Re/thread: A Trail of Giant Sequins is a dazzling exhibition featuring work from 1,000 local young people and will be displayed across ten Leicester city centre locations from 13 January – 4 February.
Bringing a pop of colour to the cold weeks ahead, trail-goers are invited to scan a QR code at each of the ten locations to reveal ten fun ideas and activities that they can try at home by repurposing household textiles creatively and sustainably.
On Saturday January 13, Re/thread will take centre stage at a series of events across the city’s cultural venues to launch the fabulous and free trail. With fun things to try at home after scanning the trail locations, this activity is sure to be a great way to entertain the children at the start of the year too!
The Events
- LCB Depot will be hosting a Weave in Code workshop as part of the Cultural Quarter Earlies events to help launch the trail, and at Leicester Central Library, families will be able to enjoy storytelling sessions.
- Leicester Gallery at De Montfort University invites people to join in workshops to make their very own Giant Sequins with lead artist Jessica Grady. There’s also a chance to enjoy the Worn Stories Exhibition that has been created by artists Ruth Singer and Mandeep Dhadialla in collaboration with sanctuary-seeking communities supported by the British Red Cross.
- A whole host of other Cultural Quarter Earlies activities will be spread across the city to enjoy too.
Jessica Grady, an award-winning mixed media embroidery artist, unwound the story for us: “Schools, community groups and youth clubs have all been following digital workshops I created for them with Art Reach. These workshops entailed re-using old textiles from around the home and turning them into giant, decorative sequins. We’ve had the absolute pleasure to combine over 1,000 children’s work into ten beautiful window displays across Leicester city centre. I love the fact that people can scan a QR code for a ‘try at home’ activity that teaches them practical textile skills and helps reduce the impact on the environment.”
Funded by Arts Council England, the National Lottery Community fund, and the Leicestershire and Rutland Community Foundations, Re/thread has rescued over 1,000 kg of local textiles that were due for landfill and repurposed them for this interactive city-wide community arts project.
Elaine Doherty, Head of Programme and Engagement at Art Reach, is delighted with the local business support: “The ten venues that are hosting the trail have been really supportive of the project and it’s great to have them involved in brightening up the city this January. The trail winds from LCB depot to the Curve Theatre, through the Central Library, St Martin’s Square, coffee shops, art galleries and many more exciting locations. Not only is Re/thread a great way to learn about sustainability in a creative way, but it also helps bring people into our wonderful city and start the new year in a fun way.”
From January 13 to February 4, 2024, witness the city centre adorned with Giant Sequins, and let the magic of creativity and sustainability unfold. Scan the QR codes, explore the trail, and discover ten inspiring ideas to weave sustainability into your everyday life.
You can find the Re/thread trail at www.artreach.org.uk and on BID Leicester’s Loyal Free App.
