Members of the public and community groups are invited to participate in an exciting project between the University of Portsmouth and The D-Day Story
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the completion of the Overlord Embroidery, the The D-Day Story centrepiece in Portsmouth, members of the public are being invited to help decorate a beautiful large-size embroidered cloth inspired by the 83 metre embroidery.
The Overlord Embroidery, which was designed by British artist Sandra Lawrence and commissioned by Lord Dulverton, depicts D-Day and the Battle of Normandy in 34 extraordinary hand-stitched panels, and is one of the current highlights on display at the museum.
To mark half a century since its completion and 40 years of installation at The D-Day Story museum, individuals and groups including schools, colleges, and community organisations are invited to decorate a large sized embroidered cloth which was inspired by Overlord Embroidery and created by Melanie Bowles of the Stich School.
Attendees can participate in the stitching of the three-metre-long banner with the help of Melanie, who will be on hand to teach basic embroidery skills.
Melanie Bowles said: "The D-Day community cloth invites visitors to experience stitching together on the linen cloth inspired by the Overlord Embroidery. Learn and explore the vast range of embroidery stitches and share stories to build new narratives in the surroundings of the museum."
This project - called ‘Couching Liberty’ - aims to encourage those in attendance to reflect on the meaning of war and its implications for men, women, and children alongside current conflicts happening in the world. It is a collaboration between Dr Elaine Igoe, Course Leader and Senior Lecturer in Fashion Design and Dr Laurel Forster, Associate Professor in Cultural History from the University of Portsmouth, The D-Day Story Museum, and Melanie Bowles of the Stitch School.
The Overlord Embroidery is such an impressive artefact; a monumental document of political and social history of war and of epic storytelling through textiles. Participating in the project will allow people to directly connect those elements for themselves and explore their relevance for today.
Dr Laurel Forster added: “This is a wonderful opportunity to engage with a specialised commissioned banner made by the Stitch School. It provides individuals and groups the opportunity to not only learn how to embroider but to reflect on socio-political-cultural events and global conflicts.”
Free admission to the drop-in sessions. Standard admission price applies to the museum and Landing Craft Tank 7074.
The free event is taking place from Thursday 24 to Sunday 27 October 2024 from 10:00 – 17:00. Walk-ins are welcome on Thursday 24 afternoon, Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 of October. Large groups should book in advance.
If you would like to book a school group visit, please contact Katherine Webber at The D-Day Story Museum at: katherine.webber@portsmouthcc.gov.uk. For all other groups, please contact: elaine.igoe@port.ac.uk or laurel.forster@port.ac.uk to make arrangements for your visit.
Photo credit: The D-Day Story
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