Textiles

Dot to Dot has an outstanding record of creating high quality community textiles with participants of all ages and skills.

Machine-embroidery with young men, hand stitching with former tailors, beading with Bangladeshi women, stencilling with young children, mono-printing with families - these and many more textile techniques have been used to make over 80 textile pieces.

“It was a privilege to be involved in this wonderful project.”
Project participant, St. Thomas’ Sail 1994.

Most of the textiles created are site-specific, made for particular places by people who live, work or play in the buildings where the work is displayed: a day to day celebration of their skills and achievements.

Some pieces have been exhibited elsewhere including at the opening, by H.M the Queen, of the Church of Christ the Corner Stone in Milton Keynes, and at the Barbican Arts Centre in London.

Textiles created for buildings are often closely identified with them, becoming beloved artefacts.

Such is the affection that some pieces are held in that, when a community centre housing 17 pieces was involved in a fire, Dot to Dot received phone calls from participants who had left the City offering to help remake them if necessary.

Participants often revisit the projects they have been involved in time and time again to show their work to others or to admire their achievements. Dot to Dot artists’ multiple skills ensure projects can be designed to include everyone’s contributions and yet be of high quality.

“Seeing the workshop session under way, I was delighted at the very high level of engagement and participation from the young people. Original ideas were encouraged and a genuine sense of ownership established early on in the creative process."
Senior Arts officer, Test Valley District Council 2007.