Documenting the War Widows Quilt
The book tells the moving stories that lie behind the squares of the War Widows’ Quilt, a collaborative piece of art made by more than 90 war widows.
Graffio Arts were honoured to be approached to design a book to document the War Widows’s quilt. The quilt, made in collaboration with arts company arthur+martha, is part of the War Widows’ Stories project, led by Dr Nadine Muller (Senior Lecturer in English Literature & Cultural History, Liverpool John Moores University) and the War Widows’ Association of Great Britain (WWA).
Part of the War Widows’ Stories project, led by LJMU’s Dr Nadine Muller (Reader in Women’s & Gender Studies) in collaboration with the War Widows’ Association of Great Britain, the War Widows’ Quilt is a beautiful and challenging piece of art that communicates the realities of war widowhood in the UK through quilting and poetry.
Released for Remembrance Sunday, allows people to discover the quilt and the stories that lie behind each of its squares, as well as the creative and research work that inspired this stunning piece of textile art.
Nadine said: “I’m delighted that we’ve been able to make a digital version of the book available for free as we mark Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday.
“The War Widows’ Quilt has provided a creative, therapeutic and immensely impactful way for the women to tell their life stories, and to process and share their love, loss and grief, as well as the social and economic challenges they have faced.
“The restrictions of the COVID pandemic have meant that we’ve not been able to exhibit the quilt since its display at the Queen’s House, Greenwich, in 2019. I’m so pleased that people can now discover the quilt and the stories behind it through this beautiful new edition of the exhibition book.
“The experiences so many women have shared through the War Widows’ Stories project are an incredibly important part of the history of war and conflict that must not be forgotten, and we have a duty to continue to hear and learn from all those affected and left behind by conflicts around the world to understand the real cost of war.”
Make it stand out
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
The War Widows’ Quilt is a beautiful and moving piece of collaborative art that relays the realities of war widowhood in Britain, past and present. Made from second-hand armed forces shirts by over a hundred war widows and their families, its squares tell stories of love, loss and grief that connect women across generations, from the Second World War to the Falklands, Iraq, and peacetime.
In this event, we explore the power of creativity at the centre of the War Widows’ Stories project, asking how the meditative process of stitching and sewing can offer an outlet for the memories of those we have loved.
Make it stand out
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Make it stand out
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Make it stand out
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Make it stand out
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Make it stand out
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
CREDITS
The War Widows’ Quilt was edited by Lois Blackburn (Lead Artist), Philip Davenport (Lead Writer), Nadine Muller (Project Lead), and designed by Graffio Arts.
Make it stand out
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE WAR WIDOW’S QUILT
THE BRITISH ACADEMY
Stitching Remembrance: The War Widows’ Quilt
In this event, we explore the power of creativity at the centre of the War Widows’ Stories project, asking how the meditative process of stitching and sewing can offer an outlet for the memories of those we have loved.
The British Academy Summer Showcase ‘21
Speakers:
Lois Blackburn, artist, arthur+martha
Dr Nadine Muller, Senior Lecturer in English Literature & Cultural History, Liverpool John Moores University
Mary Moreland MBE, War Widow and former Chair of the War Widows' Association
LIVERPOOL JOHN MOORES UNIVERSITY
New book reveals lives, loves and losses behind War Widows’ Quilt
WAR WIDOWS’ STORIES
Make it stand out
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
VIEWING THE BOOK
You can download a digital version of the book from the project’s website at www.warwidowsstories.org.uk or via this direct link.