a taste of things to come, 2021

Selected for The Janome Fine Art Textiles Award exhibition

SHORTLISTED

March 20, 1935

Meanwhile, I noticed a young couple who had seated themselves at the next table. The husband, well-behaved, and in a low tone of voice, placed his order. Three waiters, waving their napkins, rushing madly to give us good service, started setting our food before us.

I couldn’t help glancing at the couple. A page boy had just placed a cup of tea with a slip of paper before the young man. The young couple read the slip of paper and blushed. They seemed about to rise from their seats. At our table the first champagne was opened with a loud pop.

“May I take the liberty?” I said to them in French, and removed the slip of paper from their table and translated it to my party. “We do not serve Jews,” read the notice.

Blood and Banquets, A Berlin Social Diary by Bella Fromm, first edition 1942 (non-fiction)

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A dainty, genteel porcelain cup and saucer, normalising antisemitism in an apparent ‘civilised’ society establishment. The sugar sweetening the hidden poison. I think the clue is in the title and the piece serves as a warning against how easily it could be regarded as acceptable in the future under the guise if we are not careful.

Also, within politics there is antisemitic behaviour which goes undisciplined, I’m thinking of the reported instances in UK government, and this piece brings the problem to centre stage and exposes it. It shines a light to challenge it, not celebrate it. That is to say, “This is not normal. This is not civility. This is not acceptable" however you dress it. Gillianne Adams, artist, UK

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Jewish people were treated like the dregs of society just as these words act as the dregs in the bottom of the teacup.
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In-situ at The Knitting & Stitching Show, London

In-situ at The Knitting & Stitching Show, London

COMMENTS

  • You capture the essence of it all - incredible work

  • It is a sense of sadness of things to come that you have evoked here - the feeling you get when looking at an old photo with those in the photo smiling, but you unfortunately know the end-story

  • Powerful and poignant work

  • What can I say beyond ‘it’s stunning’

  • Shocking, beautiful. A reminder: Never Again

  • It is such a difficult subject and your exquisite stitches are so moving

  • Truly awe inspiring

  • The embroidery of the napkin is impressive and the shock then and now is still huge

  • I think that you created a powerful artwork with minimal intervention which is not something easy to achieve

  • Chilling words

  • An amazing piece of art

  • The creation of your artwork is so powerful in reminding us of the terrible events that happened in the past which still unfortunately continue today

  • Wonderful, though very sad too

  • Moving and thought provoking work und auch traurig

  • Such a powerful piece, exquisitely stitched

  • Your work is really important

  • What a wonderful concept and so well executed

  • It deserves international exhibition and recognition

  • A sad reminder of all the lives that were lost and blighted

Measurement: 51cm x 41cm x 6cm

Process: Hand stitch

Materials: Antique porcelain cup & saucer, vintage ashtray, spoon, postcard, fountain pen, coins (all origin Germany), vintage serving tray from Russia, textile, silk threads

Exhibited in:

The Janome Fine Art Textiles Award Gallery, Festival of Quilts, NEC, Birmingham (29 July - 1 August 2021)

The Janome Fine Art Textiles Award Gallery, The Knitting & Stitching Show, Alexandra Palace, London (7 - 10 October 2021)

The Janome Fine Art Textiles Award Gallery, The Knitting & Stitching Show, Harrogate Convention Centre (18 - 21 November 2021)