A Cumbrian artist is pinning pandemic experiences to a washing line in a new exhibition.
Rosie Galloway-Smith was commissioned by Lakeland Arts to develop a reflective response to COVID-19.
Her innovative idea – weathering the storm – a washing line of responses on the lawn at Blackwell – was selected as the stand-out concept from dozens of applications.
What does the exhibition entail?
Weathering the storm is the latest addition to the exhibition which also features a giant tapestry by Grayson Perry, photographs by Cumbrian photographers Juliet Klottrup and Joseph Hardman as well as work by community groups as part of Lakeland Arts’ MEND project.
The first stage of the creative process was to connect with Cumbrian communities. Rosie invited Cumbrian people to explain what lockdown meant for them, the environment they inhabited, the problems they faced, how they found comfort, and what stories they wanted to share.
Nearly 70 people responded and Rosie used individual stories and collective experiences from the replies to design the unique textile patterns on the garments. The clothing on the washing line is made from digitally designed and printed patterns based on peoples’ responses. The artwork will be left outside and face the Cumbrian winter – to represent how we have all faced the same storm.
This is the largest single-artist commission at Blackwell for more than a decade and links personal experiences and stories of people through a unique textile display. Galloway-Smith’s weathering the storm forms part of the venue’s new exhibition Class, Covid & Cumbria which is open at Blackwell – the Arts & Crafts house in Bowness-on-Windermere – until February 27.
