Stanley Picker Gallery and our partner venue Dorich House Museum are pleased to stage two creative and free events as part of Refugee Week 2025, with our long-term partner Ariadne’s Thread.
Kantha’s of Friendship
Tuesday 17 June 12-3pm, Stanley Picker Gallery
Kantha’s of Friendship is a cross-cultural participatory textile project based on the ancient craft of textile recycling from Bengal. Ariadne’s Thread invite all communities living in and around the Royal Borough of Kingston to take part and interpret this tradition in a new, contemporary way.
Participants will work on one large Kantha together. The embroidery technique used is a simple running stitch that anyone can learn. We will additionally explore traditional Indian block printing, appliqué and mirror-work. The final textile will be included in our public exhibition in September celebrating multicultural heritage of the Borough. This project promotes inclusion, integration and social interaction.
Suitable for 8+
A-Cross: Participatory Needlework
Friday 20 June 11am-2pm, Dorich House Museum
“Blue Cornflowers” is a tapestry which began life as a participatory needlework for local Ukrainian women in Kingston on 23 May 2022. What started as a regular activity during Ariadne’s Thread Group’s weekly meetings very quickly developed into a broader collaboration with refugees stitching smaller pieces from across Europe. This is an ongoing project and so far over 180 people from different backgrounds, ages and abilities have contributed to this cross-stitching effort. Anyone is welcome to join in.
For further details on how to get involved please contact magdalena@ariadnesthreadgroup.org