On our trip to London in April, Bob and I visited the Wellcome Collection - which describes itself as 'the free museum for the incurably curious' [Well worth visiting, decent loos and coffee shop, close to Euston Station] Fortunately for those of us 'out in the sticks' they organise touring exhibitions around the country. I was delighted that Georgie Meadows' "Stitched Drawings" was coming to our fantastic local Museum at Gressenhall for the summer. I went along with friends from the Craft Group I've recently joined.
Georgie's images are inspired by the elderly people with whom she has worked - those with depression, dementia or Alzheimer's. [None of these images are portraits of a specific individual] Her concern is to show care- without assuming, or categorising, especially when their health issues have resulted in loss of identity and control. She wants to encourage empathy, and celebrate their courage as they struggle with life.
It was somehow quite pertinent to see this exhibition displayed in a building which was originally a workhouse, where many elderly folk ended there days - and then later became a council OAP home. As a teenager I came here with my Dad to visit church members, some of whom had the beginings of dementia.
Our craft group found her free motion embroidery skills were excellent, but more importantly, we were all moved by the love and understanding she shows towards these elderly folk.
I apologise that the lighting made it hard for me to photograph the captions. But I feel these amazing pieces do not need any comments from me.
In recent days, two friends have lost family members to dementia/Alzheimer's. My heart aches for them - and hope they are able to remember the good days, before their loved ones became so ill, and relationships became harder. These stitched drawings serve as a reminder that there is still a spark there, somewhere, of the real soul inside the aching, unco-operative ageing body. I have great respect for those who care for these folk, with all their frustrations and difficulties - and deepest sympathies for those who have lost precious parents or partners in this way,
That's lovely! I lost my Dad's Mum to Alzheimer's and it was a long progression of deterioration for her.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to read this. ❤️
DeleteSo moving
ReplyDeleteYou would have loved the drawing and stitching, K!
DeleteThese are outstanding images, and how they have been achieved by embroidery is a marvel. The captions are spot on too. I recognise them all from my time working in the mental health field.
ReplyDeleteThe expressions have been captured brilliantly.
DeleteDementia is a terrible illness. My mother's aunt and the aunt's daughter had it. My mother had the beginnings of dementia and memory loss due to strokes affecting certain parts of her brain; I remember crying the day she asked me who I was. Now, one of my cousins has been diagnosed with it and sometimes, I wonder if I might be the next because I seem to be getting more and more forgetful!
ReplyDeleteSo sad to have lost many dear relations in this way
DeleteMy Uncle died from Alzheimer's only a couple of months ago. We lost the man he was a couple of years ago and the awful disease claimed him this year. The stitched pictures are amazing and also highlight the terrible sadness of this illness.
ReplyDeleteYour second sentence sums it up so well ..
DeleteThese pictures are so beautiful and heartbreaking. I remember when I was tiny, back in the 1960s, we visited my great grandmother in a home every week. It was such a trek to get there, but we always went. My great grandmother was suffering from some form of dementia, and would send me away after a few minutes as she thought I had been there too long, so I went around all the other old people there. I always got a pocketful of sweets and a lot of fuss. One Christmas I got something like £5 in shillings and sixpences (in the 1960s!) and matron told my mother to keep it as I was often the only visitor they saw from one year to the next. I remember missing them when we stopped going after my great grandmother died.
ReplyDeleteThe pictures reminded me of them far more than the people I saw when I visited father or uncle. Thank you for sharing and bringing back that memory.
Thank you for sharing your memory LM. I'm sure the residents were really cheered to see a happy little girl even if they had no idea who you were
DeleteThese are remarkable and very moving. I admire such talent.
ReplyDeleteTo be able to sketch the people and then make a machine stitched representation is a great skill indeed
DeleteAmazing stitdhed drawings but what struck me was the sadness of the faces, very moving.
ReplyDeleteSo moving...
DeleteAmazing!
ReplyDeleteYes!
DeleteI’ve seen these wonderful embroideries at the Welcome Foundation before. They moved me so much, and I have never forgotten them.
ReplyDelete👍
DeleteThese drawings are made with love, and the captions are very moving. My mother, aunt, mother-in-law, father-in-law, friend's husband, another current friend with dementia whose departed husband also had dementia, and people in our community with dementia- will all be remembered as the people they were and how precious they still were at the end. There's still a person in there!
ReplyDeleteI like your final sentence - we must never forget the real person inside
DeleteThanks for sharing these-I would love to see them as the expressions and body language are wonderful. Catriona
ReplyDelete👍
DeleteAng, The above was me - didn't mean to be anonymous. I love her work. Nicky Keep
ReplyDeleteNo problem Nicky - Blogger seems to be posting lots of anon comments lately. If they are sensible words then I'll put them up. It's the nasty anonymous trolls I don't like! Good to hear from you - hope all OK with you & your family
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