Textiles in Transition

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT

Textiles in Transition set out to work with two of Swanlea’s feeder primary schools, some Swanlea students and a local parent’s centre to produce visually stimulating pieces of contemporary textile work for the school to own. The aim was to discuss Bengali cultural traditions and utilise this to inspire the textiles work, which had already been started by the Parent’s Centre in Tower Hamlets.
Sarah Pimenta, the artist intended to use a variety of textiles skills including screen-printing, appliqué and embroidery.

Textiles in Transition have worked with Swanlea for the past three years on various projects including the banners which are decorating the length of the internal mall (see video of the banner project). Textiles in Transition are experienced in working with our local community. For more information see their website at www.clothofgold.com

This project was a logical extension of the work that has been produced during 2003 with local Bengali women. Textiles in Transition worked with Bengali women at Stewart Headlam Parents Centre and created screen-printing hanging which are displayed in our school library.

This project combined Bengali textiles with traditional English textile skills. Sarah, initially worked with students from Year 8 on producing vibrant pieces of quilting, which manifest a cultural mix. This was the first step in producing schools bags. These quilting were then taken to two Primary Schools: Kobi Nazrul and Banga Bandhu so that students in years 4 and 5 were able to see what Swanlea students had produced and the skills that were required for the job.

During February 2005 the Primary schools came into school to carry out a 2-day workshop. Year 4 and 5 students collaborated with Swanlea students and designed and made screen-prints. During the course of the day, they were guided by the artist, Ms Maggie Williams and Ms Vanessa Chadwick.

On their return to school, both Kobi Nazrul and Banga Bandu schools produced attractive embroidery reading-corner settee covers which they brought into Swanlea on their second visit during March 2005. This time they spent the day completing their handbags by ironing gold leaf onto material, screen -printing their design and using sewing machines to sew their final pieces together. Both Swanlea and the Primary schools have displayed all the contemporary textile work which they have successfully completed.

The reason behind involving other schools was to develop a link with the local community and to enable pupils to become aware of Bengali cultural traditions by the direct experience of being inspired them. It was intended to produce a vibrant mix between the local culture of Tower Hamlets and our national British/English culture.

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