The Profanity Embroidery Group puts on regular exhibitions and are currently preparing a Grenfell Quilt, a very large and wide-ranging project. This Library-themed exhibition has examples of all different kinds of embroidered responses to the idea of books and reading. The quality of the work is incredible.
I first came across their work about ten years ago when the poet Leah Thorne collaborated with them in Folkestone- their embroidered wedding dresses were hilarious, and very subversive. I've followed their sweary antics ever since.
Late last year there was a call-out for submissions (fnurr, fnurr) for the Jan Lewis Memorial Award and I grabbed a tea towel that I couldn't be bothered to iron, and started to embroider the reason why I started writing about women in punk all those years ago, much in the style of a Delft tile. It was good to have something to take my mind off the anniversary of being so ill at the end of 2024, and I made myself finish it in time for the deadline. Much to my astonishment, the group chose my work for the exhibition, and I went to see it today. The chance to exhibit it was in memory of one of their founder members, Jan Lewis.
Seriously, these women and hardcore brilliant embroiderers and have the best senses of humour. It was great to chat with them, and see their work in real life. Fucking brilliant.
I think there must be something in the water in Whitstable. I found a pocket of sunshine on a bench near the beach and two old geezers were having a loudly-broadcast conversation in which it was impossible to discern anything other than the f-word.
Three cockwombling cheers to PEG for fighting back with such skill and aplomb!
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