This historic first-hand record of the 21st century pandemic in textiles & stitch, was exhibited at Merton Priory Chapter House Museum this September and will be travelling around the country subsequently.
The Covid Chronicle is the brainchild of Wimbledon artist, Wendy Bliss and has been described as a ‘Bayeux Tapestry’ for the 21st century pandemic. It is a historic document in textiles & stitch, and charts first-hand the experiences of people during the pandemic itself. During lockdown just over 18 months ago, Wendy set out to reach textile artists around the world through social media, and was delighted to received 140 incredible panels from 15 countries by the end of 2021. ‘With each panel I received, the responsibility to The Covid Chronicle artists just grew and grew’
In 2022 Wendy set about curating the panels for shape and colour and, with the help of sewing friends, stitched and lined them into 35 metre-square blocks. This gives great flexibility for exhibition, as they can be adapted to different gallery spaces, and importantly, also means they can be offered for sale as individual pieces. The artists agree overwhelmingly that they would like the work to go to a collector of some kind and stay together as one document, but if this does not happen, the public are being invited to register their interest in bidding for a square (numbered in the catalogue and www.thecovidchronicle.org). If it does then go to auction, they will be notified and they can then place their bids. All proceeds will go to the mental health charity, MIND.
“I have been overwhelmed by the response to this project, and the beauty and poignancy of the pieces received. Given time, it would have snowballed into a far greater installation than it became in just 10 months. Spontaneous comments from the artists demonstrate how curative the making process has been for them, and my hope it is will similarly help those who see it to process their own experiences through this amazing visual record. The Covid Chronicle needs to be seen to be truly appreciated: the thought, skill and detail with which the work has been made comes through vividly when you see the passion within each piece, colour on colour, stitch by stitch.” Wendy Bliss, Founder.
The Covid Chronicle is now half-way round its tour of museums and galleries around the UK, and a permanent home is being actively sought. If anyone knows how to put us in touch with the right people in the right places, we’d love to hear from you.
The tour started in February at the Sunbury Embroidery Gallery, followed by Chippenham Museum, The Lightbox in Woking, Riverside Studios in Hammersmith, Merton Priory Chapter House Museum in SW London, and soon to go to the Spode Museum & Trust in Stoke-on-Trent for October and The Williamson Art Gallery & Museum in Birkenhead, till the end of 2022. After this the final venue will be in Queen’s Road Gallery, Neath, S Wales.
‘The Covid Chronicle, a stitched textile of one hundred and forty parts, is the result of a masterpiece of vision by the textile artist Wendy Bliss. To have recognised that this epidemic was worthy of recording by seeking an international response through interpretation of thoughts was unique in itself but to have collated and organised the resulting testaments with needle and thread is a triumph. The work clearly demonstrates mental creativity and agility from all those who have so skillfully stitched their memories transposing them into a moving and unique work of art.’ Author & Collector, Diana Springall
Tour dates
Spode Museum Trust Heritage Centre
Elenora Street, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire ST4 1QQ
30th Sept – 30th Oct 2022
Wed – Sun: 10.30-4
Williamson Art Gallery & Museum
Slatey Rd, Oxton, Birkenhead, Prenton CH43 4UE
10th Nov 2022 – 3rd Jan 2023
Wed, Thurs: 10.30 – 5 ; Fri: 10.30 – 9
Sat: 10.30 – 4.30
Studio 40
40 Queen Street, Neath, SA11 1DL
14th Jan – 25th Feb 2023
About Founder Wendy Bliss
Wendy has always been a haptic artist and designer. At 22, she graduated with a BSc in Education (Development Psychology) and French, together with a second degree in Fine Art & Design, informed her work as an artist: Wendy has always been interested in how people identify, how people’s inner selves shape how they present to the world. Her early working background was in the fashion design and wholesaling business; she worked for Zandra Rhodes, Bill Gibb and John Bernstein. Once her young family grew to independence, she spent some years curating patients’ work at the Royal Hospital for Neuro-Disability, whilst also co-founding the Merton Arts Trail (now Festival) between 2010-2015. She organised and curated four group site-specific exhibitions among the Medieval ruins of the Chapter House of Merton Priory, and was proud to win the Guardian award for her contribution to the Arts & Entertainment in Merton 2014. The Covid Chronicle is her latest project.
A few quotes from Artists
Literally stitching my own piece to that of others seemed like a perfect antidote to the disconnect I felt. I’m very glad you like our work. We really have enjoyed participating
Naomi Adams.
Thanks so much for the opportunity to take part in this project, I really enjoyed making my panel and hope that it will sit comfortably among the others that you have received. I have been amazed by the quality of work that has already been submitted, and the resulting exhibition should be truly a thing of beauty.
Karen Turner
Hello Friend! Your project is very beautiful and important, as it brings together artistic expressions showing the tragic trajectory of this Pandemic. And you will be the guardian of this treasure! here is my embroidery work: covid invades the body and vaccine and antibodies counterattack.
Olga Porto
You should be very proud of what you have achieved; you must have a lot of work ahead!
Averil Leimon
Just to say how much I have enjoyed the project and I am thinking of making a smaller one, ideas in the head at this point. Well done, it is so lovely that you are putting this together, it must take up so much time and effort, it is much appreciated by us all.
Helen Collis
Thanks for the challenge and success with the project.
Marjolein Burbank, Copenhagen
Thank you for this opportunity to participate in a meaningful project.
Gail Marie Cook
This is an inspiring project. Thank you, I have enjoyed taking part and doing something different to my usual. I look forward to seeing the whole patchwork, or parts of it.
Mary Bryning
There is so much more to write and express and share! I am tempted to start another one
Himani, Delhi, India
I hope you enjoy my creation, I have loved the process and the project.
Helen Collis, Isle of Man
Stitching was my lifeline in these Covid times.
Christine Rollit
Creating the panel was extremely helpful as it allowed me to process my thoughts and get them out into the open – very important at a time when face to face communication was not always possible.
Vicky O’Leary
The challenge to contribute towards the COVID square gave me the opportunity to explore strong feelings.
Glen Gerrard
Excited to contribute to The Covid Chronicle quilt organised by Wendy Bliss.
Vanessa Marr.
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