A Bomber's Moon

Maker:

Various, Community Project

Date:

2014 - 2017

Patchwork quilt in squares and rectangles of green, brown and purple coloured fabrics, to represent an aerial view of hillsides and fields, with embroidered words on some of the pieces. The quilt has an outer border of a purple velvet ribbon and long rectangular pieces with more embroidery. It is tie quilted with a quick wadding. It was made as part of a two year collaboration between older people in Derbyshire and the arts organisation arthur+martha, led by artist Lois Blackburn as part of a reminiscence community project. The project made two quilts, A Bomber’s Moon and Fresh Air and Poverty (2017-18-B). This piece describes the transforming effect of the First and Second World Wars on rural life, where horses and humans were invaded by machines. The quilt is the bomber’s view of life from the sky. In the landscape the sewn words link to a book of stories and poems of peoples experiences during this time.

arthur+martha is an experimental arts organisation based in the UK. Their aim is to help people find their creative voice, building confidence, self-esteem, self-worth, through art and writing. They work with older people, people living with dementia, homeless people. Being heard is a human necessity that can get forgotten in a hectic care home, or busy world. They bring attention to the visions and words of people who are sometimes lost in the corners.