As part of our planned exhibition November 2019 - February 2020, in Edinburgh University Main Library Gallery, George Square, Edinburgh a new textile is being created specifically for the exhibition. The shroud of Saint Clare will tell the story of the patroness of embroidery and needle-work, her narrative presented through stitch. We are reaching out specifically to those of you named Clare, Claire, Clara or Chiara to contribute pieces of cloth which will be incorporated and embroidered into to become part of Clare's story.
Should you wish to contribute please email directly to l.richardson@ed.ac.uk
Dear Claire, Clare, Cara, Chiara,
I am writing to you on behalf of your namesake Clare, the Clare from Assisi in Florence who lived her life in the 12thcentury patriarchal society of Italy. Deeply religious, and unwilling to accept the fate of marriage, Clare really wanted to become a monk like her hero Saint Francis of Assisi. However, the fact that she was a woman barred her from entry to a religious life SO with a small group of female relatives and friends, she founded The poor Clares'. This all female group led a spiritual life, living entirely on alms, in an almost silent order. She did not believe in money and belongings, nor in economics, and incidentally Clare was vegetarian. She is the patron Saint of embroiderers and needle-workers and bizarrely, of television. An inspirational woman with an incredible story to tell.
So, to highlight this story, it’s my intention to create an illustrated embroidered shroud celebrating Clare’s life and her patronage of needle-workers, embroiderers and of course televisions. My reason for writing to you is to emulate Clare’s way of life by asking for alms. I am requesting contributions of textiles which will be patched together to make the shroud itself. The only stipulations are as follows: -
- That the item donated has been worn or used by a Clare, Claire, Clara or Chiara
- That the item donated is white or pale in colour. It can be any fibre or construction from plain cotton to lace, towelling or even knitwear. It can be a tiny scrap or a full garment
Construction will begin in February 2019, and I will be accepting the textile alms up until May 2019. The Clare shroud will be exhibited as part of a large embroidery exhibition in the University of Edinburgh main library gallery from November 2019 – February 2020 with all Clare contributors cited.
Please do pass this request on to any other Clare, Claire, Clara or Chiara’s.
Thanks, in anticipation.
Lindy (and of course Saint Clare)
