PRESS RELEASE
Tales of the Unfinishable is coming to Norwich!
What and When?
Fresh from its launch at London’s Alexandra Palace, this unique and exciting exhibition will
be showing at The Forum 13-20th January 2013, in the main atrium and in the Fusion gallery,
as part of a nationwide Arts Council England assisted UK tour. It is the culmination of over a
year’s research into the phenomenon of the ‘Unfinishable’ within the making process
undertaken by two artists, Hazel Connors and Felicity Clarke.
What’s ‘Unfinishable’?
Many makers have pieces of work which have come to a halt for some reason. Often these
are readily restarted, re-worked or discarded but, just occasionally, the maker knows a
particular piece will never be finished but for some reason still keeps it, often for years. This
participative project has been exploring the stories and reasons behind these intriguing
pieces. Whilst finding that Unfinishables play a part in all forms of making practice, from
painting to topiary, Felicity and Hazel have focussed on textiles as their own area of interest.
Often the incomplete is associated with guilt, embarrassment or failure - Tales of the
Unfinishable challenges this and offers a positive take on this little aired aspect of the
making process.
What’s involved?
Over 200 makers of all kinds of textile work, both hobbyist and professional, from across the
UK and beyond, have contributed Unfinishable pieces to the project along with their story
of why the piece can never be finished. These very human stories span a wide range of
emotions, from amusing to heart-breaking. Brought together in a single giant artwork
attributed to all participants - the TOTU pavilion - they reflect almost every facet of the
human experience. The types of textile work involved are also amazingly diverse from rag
rugs, wall hangings, quilts and embroideries to gold work, lace work, doll-making and
knitting. The pavilion exterior is a celebratory feast of textile creativity with all the donated
pieces displayed on its walls. The interior is a more contemplative space where the stories
which illuminate the pieces are presented both aurally and visually.
Who'll be interested?
Visitors from all walks of life and background are attracted to the TOTU Pavilion. Many of
the textiles displayed, being quite everyday and domestic, are extremely familiar and the
tent-like construction makes the exhibition accessible and intriguing to all.
Local connections?
A strong contingent of East Anglian participants have been involved and a group event is
being planned on Thursday 17th January where they can gather to share their experiences
of Unfinishing face to face, as well as celebrate the outcome of the project. .
What else is happening?
In addition to the pavilion, there will also be a Tales of the Unfinishable audio-visual
experience in the Fusion gallery. The Millennium library is also linking in to the TOTU
exhibition with a display of reader’s submissions of book titles they failed to finish and the
reasons why. Running concurrently and echoing Tales of the Unfinishable themes will be a
series of weaving workshops run by Aviva Leigh, with their main focus being on skill and
story sharing. . Visitors will learn to weave on simple laptop looms using upcycled materials
to make sections to contribute to a final piece of strips and stripes which will grow
throughout the week and reflect Norwich’s particular textile tradition.
What do visitors think of it?
TOTU has been received enthusiastically by its many visitors who swiftly recognise its
relevance to their own experiences, 'Inspirational', 'Fabulous' and 'Emotional' being
frequently used words. Many also appreciate the sense of shared experience ‘This is MY
exhibition’, and ‘I don’t feel so bad now.’ Acknowledging the participative aspect one visitor
wrote 'A Wonderful Experience - so interesting and moving to see and read people's life stories
through the work they contributed to the exhibition. The sounds were magical. I hope it
continues to be shown nationwide. Thank you to everyone who allowed their 'unfinishable'
projects to be shown.'