Class, Covid, & Cumbria

weathering the storm

Washing line installation weathers COVID storm

Rosie Galloway-Smith’s creation at Blackwell - the Arts & Crafts house.

A Cumbrian artist is pinning pandemic experiences to a washing line at Blackwell - the Arts & Crafts house in Bowness-on-Windermere. Rosie Galloway-Smith was commissioned by Lakeland Arts to develop a reflective response to COVID-19. 

Her idea - weathering the storm - a washing line of responses on the lawn at Blackwell - was selected as the stand-out concept from dozens of applications. 

Clothing on the washing line features symbols associated with the pandemic from toilet rolls (which is a reference to panic buying), digital meetings, bubbles, and face masks.

This is the largest single artist commission at Blackwell for more than a decade and links personal experience and stories of people through a unique textile display.

Galloway-Smith’s weathering the storm forms part of the venue’s new exhibition Class, Covid & Cumbria which is open until 22 February 2022.

weathering the storm is the latest addition to the exhibition which also features a giant tapestry by Grayson Perry, photographs by Cumbrian photographers Juliet Klottrup and Joseph Hardman as well as work by community groups as part of Lakeland Arts’ MEND project.  

Galloway-Smith was awarded the £10000 commission in the summer. The artwork has taken three months from the award. The first stage of the creative process was to connect with Cumbrian communities.

She invited Cumbrian people to explain what lockdown meant for them, the environment they inhabited, the problems they faced, how they found comfort, and what stories they wanted to share. 

Nearly 70 people responded and Rosie used individual stories and collective experiences from the replies to design the unique textile patterns on the garments.

The clothing on the washing line is made from digitally designed and printed patterns based on peoples’ responses. The artwork will be left outside and face the Cumbrian winter - to represent how we have all faced the same storm.

Blacksmith Owen Phillips of Gate Foot Forge, based near Huddersfield, created specially commissioned toppers for the laundry poles that capture the flowing lines of the Arts & Crafts style.

Galloway-Smith drew her artistic inspiration from the wealth of patterns found at Blackwell as well as her own enthusiasm for mid-century design. 

She said: “This is the second piece of work I have made in Cumbria in response to a crisis - the first being the textile map of how Carlisle flooded in 2015 which was acquired by Tullie House in 2017. 

“It has been a humbling experience once again to hear these individual stories from people and have a glimpse of their lives and struggles. 

“I hope I’ve done justice to these tales and even wish I had more time to explore more of them in depth. At this point in time the crisis is continuing and we are still weathering it together. I hope 2022 brings new beginnings and hope for Cumbria and that we can put this strange period behind us.”

Naomi Gariff, programme curator at Blackwell said “weathering the storm is a powerful tribute to the amazing stories of resilience that Cumbrian people shared with Rosie for her commission. 

“The installation captures the diverse experiences of local people during the pandemic. While many of the stories are deeply personal, they express feelings and moments that are relatable to so many people. 

“We are really excited for the work to go on display at Blackwell, further enriching theClass, Covid & Cumbria exhibition.”

Grayson Perry’s tapestry is the foundation for Class, Covid & Cumbria, before going on to explore how social-backgrounds and rural locality affected the Cumbrian experience of the pandemic.

Perry’s The Annunciation of the Virgin Deal, 2012, on loan from the Currell Collection, is an intricate and thought-provoking tapestry exploring class mobility and the idea that where we start in life can significantly impact where might end up.

Class, Covid & Cumbria is open daily from 10am-4pm. For more information about Blackwell - the Arts & Crafts house, to learn more about future programming and events, and book tickets in advance visit blackwell.org.uk. 

Lakeland Arts

Lakeland Arts exists to protect and reflect the Lake District’s inspirational cultural life. Its portfolio of galleries and museums include Blackwell - the Arts & Crafts house, Windermere Jetty Museum, Abbot Hall and Lakeland Museum. 

Blackwell - the Arts & Crafts house

Blackwell - the Arts & Crafts house is situated in Bowness-on-Windermere and is architect Mackay Hugh Baillie Scott's greatest house. Built as a Lake District rural holiday retreat for the Manchester brewery owner, Sir Edward Holt, today it is an outstanding example of an Arts & Crafts house. Retaining most of its original decorative features. It is a perfect setting for exhibitions of historic and contemporary craft. Learn more.