Many weeks ago l went to Bath Central Library to meet just some of the people contributing squares intended for a giant patchwork.
Well, now I am pleased to say the American Museum & Gardens, in partnership with Bath Artists’ Studio, is delighted to announce the unveiling of the Bath Patchwork Project ’26. It’s been a collaborative textile project bringing together people from across Bath to celebrate community, creativity and the spirit of Thanksgiving.
Created in partnership with Bath Artists’ Studios and curated by textile artist and Bath Spa University lecturer Emma Reichenbach, the three-metre-square patchwork will be unveiled at the Museum on Thursday 26 November, ahead of a special three-day public display from Friday 27 to Sunday 29 November.
Inspired by the Museum’s exceptional collection of historic textiles and the hand-working traditions behind them, as well as its current America 250 exhibition marking 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the project offers a contemporary reflection on the importance of making, sharing and coming together.
Through a series of artist-led workshops held at venues across Bath, people of all ages and backgrounds have been invited to contribute to the giant patchwork, creating individual embroidered squares that capture something of life in the city today. Participants have stitched their names into the fabric, while sharing their hopes, memories and reflections, which have been incorporated into the reverse of the finished quilt.
Two workshops held at the American Museum & Gardens in July welcomed visitors of all ages to explore the art of hand stitching and contribute their own squares to the project. No previous sewing experience was needed, with the sessions encouraging creativity, conversation and connections across generations.
The result is a unique textile time capsule, bringing together the voices, stories and experiences of people from across Bath. Each individual square represents a personal contribution, while the finished patchwork reflects the hopes, aspirations and shared experiences that unite communities.
The project has brought together thousands of hours of sewing, conversation and shared creativity at venues including the American Museum & Gardens, the Holburne Museum, Bath Central Library, Bath Welcomes Refugees, Bath City Farm, Bath Spa University, BRLSI, Community Matters, Emerge, Fringe Arts Bath, Stillwaters, Thursday Threads, The Grapes Pub and St James Wine Vaults. Experienced needleworkers have also helped introduce newcomers to the craft, creating opportunities to share skills and bring people together.
Emma Reichenbach, who co-leads the BPP26′ alongside Lindy Wright, says:
“What began with a simple invitation to stitch a square has become a portrait of Bath made by the people who live here. Every contribution tells its own story, but something extraordinary happens when they are brought together. You begin to see the connections between people who might otherwise never meet.”
Lucy Littlewood, Director of the American Museum & Gardens, said: “The Bath Patchwork Project is an amazing example of how creativity and shared experiences can bring communities together. As a museum with a unique and extraordinary collection of historic American textiles, we’re particularly pleased to be supporting a project that celebrates the tradition of textile-making while giving people across Bath the opportunity to tell their own stories.
There is also a lovely connection with Thanksgiving and America 250, with the finished quilt bringing together the hopes, memories and things people are thankful for in their own lives. We’re delighted to be sharing this remarkable piece of community creativity with our visitors.”
The finished patchwork will be available to view at the American Museum & Gardens for three days only, offering visitors the opportunity to discover this remarkable community artwork alongside the Museum’s wider collections and exhibitions.
