Blackpool-based community arts organisation, Aunty Social's latest exhibition, 'We’re Sew Done' highlights the harassment and threats of violence that women face every day.
The project came about as a response to the disappearance and murder of Sarah Everard in March 2021 and the subsequent increased awareness of street harassment. Following the rise of the Reclaim These Streets movement, writer Antonia Charlesworth used online magazine Blackpool Social Club to ask women and girls in the town to share their stories of street harassment, which would then be added to an interactive map.
Aunty Social’s textile group Knittaz With Attitude found that these stories really resonated with them and were inspired to create artworks to highlight the issue further.
The exhibition features a wide range of textile art including cross-stitch, crochet, appliqué, and embroidery. It also showcases photographs of the artworks taken at the incident locations by Blackpool-based photographer Claire Griffiths. Visitors can also pre-order a hardback book containing photographs, stories, and interviews with selected artists.
The work can also be seen outside of the exhibition. Each of the 48 locations from the incident map will be assigned a tag or plaque with a QR code. The code will take viewers to a web page containing the artwork that correlates to that location.
The exhibition is open from 10am - 4pm, Tuesday - Thursday.
The launch event takes place at 6pm on Tuesday 7 September at Blackpool Central Library.
To reserve a place, please visit www.sew-done.co.uk.