Today's Object of the Week is a red dress, which has been exhibited in various galleries and museums worldwide, Paris, Mexico City, London - and now Stockton.
The Red Dress is a global collaborative embroidery project involving 370 embroiderers from 50 countries, many of whom are marginalised and live in poverty.
Every section of the dress was created to tell personal stories through embroidery. The project was conceived by British Artist Kirstie Macleod who initially sought to generate a dialogue of identity through embroidery, uniting people around the world.
Over the 13 years since it started the dress has also become a platform for self-expression and an opportunity for voices to be amplified and heard.
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From 2009 to 2023, pieces of the Red Dress travelled the globe being continuously embroidered onto. Constructed out of 85 pieces of burgundy silk dupion, the garment has been worked on by 363 women, seven men and two non-binary artists from 50 countries. All 139 commissioned embroiderers were paid for their work.
Now complete, the Red Dress is covered in millions of stitches showcasing all the stories of the remarkable embroiderers.
The dress has been exhibited in galleries and museums across the world – and now, for the first time, it is available to see in the North East at Preston Park Museum & Grounds, in Stockton.
The Red Dress will be on display from February 4 to 9 March 9. There is no need to book in advance and the exhibition is included in the cost of normal museum admission prices. The museum is open Tuesday through to Sunday from 10am to 4pm.
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Councillor Steve Nelson, the council’s cabinet member for health, leisure and culture, said: “We’re delighted that the Red Dress is coming to Preston Park Museum, it’s an absolutely inspirational project and it’s a real honour to have it on display in our region.
“Hearing about the stories of all those involved in its creation is truly amazing and I would urge people to come along and see it in person while it’s here in Stockton-on-Tees.”
* To find out more about Preston Park Museum & Grounds and the Red Dress Project visit: https://prestonparkmuseum.co.uk/events/the-red-dress-project-exhibition
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