Bridging the Gap: East Anglian Stitch Textiles

East Anglian Stitch Textiles (EAST) formed in 1995, is a forum of textile artists who explore the use of fibre and its many incarnations.

EAST members have researched and developed a body of work exploring the role of women both past and present. This includes specific examples of women who despite their gender and their circumstances have forged a path and a way forward either for themselves or for others to embrace. Explored themes include literary sources – remarkable British female novelists of the last 350 years. Another is outstanding female artists pre-twentieth century who refused to abandon their artistic calling. 

Additional themes embrace women who stepped outside the boundary of the expected norm either as a mark of defiance, a sense of greater self, a fundamental belief in their creative abilities or a primaeval sense of what is “right” in life. Areas of research are diverse and investigate various 19th & 20th-century communities where women, despite everyday hardship, fought for their rights and position in society.

An eclectic mix of strong women and heritage who relentlessly persevered.