FRAGMENTS OF A DRESS: VISITOR STORIES
Image: Fragments of a Dress. Image courtesy of Hannah Lamb
In the summer of 2022, artist Hannah Lamb invited visitors to the Brontë Parsonage Museum to write about an item of clothing that holds significance to them. These texts have been embroidered to become part of the ‘Fragment of a Dress’ artwork.
Image: Fragments of a Dress. Image courtesy of Hannah Lamb
As an exclusive for Selvedge, Hannah Lamb has shared some of the responses she received. As a weekend reflection, we wanted to share a few poignant stories.
"Bright blue 70’s jumpsuit with big white and yellow flowers. I wore it to a funeral, and on birthdays. It’s a happy outfit!"
"A gold embroidered velvet smoking hat brought by Grandad from West Africa. Has been passed down the family with the legend that Grandpa was ‘crowned’ as a chief."
"My Purple Black wedding skirt and corset, handmade by myself."
"My Mum’s scarf as it still smells of her and her house. Makes me feel at home."
"A doll’s dress - all that remains of a porcelain 1950’s Victorian doll; indigo velvet, old gold metallic lace and a broad border of silk embroidered ribbon. I still have it - though it is a little battered now and the matching bonnet has long since gone;- I cannot dispense with it - nor shall I ever; I wrote a book in which my protagonist wears it; it is part of my childhood, my sense, myself; who I am."
"A heavy wool poncho, repurposed from an old blanket. I sewed all my old Brownie badges on and used to wear it for Guide campfires. It reminds me of hearing hundreds of voices singing together"
"My favourite pyjama bottoms and old woolly jumper. They make me feel snug and safe."
Image: Fragments of a Dress. Image courtesy of Hannah Lamb
This May, artist Hannah Lamb will be presenting a performance based on her embroidered artwork Fragment of a Dress, which was created last year for the Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth.
The performance will take place for one day only, on Saturday 1 July 2023 at Sunny Bank Mills, Farsley, West Yorkshire.
Originally commissioned in 2022 as part of a year-long celebration of costume and textiles at the Brontë Parsonage Museum, Hannah Lamb created Fragment of a Dress as a modern-day reflection on the special place that clothes have in our lives. She invited museum visitors to write a short piece about an item of clothing that held significance for them. The resulting handwritten passages were then carefully hand embroidered onto silk organza by a team of volunteers, which was then transformed into a voluminous skirt or dress. The work was presented with a nod to the 19th century dresses worn by Charlotte Brontë and her sisters. Read more about the work here.
In the summer of 2022, artist Hannah Lamb invited visitors to the Brontë Parsonage Museum to write about an item of clothing that holds significance to them. These texts have been embroidered to become part of the ‘Fragment of a Dress’ artwork.
Image: Fragments of a Dress. Image courtesy of Hannah Lamb
As an exclusive for Selvedge, Hannah Lamb has shared some of the responses she received. As a weekend reflection, we wanted to share a few poignant stories.
"Bright blue 70’s jumpsuit with big white and yellow flowers. I wore it to a funeral, and on birthdays. It’s a happy outfit!"
"A gold embroidered velvet smoking hat brought by Grandad from West Africa. Has been passed down the family with the legend that Grandpa was ‘crowned’ as a chief."
"My Purple Black wedding skirt and corset, handmade by myself."
"My Mum’s scarf as it still smells of her and her house. Makes me feel at home."
"A doll’s dress - all that remains of a porcelain 1950’s Victorian doll; indigo velvet, old gold metallic lace and a broad border of silk embroidered ribbon. I still have it - though it is a little battered now and the matching bonnet has long since gone;- I cannot dispense with it - nor shall I ever; I wrote a book in which my protagonist wears it; it is part of my childhood, my sense, myself; who I am."
"A heavy wool poncho, repurposed from an old blanket. I sewed all my old Brownie badges on and used to wear it for Guide campfires. It reminds me of hearing hundreds of voices singing together"
"My favourite pyjama bottoms and old woolly jumper. They make me feel snug and safe."
Image: Fragments of a Dress. Image courtesy of Hannah Lamb
This May, artist Hannah Lamb will be presenting a performance based on her embroidered artwork Fragment of a Dress, which was created last year for the Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth.
The performance will take place for one day only, on Saturday 1 July 2023 at Sunny Bank Mills, Farsley, West Yorkshire.
Originally commissioned in 2022 as part of a year-long celebration of costume and textiles at the Brontë Parsonage Museum, Hannah Lamb created Fragment of a Dress as a modern-day reflection on the special place that clothes have in our lives. She invited museum visitors to write a short piece about an item of clothing that held significance for them. The resulting handwritten passages were then carefully hand embroidered onto silk organza by a team of volunteers, which was then transformed into a voluminous skirt or dress. The work was presented with a nod to the 19th century dresses worn by Charlotte Brontë and her sisters. Read more about the work here.