The Covid Chronicle
The Covid Chronicle is a worldwide project, founded by artist WENDY BLISS.
https://www.instagram.com/wendy_bliss_artist/
The project"The Covid Chronicle is a stitched textile of one hundred and forty parts. It is the result of a masterpiece of vision by artist Wendy Bliss. To have recognised that this epidemic was worthy of recording by seeking an international response through interpretation of thoughts was unique in itself, but to have collated and organised the resulting testaments with needle and thread is a triumph.
The work clearly demonstrates mental creativity and agility from all those who have so skilfully stitched their memories transposing them into a moving and unique work of art," Diana Springall, art collector, Author and Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Broderers.
During the lockdown of February 2021, Wendy reached out on social media to textile artists worldwide to make and donate a panel, set to a template, on the understanding that it would be permanently stitched together with others for exhibition, and eventually possibly sold in aid of MIND, the mental health charity.
Separately and together, the aim was to create a sort of 'Bayeux Tapestry', a lasting record of personal experience of the pandemic while it happened. Wendy continues to devote herself to the project and as founder/curator will manage its destiny.
Completed in December 2021, The Covid Chronicle measures 36 x 1 metres, and includes a metre square title page by Lesley Fudge. Every pane,l received from 15 countries and 3 continents from around the world, has been included. Curated for colour and style, the squares were stitched into metre-square units and mounted onto poles for flexibility of hanging in different spaces.
Thanks to a Crowdfunding page, donations made towards the project facilitated publication of a full-colour catalogue to accompany the work as it toured prestigious exhibition venues around the UK in 2022.
Catalogues are still available for purchase.
All surplus or fresh funds raised will go to MIND, as have the proceeds from a sale of hearts made by the participating artists for the opening night at Riverside Studios, Hammersmith.
MIND Charity was chosen because working with slow-stitched textiles has proven benefits for mental health.
Indeed, making tapestries kept Mary, Queen of Scots and her ladies in waiting fully occupied during her years of incarceration: envoy Nicholas White reported to Elizabeth, "I asked her Grace (Mary)... how she passed the time within. She said that all the day she wrought with her needle, and that the diversity of the colours made the work seem less tedious, and continued so long at it till very pain did make her to give over."
Participating artist for The Covid Chronicle, Naomi Adams, sums up: "Literally stitching my own story to that of others seemed like a perfect antidote to the disconnect I felt.'
The Covid Chronicle has toured to the UK and was shown in lots of different places.
To find out where you can see it, vistit The Covid Chronicle
Title
Noone should die without a hand to hold
Artist
Antje Rook - UK
Location
Dorset, UK
Panel ref
18-2
About
Right at the beginning of the pandemic, a friend of mine died. It was early days and we didn't know what we know now, he was left alone and told to take paracetamol and wait. A day later he was dead. I started reading about the way the NHS staff was coping and the conditions in hospitals. One thing I learned was, that everybody was overwhelmed and frightened. Relatives were not allowed in hospitals to be there for their dying loved ones and nurses and doctors didn't have the time to stay with patients on their last journey. Many people died alone, without comfort and very scared. Nobody deserves to die without someone holding their hand.
Title
NHS Thank you
Artist
Antje Rook - UK
Location
Dorset, UK
Panel ref
07-1
About
The last years have been a challenge for all of us, but especially for those who work on the front line, like all of NHS staff and every single person who helped us cope during the pandemic. We all clapped for our health care workers, but not everybody is aware of how many of them lost their lives or are left traumatised by their experiences. Special thanks are also due to all the people working in the background, from the medical technicians to the cleaners and drivers. My daughter works in child protection and had such a tough time the last years when domestic violence and child abuse increased dramatically. I'm sure there are thousands of other workers which we don't know about, but without them we wouldn't have been able to survive these challenging times. Thanks to all of them !
Some of the panels
Opening night of the Covis Chronicle in Riverside Studios, London
