I am so proud to have been part of the Procession project from start to finish.
On Sunday 10th June the group that Carole and I (as The Eloquent Fold) helped facilitate to produce a banner which acknowledged 100 years of women getting the vote; walked through the centre of London displaying the final piece
In 1918, the Representation of the People Act gave the first British women the right to vote and stand for public office. And now 100 years on, women and girls from across the United Kingdom came together to make this historic moment into a huge artwork produced by Artichoke, commissioned by 14-18 Now (the United Kingdom's arts programme for the centenary of the First World War. The artwork was based on an original idea by the creative director, Darrell Vydelingum. It was displayed in the four major cities of each country; Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh and London where each woman or girl with wear the colours of the suffragette movement; green, violet or white.
Our Procession group were made up of women and daughters, the elderly, choir members, retired, artists, an MP and representatives from Made in Corby. Some just came to London to help us celebrate whilst the majority worked on the banner to make it happen.
Eight sessions were held at Swan Gardens and through a process of exploring the history of suffragettes and the suffrage movement, consultation with the group about their thoughts and developing ideas into designs we eventually came up with something that everyone could contribute a small part. We agreed we would use the violets of the suffragette movement as our main feature, and make each one personal. We encouraged the group to use embroidery and silk painting; each person made at least two. Our main slogan came from our youngest member of the group - Women together will change the world, along with ‘Deeds Not Words’, which is the motto of Corby, but also comes from the Suffragette movement. We were proud that we could show the diversity of our group and which became apparent when they made their individual rosettes featuring short strong, sometimes humorous comments in English, German and Polish, reflecting the diversity of the group.
Eight sessions were held at Swan Gardens and through a process of exploring the history of suffragettes and the suffrage movement, consultation with the group about their thoughts and developing ideas into designs we eventually came up with something that everyone could contribute a small part. We agreed we would use the violets of the suffragette movement as our main feature, and make each one personal. We encouraged the group to use embroidery and silk painting; each person made at least two. Our main slogan came from our youngest member of the group - Women together will change the world, along with ‘Deeds Not Words’, which is the motto of Corby, but also comes from the Suffragette movement. We were proud that we could show the diversity of our group and which became apparent when they made their individual rosettes featuring short strong, sometimes humorous comments in English, German and Polish, reflecting the diversity of the group.
The Procession, was exciting and there was a real sense of camaraderie amongst the women who walked through the streets of London. Amongst our group we had members from a local choir. They had brought copies of original words from protest songs which were sung out at full burst through the underground and through the streets.
The banners were many and colourful. Many groups had decided to make their own, also individuals had made sometimes very basic flags and pennants. It didn't really matter we were all there for one purpose, to celebrate Women's right to vote.
