Textile Weave

Textile Weave was Inspired by the Japanese artist Hokusakai’s The Great Wave of Kanagawa, japanese indigo and their philosophy of mending textiles such as boro stitching.

Materials

Fabrics - Annie Flitcroft old laura ashley curtains

Linens and cottons - Rebecca Robinsons old fabrics

Mis printed t-shirts - Sea dog print studio and strong island

Waste embroidery thread - sea dog print studio waste thread from embroidery machine

Alice - old linen and cotton

Natural dyed indigo fabric taught by textile artist Alex Hagen - hand dyed by Alice’s weave club ladies Greta, Gitte, Mel and Diane

Fabric - from Diane, weave club

copper - old copper pipes from Alice’s dad

warp - old string from Alice’s dads shed

paper messages - leftover paper from Louise Braithwaite prints

Artists

Kim Edith - Embroidery and stamping workshop

Miesje Chafer - Boro stitching workshop

Louise Braithwaite - Oil on board life painting

Alice Hume - Textile weaving workshop

Incredible photographs by Alex Fountain.

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All very important. The workshop was run in a very supportive, inclusive and accessible manner. Workshop facilitators were clearly very skilled but made everyone today feel valued whatever their skill level - eg my skill level on embroidery and weaving is zero but I was very relaxed throughout. I also met and spoke with a few other people there and this element definitely boosts confidence and general wellbeing. Bringing the artists together with the community participating feels like a very important building block for cohesion and for learning. Lots of people passing by looked very interested in what was going on.
— Pat, Workshop Attendee
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I am a PhD student who is often quite lonely. I am not from the area either so being able to do crafts with people in a beautiful setting has had such an amazing positive impact on me. Alice and her father were incredibly warm and welcoming
— Alisha, Workshop Attendee
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meeting people you wouldn’t have otherwise met in a place you would not otherwise have been
— Steve, Workshop Attendee
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I love driving up to Portsmouth to take part in the wonderful activities that Alice has put together, they are so fun to do and I always end up driving home with a big smile on my face, thank you so much Alice
— Clara age 11, Workshop Attendee
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The organisers of this workshop were very polite, professional, supportive, informative and happy to have provided the community/public this event. Very well received and appreciated. Look forward to see the complete project for exhibition at the Tower and The City Cathedral. Thank you.
— Workshop Attendee
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My thought about this project and how it benefits the city is because when you are part of this project it becomes yours and you respect it and look after it. As a community working together this brings us closer and makes us more respectful with each other. Thank you
— Ana, Workshop Attendee
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Bringing strangers together to learn skills and share stories
— Workshop Attendee
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It was wonderful to be part of Alice’s interactive Weave project. Watching people engage with the project was fascinating and luckily the sun was shining on the last Sunday which made the day a pleasure for everyone.

Painting “plein air” with such a limited time scale was a big challenge for me and completely out of my comfort zone. With a bit of background, preparatory painting the week before I managed to capture the scene in a pared down version of my usual painting style
— Louise Braithwaite, Hotwalls Artist
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Stay kind and before poluting our oceans use your mind
— Workshop Attendee
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It was great to see people excited to try new techniques and learning new skills in this unique project. Quite a few of the participants arrived nervous about sewing, unsure how to do it or embarrassed about their skill level; throughout the workshop it was great to see them overcome that initial fear and enjoy being involved and confident in the creative process. After an hour many were reluctant to leave, which shows what a captivating and motivating project this was
— Kim Edith, Hotwalls Artist
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I believe this sort of workshop can be useful tool for encouraging people to create art and craft even from a very young age and the elderly. Keeps brain active and hands nimble/exercise!
— Workshop Attendee
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Keep bringing people together to make things, please. Building a respectful community will make a better world to live in
— Workshop Attendee
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Weaving a better world together, thank you Alice and Portsmouth Council
— Workshop Attendee
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Creativity was encouraged, no matter the level of skill
— Sharron, Workshop Attendee
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Gave me a positive sense of achieving something together with others, an amalgamation of minds and ideas flowing together, with no age or cultural barriers
— Workshop attendee
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Arts and crafts keep places and people alive and happy. Getting involved in the workshops has brought a lot of joy to my weekends and I hope that more workshops will be hosted at hotwalls in the future!
— Alisha, Workshop Attendee
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Thank you, you provided a great opportunity to be free to be creative, creating a greater piece and understanding, joining with others
— Workshop Attendee
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What a wonderful project! I’ve loved being involved and getting people sewing
— Miesje, Alumni Hotwalls Artist
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It inspired me to work together with other people
— Anya age 9, Workshop Attendee
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All the artists in these workshops are very enthusiastic about their work. I feel more positive and dedication after attending the workshop
— Workshop Attendee
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Community spirit and social interaction at a different level
— Workshop Attendee
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Really relaxing and nice to be a part of a shared goal. It has made me want to be more creative at home
— Workshop Attendee
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This interactive weave project has brought people together in all weathers. Giving a sense of creativity and togetherness
— Workshop Attendee
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Recycle - make the world a better place
— Lynne from the north, Workshop Attendee
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I’m inspired to look out for more opportunities to take part in community events and learn new skills especially as I am a new resident in Portsmouth. I visited the Hotwalls Studios for the first time at the Open Studios event in early July and was delighted to find out about this opportunity
— Pat, Workshop Attendee
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It was so amazing that Alice put together that incredible series of interactive weaves
— Anya age 9, Workshop Attendee
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I felt I’d had a trifle worthwhile day out
— Workshop Attendee
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When the things I sow, somehow don’t grow, I’m sorely disenchanted - But oh what luck I have, with stuff I never even planted
— Workshop Attendee
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Weaving a better world together
— Workshop Attendee
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Working together makes for a better community and better world
— Workshop Attendee
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I loved boro stitching yesterday and I intend to continue doing it in my own time
— Workshop Attendee
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I got chatting to another lady recently retired and moved into the area and we both felt positive and pleased to be involved
— Workshop Attendee
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Never give up hope as hope is that tiny light stopping the world from burning into darkness
— Workshop Attendee
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How lucky we are to live by the sea, enjoy, respect and cherish
— Workshop Attendee
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Be yourself because everyone else is taken
— Workshop Attendee
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It inspired me very much to get involved in community projects and to join craft groups to attend regularly
— Workshop Attendee
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This was such a lovely project to be involved in, it was real joy to see people coming together to create a truly unique body of work. I was really glad to be able to share my knowledge and skills with those to whom perhaps sewing was a relatively new experience.

After the last 18 months of uncertainty and isolation for many, I feel this was a fantastic opportunity for members of the community to come together and to participate in this shared experience.
— Miesje Chafer, Hotwalls Alumni Artist
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In a world where you can be anything.. be kind and be inclusive
— Meg, Workshop Attendee
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Be kind, be happy, be hopeful, life is beautiful
— Workshop Attendee
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Alice Hume