Leeds Survivors Poetry wrote a few poems inspired by Shoddy’s themes, and performed a couple at the exhibition launch event in Leeds on 6th April. There are a couple more poems to share. I love this clever cut-up by Liz Helliwell – created entirely from words found on this blog. Hidden self That is why … More Shoddy cut-up poetry
Batley: the town of shoddy’s birth! Where the process for reclaiming fibres from rags was invented. That doubled in population between 1821 and 1841, then doubled again by 1901, thanks to shoddy. Full of grand buildings built from the proceeds of shoddy, such as the “Shoddy Temple”, a chapel on Market Square. And the Market … More Why we’re excited about Batley
This was the name of a workshop at the University of Leeds on 5th May, part of a project about digital textile art and about curating and promoting community engagement with global multimedia artworks in a local context. Hosted by the School of Languages, Cultures & Societies, it sounded intriguing, but even as I arrived … More Finding a Common Thread
Shoddy opened at Batley Art Gallery on 28th May, coinciding with Batley Vintage Day. This event has a focus on the 1940s, which is a time of significant changes for disabled people and wider society. As Shoddy protests the dismantling of the welfare state and huge cuts to public services, it’s timely to look back … More 1940s: reforms aimed to improve disabled people’s lives
I’ve just finished collating and thinking about the feedback that visitors to the exhibition have given. It was a pleasant task as the feedback was overwhelmingly very positive, praising both the exhibition as a whole and individual artworks. There was some constructive criticism and suggestions for improvement as well, which I was also pleased to read … More Eye-opening work, some really stunning pieces!
We’re thrilled to be bringing the exhibition to Batley, the birthplace of shoddy, at the end of the month. Shoddy will be on show in Batley Library and Art Gallery, to coincide with Batley Vintage Day on Saturday 28th May, which will bring plenty of people to town. The exhibition will remain on display until … More Shoddy comes to Batley, 28th May – 11th June
