Achi news desk-
It was originally due to close this Sunday but now, due to popular demand, it will return to display later this summer after a short break.
The tapestry, which depicts the city’s history across 35 panels stitched together by over 140 volunteers, will be taken down from the exhibition after this weekend to allow for conservation checks and repairs . A new date for the return to V&A Dundee will be announced in the coming weeks.
The project was conceived and developed by John Fyffe MBE of Weaver Incorporation of Dundee, one of the city’s Nine Incorporated Trades, and Dr Frances Stevenson, senior lecturer at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design.
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The panels were designed by Andrew Crummy MBE, the artist behind the Great Scottish Tapestry, with the support of Dr Stevenson.
John Fyffe MBE said: “The Dundee Tapestry is a form of visual storytelling that tells the extraordinary story of our city. At its heart are the women of Dundee who have made a significant contribution to this, including the highs and lows, the hardships and the hopes.
“A great deal of time and dedication has gone into this major community project and we are all extremely proud of what we have achieved together. The core team and volunteer stitchers have worked tirelessly, even finding ways to work on the tapestry throughout the pandemic.
“None of us could have predicted how popular the Dundee Tapestry would become, with over 80,000 people coming through the doors of V&A Dundee to see the panels and share the stories they contain.
“When V&A Dundee opened its mission was to become ‘the city’s living room’. We believe that the tapestry allowed this to happen, where there were conversations in places and spaces throughout, old friendships were rekindled and new friends were made.
“We are delighted that V&A Dundee is extending the exhibition from the summer onwards so that more people can see these amazing panels.”
Joanna Mawdsley, Head of Learning at V&A Dundee, said: “Seeing the huge popularity of the Dundee Tapestry has been one of the most exciting experiences since V&A Dundee opened back in 2018, as local people have embraced this amazing creative project in their thousands .
“The amount of work and the skill of the volunteer seamstresses has brought joy to visitors of all ages, whether they are primary school children learning about the history of their city or local people reminiscing about the Dundee they grew up in – or’ n see themselves in the panels!
“We are delighted to be bringing back the Dundee Tapestry for a second time later this year due to popular demand, after a short break for conservation.”
The Dundee Tapestry draws on the stories and experiences of Dundee’s communities from the mid-19th century to the present day, the panels explore the city’s industrial heritage, creative achievements, biodiversity and people from 1850 to the present day.
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Some of the details that visitors have seen include the Dundee Culture panel, which reflects on the resilience of Dundonians and collective sense of humor which includes a selection of words and phrases embroidered in the Dundee dialect.
Individual panels dedicated to Nature, Botanic Gardens and The Eden Project sit alongside a Health panel, dedicated to some of the medical firsts achieved in the city, as well as celebrating workers a health professional that has transformed medical practices for people around the world, in specialties as diverse as keyhole surgery, midwifery, ophthalmology and radiotherapy.
Dundee Women, The Four Marys and She Town are three panels that recognize Dundee women who made their mark on the city and the world. She Town pays homage to women who might not have received the recognition in their lifetime, including welder Bella Keyzer, suffragettes Ethel Moorhead and Lila Clunas, and councilor Agnes Husband.
Creativity and Culture in Dundee is illustrated through individual panels dedicated to Comics and Characters, Gaming, Theater and Writers, Music and Dance, and Sporting Dundee, with a panel dedicated to Lochee-born singer-songwriter Michael Marra .
Dundee’s strong international links are highlighted in panels dedicated to Dundee’s twinning and influence on the world. As Dundee’s linen industry grew, the profits were inextricably linked to the enslavement of Africans and Indians. The Osnaburg Linen panel recognizes the links between Dundee and the slave trade in the city’s history. The panel depicts connections that exist today through the city’s sculptures, buildings and street names.
The UNESCO City of Design panel also reflects on some of the important milestones that have contributed to Dundee’s design revival, including the Maggie Center at Ninewells Hospital designed by architect Frank Gehry in 2003, Dundee becoming the first UNESCO City of Design in UK in 2014 and the city. welcome V&A Dundee in 2018.
