23 JUNE – 6 AUGUST 2017 – The Lock-Up Cultural Centre, Hunter Street, Newcastle.
The Lock-Up in partnership with Timeless Textiles presents ‘STITCHED UP’ commemorating 150 years since the Industrial Girls’ School opened in Newcastle.
Exhibition includes 24-renowned international and national textile artists responding to stories associated with the 193 girls who were at The Newcastle Industrial School (1867 and 1871). The girls lived at the former military Barracks at the Newcastle Government Domain, now known as the James Fletcher site on Watt Street.
The exhibition is curated by Anne Kempton, Creative Director of Timeless Textiles and artist Wilma Simmons. In 2016 Anne and Wilma approached Hunter Living Histories about concepts for an exhibition based on women and incarceration, after discussions it was suggested by Dr. Ann Hardy and historian Jane Ison that the Industrial Girls School commemorating 150th years in 2017 would provide a rich historical and artistic interpretation.
Complimenting the exhibition is a project by thirty women from the Wednesday group at Timeless Textiles Gallery who have stitched embroidered narratives for each girl – seven volumes of cloth books will be on display.
Many thanks to detailed and diligent historical research by Jane Ison who has inspired this exhibition. For more information see (http://nis.wikidot.com/).
Also providing input for artists was anthropologist Dr David Eastburn who looked at the girls from sociological and historical contexts.
PANEL DISCUSSION 4PM – 5.30PM SATURDAY 24 JUNE 2017 : In conjunction with the exhibition Hunter Living Histories has partnered with Timeless Textiles and The Lock Up for a panel discussion about the Newcastle Industrial Girls School and the fascinating lives of the 193 girls admitted there. Facilitated by Dr Ann Hardy, panelists include Wilma Simmons (artist), Dr David Eastburn (Anthropologist) and Jane Ison (Researcher & Historian).
FREE EVENT, bookings required. Click HERE to book your seat.
SOURCES
‘STITCHED UP’ at The Lock Up – 23 JUNE – 6 AUGUST 2017
The girls who were stitched up. Newcastle Herald
Empower a Women -Empower a Nation’ International Women’s Day – 2017 by Ann Hardy