Loving Earth textiles highlighting threats to natural world comes to Westminster
A Quaker-led textile exhibition about the survival of the planet is on show to politicians in Portcullis House.
Around 60 panels made by people from across the UK, illustrating loved habitats, plants and creatures threatened by environmental change, are on display until 17 March at the request of Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle MP.
The Speaker, who was inspired by an exhibition in his own constituency, visited the Loving Earth exhibition of textile panels in Portcullis House this Tuesday, 21 February, and urged other MPs to view it.
He said: “The use of textiles to tell the story about the survival of our planet, well I wanted Parliament to see how people are thinking, what their vision is and what our vision should be going forward."
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I wanted Parliament to see how people are thinking, what their vision is
- Speaker of the House, Lindsay Hoyle
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The first Loving Earth panels went on display in 2019 and the project has proved a dramatic success, with international exhibitions and more than 400 panels created.
The Loving Earth Project is an international community textile project started by the Quaker Arts Network, working with individual and communities around Britain and further afield including Uganda and Belize.
Loving Earth exhibitions have been held all over the UK and internationally in Ireland, France, Slovenia and, later this year, the USA. The exhibition at the Scottish Maritime Museum was lauded as one of the best cultural events in Scotland for COP 26.
Panels on display at Portcullis House include polar bears, our planet from space, the mycelial web beneath our feet, flooded homes and churches, toxic air, insects, chimpanzees and so many other beautiful, painful losses.
Each panel is accompanied by a short statement from the maker.
“The project aims to help people engage creatively and constructively with loss and environmental breakdown, without being overwhelmed," said Linda Murgatroyd, clerk of Quaker Arts Network and project co-founder.
“It illustrates a variety of actions individuals are taking, and their concerns that much more is needed."
Loving Earth Project exhibitions are supported by the Westhill Endowment, the Edith M. Ellis Trust, the Southall Trust, and the Quaker Arts Network. Anyone can take part.