Dorich House Museum

Participatory Needlework

We’re delighted to welcome back Ariadne’s Thread on the 18th and 19th of January 2024.

Ariadne’s Thread is a support group for the migrant and refugee community, working together to preserve cultural heritage and promote a brighter future through creativity. The initiative was set up by a local curator and educator, Magdalena Glowacka, as a response to the invasion of Ukraine, in order to give women and children displaced by the conflict a safe place to interact with each other. They meet every Monday in the Baking Ideas room at Tolworth Station run by The Community Brain.

With a creative vision and the goal to keep native customs and memories of home alive, the members engage in traditional crafts and collaborative activities. 

“Blue Cornflowers…” is a large-scale cross stitch embroidery reproduction of a painting by the celebrated Ukrainian folk artist Maria Prymachenko. This is an ongoing participatory installation which anyone is invited to join. This is not a project for experienced needleworkers alone but for willing participants and those who may benefit from uplifting and stimulating interaction. It is meant to be a learning process and open to all. So far, over 90 hands have contributed to this global stitching effort – people of different backgrounds, cultures, nationalities, gender, ages and abilities.

“Our table brings people together and facilitates conversation, even when communication is difficult or broken, which is the most rewarding outcome”.  

This ongoing participatory art installation will be based in our first floor Modelling Studio.

More information can be found on the group’s Instagram page @ariadnesthread2022 or by contacting Magdalena directly via email: gwovatska@hotmail.com