Ready your pencils, scissors and cameras! We are inviting clubs, groups and communities to contribute to our special exhibition, This is Me.
March 2024 sees the arrival of Grayson Perry’s Essex House Tapestries at The Gallery at The Arc, Winchester. Perry’s tapestries tell the story of fictional character, Julie Cope, from Essex. The tapestries depict all the major events of Julie’s life, from birth to death, love and loss, happy times and hard times, as well as including lots of local familiar landmarks. The tapestries are full of colour and pattern, with figures and buildings hand-drawn and carefully positioned by Perry. They are a vibrant portrait of Julie Cope, giving layers of information about her as a person and the place where she lives.
While Perry’s work is on display inside The Gallery, the City Space gallery (on the mezzanine) would like to cover its walls with your portraits. Over the past two years, up and down the country, collaborative campaigns have been taking place under the title ‘This is Me’. At Hampshire Cultural Trust, we have been working with young people through the ICE Heritage programme, which focused on creative self-direction, mental wellbeing, and celebrating identity in all its glorious diversity. City Space will be displaying the original material and is expanding the project to invite you to take part, too.
We’ve created three categories to inspire your artwork – choose one or make something for each.
This is Me – a self-portrait style picture, looking at who you are, your life story, and what makes you, you!
This is Us – a group portrait or a picture made collaboratively to represent your family, your club or organisation.
This is Winchester – a portrait of Winchester, showing what's special about the city and landscape, the amazing things that happen here, and why you live here or visit here.
Send us your portraits!
You have until Wednesday 28 February to hand in your submission at The Arc. Full details and T&C's can be found in the maker’s pack (link below) and works could be as simple as a single representative colour or as complex as a thousand-piece paper portrait mosaic.
Check out our examples...
To get involved, please carefully read our instruction pack available here.
Don’t miss! The Arc, Winchester will be hosting a making day on Monday 12 February. Come along and craft a collage, stick down a stanza or rework a ribbon. It’s all up to you!
