Quaker Tapestry Museum staff and volunteer team choose their favourite exhibits in our new series of blogs.
Simon Hart Richardson, Quaker Tapestry Museum Assistant, tells us why he chose ‘World Family of Friends’ as one of his favourite exhibits…
“‘World Family of Friends’ reminds me of the friendships that I have made with those from other places and opportunities to connect with others in the future. There may be distance between, but lasting friendships exist. The tree in this panel not only appears to connect different elements that are important to humans, but it also appears to support the Earth and every living thing in it representing the vitally important natural world. For me, ‘World Family of Friends’ naturally connects with other panels, as the stories all weave into each other. I’m delighted when our visitors share their experiences with me. As visitors embark on their adventure, the tapestries are bound to speak to each of them differently depending on their own unique life experiences. Every time I spend time with the tapestries, depending on what is happening in my life or experiencing in that moment, I interpret elements differently. So, what I say is my favourite today is likely to be different if you had asked me last year or next week! That’s the magic of the Quaker Tapestry! “
About the panel
From 1654 onwards, Friends travelled extensively over Europe, the West Indies, the eastern seaboard of America, establishing Quaker Meetings. These kept in close touch by ‘Epistles’ and the frequent visits of travelling Friends. On the World Family of Friends tapestry panel are recorded Meetings and also Churches as some groups took on a different form of worship from the silent worship usual in most Quaker communities.
A World Committee for Consultation was set up to foster greater understanding between Quakers of these different traditions, and this led to regular triennial conferences, held in many parts of the world, which cherishes the ideal of ‘Unity in Diversity’
About the stitches
Anne Wynn-Wilson, founder of the Quaker Tapestry, originally designed this panel with a spiral to represent unity in diversity springing from a central belief (much like ‘The Prism’) but in this case to express the energy of Friends World organisations and their influence, in spite of comparatively small numbers. Anne had drawn the spirals and then, as so often, something unexpected happened to help the concept and design along. A tree construction was brought by children into the Family Gathering in Waterford, Eire, filled with birds, insects, animals, vibrant with life, Anne recognised that this was to be the centre of the ‘World Family of Friends’ panel.
The main part of the panel was largely embroidered by Friends in Switzerland, North America and all over Britain, but The World itself was the work of Win Prior, of Hemel Hempstead meeting, who painstakingly embroidered the land masses in thousands of Peking knots, giving a texture upon which to embroider the swirling white clouds.
Along the bottom section we see children from many countries. Anne carried a small notebook with her when she travelled and asked children to draw a picture of themselves with their friend. This serves to remind us that personal friendships and sharing of our common humanity is the way to lasting peace and understanding.
You can view ‘World Family of Friends’, and other panels, here at Quaker Tapestry Museum, Kendal or view all 77 panels on our website
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Postcards of this, and other panels, are available for you to keep or send.
Your purchase helps us to preserve and exhibit one of the world’s largest community embroideries and in sharing its stories, history and stitches for all to enjoy.
