A Cumbrian artist is pinning pandemic experiences to a washing line at Blackwell – the Arts & Crafts house.
Rosie Galloway-Smith was commissioned by Lakeland Arts to develop a reflective response to COVID-19.
Rosie Galloway-Smith photo by Robin Zahler
Her brilliant idea – weathering the storm – a washing line of responses on the lawn at Blackwell – was selected as the stand-out concept from dozens of applications.
Clothing on the washing line features symbols associated with the pandemic from toilet rolls (which is a reference to panic buying), digital meetings, bubbles, and face masks.
One of the garments in ‘weathering the storm’ by Rosie Galloway-Smith.
This is the largest single artist commission at Blackwell for more than a decade and links personal experience and stories of people through a unique textile display.
Galloway-Smith’s weathering the storm forms part of the venue’s new exhibition Class, Covid & Cumbria which is open until 22 February 2022.
weathering the storm is the latest addition to the exhibition which also features a giant tapestry by Grayson Perry, photographs by Cumbrian photographers Juliet Klottrup and Joseph Hardman as well as work by community groups as part of Lakeland Arts’ MEND project.
Galloway-Smith was awarded the £10000 commission in the summer. The artwork has taken three months from the award. The first stage of the creative process was to connect with Cumbrian communities.
Rosie Galloway-Smith Photo by Robin Zahler
She invited Cumbrian people to explain what lockdown meant for them, the environment they inhabited, the problems they faced, how they found comfort, and what stories they wanted to share.
The clothing on the washing line is made from digitally designed and printed patterns based on peoples’ responses. The artwork will be left outside and face the Cumbrian winter – to represent how we have all faced the same storm.
Rosie said: “This is the second piece of work I have made in Cumbria in response to a crisis – the first being the textile map of how Carlisle flooded in 2015 which was acquired by Tullie House in 2017.
“It has been a humbling experience once again to hear these individual stories from people and have a glimpse of their lives and struggles.
“I hope I’ve done justice to these tales and even wish I had more time to explore more of them in depth. At this point in time the crisis is continuing and we are still weathering it together. I hope 2022 brings new beginnings and hope for Cumbria and that we can put this strange period behind us.”
Naomi Gariff, programme curator at Blackwell said “weathering the storm is a powerful tribute to the amazing stories of resilience that Cumbrian people shared with Rosie for her commission.
Naomi Gariff (left) with Rosie Galloway-Smith and her weathering the storm installation. Photo by Robin Zahler.
“The installation captures the diverse experiences of local people during the pandemic. While many of the stories are deeply personal, they express feelings and moments that are relatable to so many people.
“We are really excited for the work to go on display at Blackwell, further enriching the Class, Covid & Cumbria exhibition.”
Grayson Perry’s tapestry is the foundation for Class, Covid & Cumbria, before going on to explore how social-backgrounds and rural locality affected the Cumbrian experience of the pandemic.
Perry’s The Annunciation of the Virgin Deal, 2012, on loan from the Currell Collection, is an intricate and thought-provoking tapestry exploring class mobility and the idea that where we start in life can significantly impact where might end up.
Class, Covid & Cumbria is open daily from 10am-4pm.
