Alzheimers and memory lost explored at new exhibition

Article Added: 23/03/2009 13:44:24
Textile Artist Kay Haskins, of Trashy Princess, will be having her first solo exhibition next month, which will provide a fantastic chance to see her work first hand. Those of you who managed to get along to our Spellbinding Textiles exhibition may remember Kay’s work she made the set of booties so will know that this is one exhibition well worth visiting.

The exhibition is based around an installation Kay produced while at university titled ‘Loose Threads’. Kay explains, “The piece consists of two drawers that have been lined and filled with handcrafted treasures to represent two very different generations, mine and my grandparents. The installation depicts the debate surrounding Alzheimer’s disease and the loss of memory.”

The Alzheimer’s theme originally came about when Kay was speaking with the daughter of an Alzheimer’s sufferer and discovered that the patient lived his life by his watch. To change the time on his watch caused him to become completely lost as it determined his routines, actions and in many cases, behavioural instincts. Kay then researched the disease more thoroughly and the result was her ‘Loose Threads’ installation.

The two drawers represent two very different generations through the mediums of cloth, stitch, paper and print. The first drawer has a burst of colour and energy and represents everything from her generation that Kay would want to keep hold of if she were to lose her memory. These include handcrafted fabric translations of her mobile phone, university ID card and childhood comfort pillow.

The second drawer represents her grandparent’s generation. Kay has named the second drawer The Dancing Days, as she explains, “Speaking with my grandparents I realised that a very important memory for them was that of their dancing days as this is where they first met. I wanted their memory box capture the true essence of their dancing memories in case either one of them were to ever lose their memory”.

Kay’s grandparents grew up in the make-do-and-mend era and she has stayed true to the techniques and processes of the time. The drawer is lined with reclaimed fabrics reminiscent to their generation and Kay has created a patchwork background similar to the quilts her grandmother used to make with her mother. Hidden away in a pocket of the drawer is a fabric love note like the ones her grandfather used to send to her grandmother and suspended in front of the drawer is her grandfather’s favourite bow tie – worn at all their dancing competitions.

Repetitions of imagery and text within both drawers represent the repeated behaviour in Alzheimer’s patients, while the clock motifs are reminiscent of the loss of time and how patients can feel lost or trapped.

Alongside the ‘Loose Threads’ installation will be a selection of Kay’s handcrafted treasures, which are all available for purchase. Items available include brooches, door hangers, gift tags and purses. The exhibition takes place from 4 April-1 May at the Turnpike Gallery, Civic Square, Leigh, Greater Manchester. The gallery is open Mon-Fri 10-6 and Saturday 9.30-3.30 and admission is free.

For more information about Kay please visit www.trashyprincess.blogspot.com or contact her at kayhaskins@hotmail.co.uk