The Longest Yarn - A Thread through History - is a travelling exhibition which depicts, in 80 panels, the lead up to the D Day landings of 6th June 1944, the Longest Day. It was completed in time for this year's 80th anniversary.
Above Stoke Minster. The iron railings guard the resting place of potter Josiah Wedgwood.
The Longest Yarn is on display at Stoke Minster until 5th December and on Friday morning we went along to see it.
The inspiration for the 3D project came about as an idea from a lady called Tansy Foster who initially wanted to create a topper for her garden wall but the idea grew. The 80 panels, each a metre long, represent the 80 years since the events and the 80 days of The Battle of Normandy.
Each panel depicts events happening across Britain and France on that one day and has been constructed by volunteer knitters from across Europe, USA, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
Photographs from the time inspired the creators of the panels. Above President Eisenhower makes the final decision to go.
The detail in each display is amazing.
Parachutes landing and getting caught on buildings and trees.
Above the bombing of Carentan station.
After a while it became impossible to take photos as the Minster became quite crowded but the whole exhibition is quite spectacular and very detailed.
This morning when we passed by the Minster on our way to walk at Westport Lake there were queues waiting to get inside. I'm so glad we visited yesterday.
There is so much more to see than the items I have photographed, apologies for the fuzziness of some of them.
Above Stoke Minster in sunshine as we left the exhibition.
The exhibition is moving on to Tewkesbury Abbey from here, then to Enniskillen, Norwich and Peterborough before it leaves these shores to travel to Cape May, New Jersey in the USA in April next year.
A smaller exhibition of Britain at War is being made at the moment comprising of just 6 panels ready to go on tour next September.
Wow, how incredible. What a lot of work and dedication to get that done, I'm not surprised people will queue to see it once they hear about it. Thank you for sharing - it's amazing
ReplyDeleteThank you Sue, it was amazing, such a lot of research and hard work has gone into it. Apparently the queues were even longer this afternoon:)
DeleteI wonder when it will come to Norwich as that is where I live and where it will be. Looks lovely. Don't think I could crochet like that.
ReplyDeleteHello Pat, according to the little leaflet we were given the venue in Norwich is UEA and 2nd Air Division Memorial Library, Millennium Plain, NR2 1TF, February 10th to March 1st next year:)
DeleteWhat an amazing exhibition! The people who made the items for the panels are so talented. I've noted it will be visiting Tewkesbury Abbey - a town I would really like to visit again so I will check when it is there. No wonder there are queues now!! Thanks for all the photos.
ReplyDeleteThank you Caroline, it was quite amazing, all the work and research too. Apparently, according to my leaflet it will be at Tewskbury Abbey from December 7th to January 10th. That gives them one day to move it from here to there! I guess that the displays drop down into the cases to protect them whilst in transit:)
DeleteThat is quite impressive! I love the detail in the knitted/crochet figures and the houses with back gardens! x
ReplyDeleteThank you Simone, I liked the houses and back gardens too, it made you think about everyone involved and affected by what was happening:)
DeleteOh fantastic, I've heard about the exhibition but it's great to see your lovely photos, how talented those knitters are. It must have taken ages to complete. You were lucky yo be able to get close enough to record the detail. 😊
ReplyDeleteThank you CK, amazing talent, I was glad to see the exhibition and really enjoyed it:)
DeleteWhat an amazing exhibition and the hours of work and ingenuity to create something so wonderful. Always worthwhile to help remember such an important event in our history. B x
ReplyDeleteThank you B, everyone around was amazed by the work but also by the accuracy of research done into the day's events:)
DeleteThe exhibition is remarkable. I wonder how many hours went into creating those scenes. Xx
ReplyDeleteThank you Jules, hours and hours of work and preparation I would think, lots of skill and imagination too:)
DeleteWow! What a lovely exhibition to go and see & with very clever people doing all that yarn work. Thanks for sharing, take care & hugs.
ReplyDeleteThank you Susan, it's amazing isn't it?:)
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