Society for Embroidered Work
Society for Embroidered Work is a collective of textile artists who use embroidery as a means of artistic expression. The founders of this society, Cat Frampton and Emily Tull, in Great Britain, could not find their place in any existing organisation. Embroidery is still not widely considered a form of artistic expression, and therefore, there was no group exclusively dedicated to artistic embroidery.
The aim of the Society for Embroidered Work (S.E.W) is to promote and support artists who incorporate elements of embroidery into their artworks, whether the embroidery is done by hand or machine, using traditional or contemporary techniques.
“The aim of S.E.W is to promote and support artists who have an element of stitching in their artworks, hand or machine and traditional or contemporary forms of embroidery”
In March 2019, I applied to become a member of the Society for Embroidered Work. Only serious textile artists who use embroidery as a means of artistic expression are accepted into this Society. After providing images of my embroidered works and some explanations of the intentions behind them, I was accepted as a member artist of the Society for Embroidered Work. I am very proud to be part of this society, which I hope will help advance the recognition of embroidery as an art form.
“The fight to get embroidery recognised as an art form has been a long one with roots mired in misogyny and it’s got a long way to go yet. Having a society dedicated to the best in stitched art is one step in the right direction.”
Cat and Emily highlight something important here: gaining recognition for embroidery as an art form is a real struggle, since embroidery is not considered a serious art form like, for example, watercolour, oil painting, or pastel. This devaluation has deep roots in misogyny and in the general undervaluation of women’s activities.
“We hope that at a very basic level, having a society behind them, artists will be able to face the comments (‘embroidery is not art, it’s just a craft’) and the misunderstandings (‘Victorian ladies stitching idly’) with a straight spine and a steady eye.”
The two founders of S.E.W. hope to give embroidery artists the courage and pride needed to face demeaning and dismissive comments about their art, such as: “Embroidery isn’t art, it’s just a hobby”, and “Only doctors’ wives and other bourgeois women embroider, since they don’t need to work.”
If you are a female textile artist using embroidery as a means of expression, know that you are not alone! There are quite a few of us all over the world, despite attempts to make us invisible through contempt for our art. Keep your pride in your art, never bow your head and wear your invisible crown!
