Three Generations: Patch 1
Patch
-
Creator
-
Lesley
-
Story
-
Three Generations: Patch 1
1 2 3
GRANDMOTHER MOTHER DAUGHTER
Created by Anne Elizabeth Collins (18.03.1938 – 19.11.2015)
Method: Cross Stitch
My mother’s creative identity was forged as a result of being a white, poor, working class, European girl/woman living in a Western, Christian patriarchal society that gave her limited access to formal or arts education (left school at 15).
The judgement on what was art, who could produce art using what materials and focusing on what subjects, who commissioned art or owned art lay in the hands of white, male, European Christian men. Art by ‘others’ was not valued unless seen as having a monetary value or as evidence of conquest and colonization. Art primarily represented male white superiority, status and power.
My mother was to them ‘other’ as was anyone who did not look like, live like or hold the same political, societal, spiritual or world view. As such any art that she and ‘others’ fought to produce was not judged to be art at all and was not often seen by others and was and still is undervalued.
Despite all of these barriers she found ways to make art both individually and collectively, learning and sharing skills at every opportunity through her work and leisure activities, she created and used art to connect people and preserve culture, history and give herself and people a ‘voice’. In the process during her life and work, she produced beautiful ‘art’ (in her case particularly textiles and calligraphy).
One project she participated in was the Henfield villagers’ creation of cross stitch kneelers for the church. Hundreds of kneelers were produced by villagers on the theme of the natural world.
My mother gave me books, an opportunity for further education, a love of nature and the arts. She inspired me to never stop appreciating and creating ‘art’. This has been essential to my own creative identity, career and wellbeing.
-
Rights Holder
-
Lesley
-
Rights
-
All rights reserved.
