Stitch For Change: Your Banner, Your Story, 2024, De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill-on-Sea, Photography: Phoebe Wingate
Stitch For Change: Your Banner, Your Story, 2024, De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill-on-Sea, Photography: Phoebe Wingate
The Stitch for Change 2024 exhibition is a celebration of art’s ability to inspire change and foster a sense of unity and empowerment. Stitch For Change is a patchwork, sewing and embroidery story-telling project bringing together people seeking refuge and local volunteers to tell and share their stories. This exhibit showcases a vibrant collection of hand-crafted banners and garments, each carrying a powerful message by passionate members of the local community.
Artist facilitators Janey Moffatt and Erin Lewis have been working with a group, predominantly women, who are all involved with the Refugee Buddy Project in various ways. Across eight sessions the group explored storytelling, hand stitching and garment making inspired by the rich and diverse histories of handmade protest banners and protest in fashion. Exploring the theme of ‘Home’, domestic textiles such as pre-loved tea towels and bed linen were used to stitch banners and wearable protest garments adorned with lettering and motifs that were important to the maker. The participants were supported in telling their stories by Lily and Lauren of Storytime.
The political work of Mexican fashion brand Carla Fernández, in particular ‘Fashion as Resistance’ –with which Erin has been a collaborator for almost two decades – has been an important influence on the project. Other sources of inspiration include the banners from the Welsh Women for Life on Earth, embroideries from the Mexican Zapatista movement and protest work of Romani artist Delaine Le Bas. Full on Girl Power!
A huge thank you to everyone who donated textiles for this project – we received 125kg of material to reuse and upcycle – hopefully you can spot something you recognise! Thank you to Stella Dore and Atomic Marigold for receiving donations, and to John, Sarah and Sophie for the hard work on the installation. All wood used in the installation was locally and ethically sourced from storm damage, thanks to Jack, Molly and George.
The Refugee Buddy Project was founded by Rossana Leal. This refugee and migrant-led charity supports the integration and provides friendship to all people seeking refuge and safety in Hastings, Rother and Wealden areas. Thank you to Sarah Buller for supporting participants in every workshop session, and the De La Warr Pavilion team for providing the space and opportunity to create and show this work.
Participant names:
Michele, Anne-Marie, Isabela, Kate, Cath, Hind, Helen, Raquel, Kadija, Hasan, Marlyn, Lydia, Kim, Rossana, Lauren, Lily and Sarah.
This show was brought together by:
There are plenty of welcoming and good value B&Bs & boutique hotels in Bexhill. The De La Warr Pavilion regularly uses the following :
- By Rail
Direct trains go from London Victoria, Brighton and Ashford to Bexhill.
There are also trains from London Charing Cross, changing at St. Leonards Warrior Square and from London Bridge or Charing Cross going to Battle. Battle is only a short taxi journey away (15 mins approx).
Visit www.nationalrail.co.uk for up-to-date train travel information. - Taxis
Town Taxis: 01424 211 511
Parkhurst Taxis: 01424 733 456 - By Car
If driving from the London area:
Take the M25, then A21 to Hastings. Turn off at John‘s Cross and follow the signs to Bexhill.
OR
Take the A22 to Eastbourne, go across the Bishop roundabout to the A271 and follow the signs to Bexhill and the seafront. The De La Warr Pavilion is on the Marina.
From the Brighton area:
Follow the A27 out of Brighton until you arrive in Bexhill On Sea. - Parking
Please be aware the Rother District car park outside the De La Warr Pavilion operates paid parking until 7pm. After this time parking is free. There is also lmiited free car parking along the seafront.
Within the limits of this Grade One listed building, the De La Warr Pavilion strives to be fully accessible with a range of facilities to support your visit.
Assistance Dogs are permitted into the building.
Please contact the Box Office on 01424 229 111 to arrange a visit.
Facilities for disabled visitors
- Ramped access at the front of the building
- A low counter at the Box Office and Information Desk
- Disabled toilets on two floors
- A lift to all floors
- Accessible galleries on both floors
- An accessible Café
- Spaces for wheelchairs in the auditorium for seated events
- Ramped access in the auditorium for events during the day
- Ramped access into the Studio
- Two travel wheelchairs are available for use at the De La Warr Pavilion. To reserve, please call our box office and information desk on (01424) 229111 or ask a member of staff on arrival. The chairs are provided on a first come, first served basis and are intended for use inside the Pavilion. Please contact us for more information.
Facilities for blind or visually-impaired
- Large print season brochures
Facilities for the hard-of-hearing
- An T-Switch induction loop in some areas of the auditorium (please indicate when booking as this facility is not available on the balcony)
- British Sign Language interpretation tours of the building and exhibitions are available on request.