PROCESSIONS Banners made in South West England

PROCESSIONS was a mass participation public artwork that took place on 10 June 2018 in all four UK capitals, to celebrate 100 years of votes for women. 100 artists were commissioned to make 100 centenary banners, working with community organisations across the UK.

By Artichoke Trust

Produced by Artichoke and commissioned by 14-18 NOW: WW1 Centenary Art Commissions. PROCESSIONS' generous supporters thanked at the end of the story.

Aerial view of London's PROCESSIONS (June 10th, 2018)Artichoke Trust

PROCESSIONS

The women who came together on the streets 100 years ago made themselves visible with handmade flags, banners, pins and rosettes. The workshops focused on text and textiles, echoing the practices of the women’s suffrage campaign, and the banners made represent and celebrate the diverse voices of women and girls from different backgrounds.

Newlyn Art Gallery & The Exchange (2018-03/2018-04) by Elizabeth Loveday and Cathie Ashley, Faye Dobinson, Rae Dougan, Tracy Flett, Cat Gibbard, Jen Gourley, Sheelagh O’Donnell, Tamsin YoungArtichoke Trust

Newlyn Art Gallery & The Exchange

Artist: Elizabeth Loveday

Contributors: Cathie, Faye, Rae, Tracy, Cat, Jen, Sheelagh, Tamsin. With Newlyn Art Gallery & The Exchange

Location: Newlyn

Materials: fabric, embroidery silks and photographic transfers

Newlyn Art Gallery & The Exchange

Through an open call, a group of eight women came to together with textile artist and illustrator Elizabeth Loveday to create this banner. Each participant chose an iconic British female figure they wanted to represent, their choices reflecting the diverse ages and interests of the group.

Newlyn Art Gallery & The Exchange

The goddess Hera, protector of women, is portrayed on either side of the figures.

Plymouth College of Art with Elizabeth Masterton (2018) by Sarah PackerArtichoke Trust

Plymouth College of Art

Artist: Elizabeth Masterton, with assistant artists, Caroline Wilkins and Emily Kemp

Contributors: staff, students and affiliates from Plymouth College of Art and Plymouth School of Creative Arts (PSCA). Lead at the PSCA: Ali Goodworth. Tattoo artist: Jedna Hall

Location: Plymouth

Materials: mixed textiles

Plymouth College of Art

The collective design of this banner emerged from a series of group discussions and creative workshops, which shared personal histories and political opinions. The motto, ‘the women before us and those to come’, was inspired by a painting by Sonia Boyce. It depicts a woman supporting the next generation on her shoulders. 

The two interlocked arms with tattoos represent indelibility and commitment. Ivy is a Victorian symbol of friendship and longevity. The slogan, ‘hold fast’, a traditional sailor’s tattoo, completes the design, suggesting fidelity, tenacity and strength against all odds, whilst obliquely referencing Plymouth’s masculine seafaring heritage from a 21st century female stance. 

Somerset Art Works (2018-03/2018-06) by Dorcas Casey and Students from Strode CollegeArtichoke Trust

Somerset Art Works

Artist: Dorcas Casey

Contributors: students from Strode College. With Somerset Artworks

Location: Langport

Materials: mixed textiles

Somerset Art Works

This banner was influenced by original suffrage banners, Thalia Campbell’s 1980s Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp banners, and Somerset’s culture and identity. Elements from an original Weston-Super-Mare Suffragist's banner were used as a starting point for the composition.

Somerset Art Works

The slogan, 'Make More Noise', forms the centre point of the banner. It comes from a speech by Emmeline Pankhurst and sums up the sentiment of the suffrage processions - a call to women to be more visible, to make a spectacle, to make their voices heard. 

Glastonbury Festival wristbands have also been incorporated into the design. The festival is intertwined with local identity, protest and alternative ways of living. Follow the story of making the banner: somersetprocessions.wordpress.com

Lighthouse centre panel (2018-05) by Denise Poote and Lighthouse Poole: Carol, Manda, Laura, Liz, Jackie, Jane, Juliet, Michele, Dot, Wendy, Val, Linda, Susan, Rosemarie, Denise and PerdieArtichoke Trust

Lighthouse

Artist: Denise Poote

Contributors: Lighthouse Poole: Carol, Manda, Laura, Liz, Jackie, Jane, Juliet, Michele, Dot, Wendy, Val, Linda, Susan, Rosemarie, Denise and Perdie

Location: Poole

Materials: mixed textiles

Lighthouse

The group decided to make a triptych banner, which would explore the three messages that they felt were most important to communicate.

The pieces focus on commemorating the centenary, highlighting the group’s locality and expressing the need for equality.

Lighthouse Left (2018-05) by Denise Poote and Lighthouse Poole: Carol, Manda, Laura, Liz, Jackie, Jane, Juliet, Michele, Dot, Wendy, Val, Linda, Susan, Rosemarie, Denise and PerdieArtichoke Trust

Lighthouse

Left banner

Lighthouse Right (2018-05) by Denise Poote and Lighthouse Poole: Carol, Manda, Laura, Liz, Jackie, Jane, Juliet, Michele, Dot, Wendy, Val, Linda, Susan, Rosemarie, Denise and PerdieArtichoke Trust

Lighthouse

Right banner

Devon Guild of Craftsmen (2018-04/2018-06) by Veronica Gould and Andrea Foxwell and Group members: Melinda Schwakhofer, Janette Staton, Jan Underwood, Yvette Richer, Clare Coutts, Yuli Somme, Irene Course, Phil de Burlet, and Carole Newton. These names are on the back of the banner. Other members of the group (whose names are not on the banner) are Jenny Hutchinson, Hilary Mathieu, Carey Scot, Fern Leigh Albert and Lucy PatrickArtichoke Trust

Devon Guild of Craftsmen

Artists: Veronica Gould and Andrea Foxwell

Contributors: Devon Guild of Craftsmen
Location: Newton Abbot

Materials: cotton, embroidery silk

Devon Guild of Craftsmen

The banner has a navy-blue background with large scarlet symbols for male and female, joined by an = sign. The Suffragette colours form a narrow border around the banner. 

The original poles are made from hazel, grown in a nearby woodland. Flowing through the banner is a river of names. These are the names of the grandmothers, mothers, daughters and other women who have significance for the group members. 

The banner has the simple graphic message: equality. Nothing more, nothing less. The river of names is the matriarchal line of the group members, from those who had no vote down to their daughters.

Bridport Arts Centre (2018-04/2018-05) by Rosemary Edwards and BridFem – Bridport’s feminist groupArtichoke Trust

Bridport Arts Centre

Artist: Rosemary Edwards

Contributors: BridFem – Bridport’s feminist group

Location: Bridport

Materials: mixed textiles, beads

Bridport Arts Centre

This banner celebrates women past, present and future through the power of women networking and working together. 

Based on previous struggles of women in the net-making industry in Bridport, the Wildcats of 1912 were the first women to strike and win. Arbitrated by Ada Newton, they kept their pay and became the first women to be unionised in the area. 

Bridport Arts Centre

The central figure is inspired by the painting, ‘The Spirit of Bridport’. She is surrounded by flax flowers and made by the community to represent their interconnectedness and strength in numbers to get things done, in the spirit of ‘deeds not words’.

Bridport Arts Centre Workshop, From the collection of: Artichoke Trust
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Lighthouse Poole Workshop, From the collection of: Artichoke Trust
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Newlyn Gallery and The Exchange Workshop, From the collection of: Artichoke Trust
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Newlyn Gallery Workshop Banner in Process, From the collection of: Artichoke Trust
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Plymouth College of Art Workshop, From the collection of: Artichoke Trust
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Credits: Story

PROCESSIONS was produced by Artichoke and commissioned by 14-18 NOW: WW1 Centenary Art Commissions, with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council England and the Department for DigitalCulture Media and Sport. Based on an original idea by Darrell Vydelingum.

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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