Weaving my heritage, my home

Peoples sense of self, their feelings of connection and disconnection (to many different social groups and communities) is something that is often intensely visual. Being British, being white or Asian, being old, being female, having mixed heritage these are all aspects of ourselves that are seen, displayed and created. In a community arts project I examined how weaving together different threads and fabrics that resonate with cultural associations and social memories can produce shared images and narratives of connection and disconnection, belonging and exclusion. Participants chose colours and textures to identify with, physically wove these together, showed photos and weaves to others - perhaps seeing the emerging weaves through others eyes or with new insight and emotion. The project highlights the value of art in encouraging creativity, collaboration and criticality in the telling and performing of social narratives and cultural identities.