Fwd: Great Tapestry of Scotland coming to Cheltenham
Lorraine Du Feu
From: <an...@birlinn.co.uk>
Date: Fri, Sep 27, 2013 at 10:28 AM
Subject: Great Tapestry of Scotland coming to Cheltenham
To:
BRINGING HISTORY TO CHELTENHAM – ONE STITCH AT A TIME
He plays music, writes libretti, inspires artists, creates radio plays and is regularly on the best-seller lists on both sides of the county. Now one of the world’s most popular writers, Alexander McCall Smith, is coming to Cheltenham and he is coming with…. a tapestry.
A selection of panels from the record-breaking Great Tapestry of Scotland are to be displayed in Cheltenham Town Hall as part of The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival. The Great Tapestry of Scotland is a stunning, 143 metre embroidered tapestry – twice the length of Bayeux – displaying an incredible range of needlework to depict the entire history of a nation. 40 panels will be on display throughout the festival. This selected exhibition at The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival is the first exhibition of this inspirational artwork outside of Scotland.
The Great Tapestry of Scotland is the product of one of the UK’s largest ever community arts project. The artwork debuted in September 2013 in a headline exhibition at the Scottish Parliament, attracting more than 30,000 visitors in under three weeks.
The Great Tapestry of Scotland was spear-headed by Alexander McCall Smith, author of The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, who together with historian Alistair Moffat and artist Andrew Crummy designed 160 historical panels each depicting key moments from Scotland’s past, from pre-history to the 21st century.
More than 1,000 volunteer stitchers worked for over 700 hours per panel to produce an artwork of unbelievable detail and scope. Using a range of embroidery skills men, women and youngsters from every corner of the country translated Andrew Crummy’s artwork into a colourful depiction of the history of a people.
Throughout the project the stitchers have become keen historians, discovering and incorporating countless details and personal touches to embellish their panels. For some there have been unforeseen challenges: Which designs decorated canoe paddles in 8,000BC? How do you embroider a severed hand? Common across all groups was the friendship, dedication and generosity of spirit that make this incredible artwork an outstanding legacy.
Alexander McCall Smith comments:
“This tapestry will bring a fascinating story to life in a way that no other single artifact can match. What we are seeing is the revealing to the world of a treasure of astonishing beauty and interest.”
Tapestry Trustees and authors Alexander McCall Smith, Alistair Moffat and James Naughtie will all appear at an exclusive event during the festival (Sun 6th Oct, 12:00pm) discussing the incredible generosity of the volunteers who created the Great Tapestry of Scotland and the stories behind the panels in addition to bringing readers up to date with the latest from their own writing. For tickets and details for this event see www.cheltenhamfestivals.com
A selection of panels from the Great Tapestry of Scotland will be on display in a free public exhibition in Cheltenham Town Hall, 4th-13th October 2013. Plans are also underway to tour the artwork and find a permanent home.
A beautifully illustrated, commemorative book The Great Tapestry of Scotland: The Making of a Masterpiece is available now, published by Birlinn Ltd.
The numbers behind the Great Tapestry of Scotland:
· 420 million years of Scottish history
· 50,000 sewing hours (equivalent to sewing 24 hours a day for 6 years!)
· 300 miles of yarns (enough to lay the length of Scotland and beyond!)
· 1000 stitchers (over 40 called Margaret)
· 160 panels
1 beautiful tapestry depicting the entire history of Scotland!
For more information visit www.scotlandstapestry.com or follow us through Facebook and Twitter.