Designs for Life
Designs for Life is a Wellcome Trust funded SciArt project led by The Oxford Trust in collaboration with the Diamond Light Source and the Women’s Institute. This collaboration will produce a giant fabric-based piece of art that represents the ideas, concerns and issues of groups of women about the biosciences relating to the Diamond Light Source, a synchrotron research facility.
Groups from the Women’s Institute will work with scientists and artists to design and construct pieces of artwork in response to discussion and debate about the study of diseases, drug development and environmental health. The artwork will consist of 30 panels each 50cm square, consisting of various fabrics of contrasting texture and colour, providing significant visual impact.
The artwork will be displayed in various public places, see below for list of dates. After the initial display run the hanging will be housed in the atrium at Diamond Light Source allowing continuing visibility to the visiting public, business community and scientists.
Project Progress
The artwork has been designed by Anne Griffiths, Filkins WI. Anne is a freelance textile artist and lecturer to see some of her other work please click here
20 panels have now been finished and are currently being exhibited at Science Oxford with the last 10 to be finished after Christmas. To see some of the finished artwork please click here.
It is Anne's wish that all 4500 WI members will put a stitch into the artwork irrespective of talent. Therefore we have a design that has a very simple cross stitch background. The first stitch was put into one of these panels by Oxfordshire WI Chairman, Pauline Goddard. The group panel has been touring meetings and going on coach trips and so far 800 stitches have been added. The panel will continue to tour until after Christmas so you still have time to add a stitch if you can.
Exhibition Tour Dates
The artwork will start to tour the county from the beginning of December. Below are a list of venues and dates- 4 December - 20 January. Science Oxford. Opening times 10-4 Mon-Fri and during events.
- 22 January - 16 February. Oxford Centre for Enablement, Nuffield Orthopaedic Hospital. Opening times 8.30 - 5.30 Mon-Fri.
- 19 February - 4 March. Said Business School. Opening times 10-4 Mon-Sat.
- 6 March - 30 March. Vale and Downland Museum, Wantage. Opening Times 10-4.30 Mon-Sat.
- 3 April - 21 April. The Mill Arts Centre, Banbury. Opening Times 9-6 daily except Sun 12-5.
- 24 April - 13 May. John Mason School. Opening times 9-3.30 Mon-Fri.
- 14 May - 3 June. Warneford Hospital. Opening times 9-5 Mon-Fri.
- 14 July. Diamond Light Source, public open day
If you would like to know more about the Designs for Life project or if you are a WI member who wishes to take part in the project please contact Claire Dimond on 01865 728953 or claire.dimond@oxtrust.org.uk
