Homer Watson House and Gallery Exhibition

Many of the textiles in this exhibition are presented with their ‘inside’ out. This is expressed using techniques that involve stitching onto the front of the piece but displaying the reverse or working on the back of the artwork but showing the ‘front’.

During their creation, Martin noted that the stitched marks she made by carefully working from the back, appeared natural and intuitive on the front, resulting in a more authentic piece. Acting as a metaphor for the way we live, the pieces reflect an outer self that we present to the world and an inner self, probably more interesting, full of thoughts and stories and dreams that are only occasionally shared. A process of creation that provided great peace during a period of isolation, loss, and worry, the repetitive gestures made while stitching, wrapping, caressing, folding, and holding had a calming effect, and acted as a reminder that things will be okay.