Following a recent Tate exhibition about how wealthy women artists were disregarded and belittled, I wanted to celebrate the artistry of my ordinary women ancestors whose creative opportunities were limited or non-existent.
Making bobbin lace, knitting and hand-spinning were all insecure, menial yet highly skilled work two centuries ago, then became acceptable hobbies for middle class 20th century women. The examples of vintage handmade lace used in this series of pieces are beautifully rendered but today go unrecognised and are deemed unremarkable.
Putting it here makes it remarkable.
In making the tablecloth from found fabrics and hand knitting the shawl out of her own handspun yarn and then adding exquisite vintage handmade lace to both, Sarah wants to highlight the extraordinary creative talents our “ordinary” female ancestors achieved.
In addition, Sarah has explored 20th century social conventions that restricted the “acceptable” creative outlets (hobbies!) for ordinary women.
“What is a traycloth? An impassive representation of mid-century domestic textile embroidered in pre-determined designs by housewives so that their husbands’ tea-tray might be nicely presented or a nugget of pre-feminist female oppression?
This one has had rusty pins stuck in it (as you would a voodoo doll) because for me, there is nothing redeeming about the whole concept or existence of a traycloth. “
Sarah McAlister 