The University of Portsmouth and The D-Day Story museum are working together on a new community project centred around the Overlord Embroidery, where members of the public can learn some of the skills and techniques of this wonderful artefact.
The Overlord Embroidery, commissioned by Lord Dulverton and designed by Sandra Lawrence, tells the story of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy in 34 extraordinary hand-stitched panels with a total length of 83 metres. The current museum building was designed specifically to display the embroidery and it remains one of the highlights of the museum's exhibits.
2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the completion of the final panel and the 40th anniversary of the installation at The D-Day Story. The project also coincides with the 80th anniversary of D-Day (6 June 1944).
The project will celebrate the anniversary with the creation of a 3-metre 'community D-Day cloth' and run a programme of events to engage new audiences who have not traditionally visited the museum, including community groups, schools and colleges.
This work is important, not only because of what it illustrates, but as a lens through which to reflect on the socio-political-cultural events of the 1960s and 70s: global conflicts, the Women's Liberation Movement and the arguments surrounding the acceptance of textile and 'fibre' in the echelons of the art world.
Dr Laurel Forster, Associate Professor in Cultural History
The project will celebrate the anniversary with the creation of a 3-metre 'community D-Day cloth' and run a programme of events to engage new audiences who have not traditionally visited the museum, including community groups, schools and colleges.
This project, which is part of broader research into textiles, women's creativity and agency, has been developed by 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.
Dr Igoe said: "Given the scale and magnitude of this impressive work of art, this is an under-recognised exhibit and this project is designed to bring the Overlord Embroidery greater attention."
Dr Forster commented: "This work is important, not only because of what it illustrates, but as a lens through which to reflect on the socio-political-cultural events of the 1960s and 70s: global conflicts, the Women's Liberation Movement and the arguments surrounding the acceptance of textile and 'fibre' in the echelons of the art world."
Part of The Overlord Embroidery. Credit The D-Day Story, Portsmouth.
A D-Day Story spokesperson said: "This wonderful project offers a number of positive benefits and outcomes for The D-Day Story, including the opportunity to engage with new audiences and further develop the museum's links with the University of Portsmouth."
"We are very excited to work with the University on this exciting project to create a 'community D-Day cloth' as it supports many of the aims and objectives of the museum's 2024 community and public engagement programme."
The project has been awarded funding from the Pasold Trust to encourage schools, colleges and community groups, as well as general visitors, to respond to the Overlord Embroidery by getting them involved in the act of stitching. This will take place in the museum, as they discuss the human effects of war.
Melanie Bowles of Stitch School has been commissioned to work on the project and will inspire people to contemplate the meaning of the Overlord Embroidery, and feed their thoughts through stitching to co-create a large, richly embellished embroidery banner. The banner will be displayed within The D-Day Story or the University of Portsmouth.
The project will take place from 24 to 27 October 2024.
