How my portrait of Helena Brownsword Dowson is going to be marking history
Artists coming together to honour the lives of women has not been particularly common until recent times. That’s why I’m so proud to be part of the Standing In This Place exhibition running from September 20th to September 25th at Nottingham Society of Artists Gallery.
The exhibition is based around the community arts project led by Rachel Carter. The Nottinghamshire sculptor has created a powerful piece in bronze which will be placed in the centre of the city. The sculpture presents two women who are symbolic of the link between enslaved women in the Americas and the women working in the mills of the Midlands. Its secondary purpose is to redress the imbalance in female representation in sculpture nationally.
I feel honoured that my embroidered portrait of Helena Brownsword Dowson will be hung in the same exhibition space as Rachel Carter’s sculpture. And when I watch the sculpture being unveiled by The Lard Mayor of Nottingham, Councillor Wendy Smith, at 2pm on 20th September I know that my own artwork will have been part of a history marking moment.
Two Different Links to Textiles
My embroidered portrait of Helena (Nellie) Dowson will be displayed alongside other artists who also work in textiles linking directly to the purpose of the exhibition: women’s part in the Midland’s textile industry. To make the significance to textiles even more profound, my subject also has an interesting link to the industry.
While researching her past I realised, in one of those interesting twists of fate, that Nellie Dowson had a direct link to the textile industry of Nottingham herself. When Helena Brownsword wed William Dowson in 1894, she was marrying a lace manufacturer. And even though she was not involved in the business directly, it highlights the powerful legacy of the textile industry in the Midlands. For this reason, it is wonderful to think that my portrait of Nellie is doubly significant.
Mark History With Me
While this is not my first exhibition, I took part in Sherwood Art Week back in June, it is still a very important moment in my artist career. With the sad loss of HM Queen Elizabeth II, it seems more important than ever to celebrate the dignity and strength of great women whether they were located locally, nationally, or internationally.
Come and support me and other artists from the Midlands as we stand side-by-side with Rachel Carter to commemorate the women on which Nottingham’s historic past was built.
The Standing In This Place Exhibition And Beyond
The exhibition only runs from the 20th of September to the 25thso make sure you add it to your diary – it’s not an event you want to miss. You can see the scale model of Rachel Carter’s sculpture along with other brilliant works of art from local artists, including my own. Pop by and say hello!
While the exhibition is vitally important, it is a stepping stone for me. I will continue my own journey in creating a series of embroidered portraits of important female figures from Nottingham and the East Midlands, my first being Florence Paton. While Helena Brownsword Dowson may get a place at the exhibition, I think all the women in my project are worthy of showcasing.