The Community Cohesion tapestry 'Landscape and Light' was commissioned by Wokingham Local Authority and the 50+ Partnership board as an informal learning project. The tapestry hangs in the foyer of The Forge, Peach Street in Wokingham. The tapestry was worked on by clients of disability services and the older people's forum in the Wokingham area. The design was inspired by John Piper’s baptistry window in Coventry Cathedral. Several windows of Piper's abstracted stained glass suggested landscapes. Working on the information within several different delineated areas of the stained glass a design idea emerged, horizontal stripes of colour suggesting an English landscape of perhaps fields, hedges and sky drawn with bright, primary colours.
The themes suggested for the tapestry design were "choice", "control" and "a sense of well-being". Much of this is already inherent in the process of creating a tapestry, the work offers all participants choice which, with sufficient control, will result in a harmonious tapestry. In addition, weaving elicits a sense of well being as does the experience of learning and working together towards a shared goal. Over the course of the project we will be worked with the over 50s and people with a range of physical and sensory needs.
We considered a landscape design, a form which we can all relate to and which of itself instils a sense of well- being, of being at one with nature. On a recent visit to Coventry Cathedral we were inspired by John Piper’s baptistry window, a wonderful uplifting image with a yellow centre representing rays of sunshine moving into a colourful surround. Each ‘window’ of the stained glass presented an abstract image, some suggesting landscapes. Working on the information within several different delineated areas of the stained glass a design idea emerged, horizontal stripes of colour suggesting an English landscape of perhaps fields, hedges and sky drawn with bright, primary colours.
We set our loom with the bottom beam fixed in the higher position allowing all who were interested access to the loom. We have had some participants using wheelchairs, some with limited vision, some recovering from strokes and with limited dexterity, some suffering with ME and some with arthritis working alongside able- bodied over 50s. All managed to participate and enjoy adding to and helping the tapestry grow.
Three intrepid weavers braved the elements and travelled 90 miles to Warwickshire to help complete the Community Cohesion Tapestry. The tapestry was cut off the loom, blocked and backed before handing over to hang in the reception of the Disability and Older People's Services at the Forge, Peach Street in Wokingham.
