work to maintain embroidery’s significance as a folk-art tradition onto itself, communicating the history of every stitch to future generations.
Prompt: Create an embroidery using a word, phrase or combination of text and image that speaks to our times. Decorative elements should reinforce, amplify or act as a juxtaposition to the text.
Feel free to use your own embroidery materials or PICK UP* embroidery kits free to all community members. SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS.
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EXHIBIT: Participate in The D.R.A.W.’s Spring 2021 exhibition of the community’s embroidery works!
Haunted Wash House. Magali Rizzo
Pick up AN EMBROIDERY KIT!
at The D.R.A.W. (while supplies last) on these days and times through Dec 12th:
12pm – 4pm, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
12pm – 2pm, Saturday
Please email lara@drawkingston.org for further availability.
*Enter the studio using the doors located at 22-24 Iwo Jima Lane, Kingston, NY 12401
Embroidery Kit Includes:
plastic or wood embroidery hoop 6-18”
embroidery fabric that covers the extends beyond the edges of the hoop on all sides
embroidery floss in colors of your choice
embroidery needles**, also called sharps
**smaller diameter needles should be used for lighter weight fabric and larger needles should be used for heavier fabric. most common needle sizes are 75/11, 80/12 and 90/14
Embroidery Exhibition, SPRING 2021
If you are using/purchasing your own hoop and would like to exhibit your work in The D.R.A.W.’s Spring 2021 exhibition, please keep your hoop size to 12” in diameter or less so we can accommodate all participating community members.
Deadline:
Return your completed embroidery projects to The D.R.A.W. by January 31, 2021 to be included in an exhibition in The D.R.A.W.’s gallery in the Spring of 2021 (opening date TBD).
Embroidery evolved from the practical act of mending. Mending, patching and reinforcing cloth to extend the life of a piece of fabric, clothing, a tablecloth, etc. led to the development of sewing techniques and stitches that initially served specific functions for various shapes, materials and uses. Mending allowed working-class people (predominately women in the West) to save money through reuse and helped families survive poverty and harsh winters. Menders passed employable skills onto their children, while they also learned the value of sewing stitches of beauty into their everyday lives. From the practical stitches of mending arose motifs, images and language made with sewn marks that came to symbolize cultures, identity and status.
The word embroidery comes from the French word broderie, meaning embellishment. In the Medieval Islamic world, the presence of embroidery, the level of its intricacy and the motifs represented were all symbols of social status and wealth. In 18th century England, acquiring the skill of embroidery marked a girl’s passage into womanhood. Machined embroidery began in 19th century France, and has since become widespread. As pre-marked patterns and less expensive materials and threads became more accessible, the markers of status and wealth have shifted.
Women in Jazz #7. Dindga McCannon
Historically, embroidery was known as “women’s work” but as gender norms and barriers around types of work have broken down, a resurgence of respect for the value of artisan skills in Western culture has gained strength. Embroidery has come to serve the purpose of beauty, meditation and creative communication for people of all ages and identities. It provides a mark-making language and an opportunity for communities to gather. Stitches have come to signify support, healing and a sustained physical practice.
Now, you may find embroidery on everything from royal garments to everyday tablecloths, elaborately patched jeans, Western style shirts, cherished religious objects, high fashion and visual art in museums. Embroidery is both a fine art and a folk art. The materials, tools and techniques are now accessible to everyone and used for purposes both practical and purposeful. Some stitches are a means to an end, some are purely aesthetic, and many continue to hold cultural or literary significance. Political movements have sprung from sewing circles, and the perceived banality of their purpose created a cover for those seeking connection. Secret messages have been embedded in stitches to keep their messengers safe from harm and to guide others towards freedom. Generations have reconnected through embroidery’s threads.
