ITV news reporter interviewing Dangerous Pockets Project leader, Paula MacGregor - at Essex University on International Woman's Day 2019
Dangerous Pockets Project
a community art collaboration
in which you are enthusiastically invited to take part
facilitated by artist Paula MacGregor MA
inspired by a poem by Sharon Owens:
This on-going and growing travelling show has its first showing on International Women's Day 2019
and its ultimate show on International Women's Day 2020 (venue still to be confirmed)!
this means you have the whole of 2019 to make as many pockets as you would like.
The sooner they arrive with me the more times they get shown.
Several dates are already in the diary,
so start sewing now!
and its ultimate show on International Women's Day 2020 (venue still to be confirmed)!
this means you have the whole of 2019 to make as many pockets as you would like.
The sooner they arrive with me the more times they get shown.
Several dates are already in the diary,
so start sewing now!
What do you need to do?
- make a pocket (or several pockets)
- you can create a new pocket - or use one cut from a garment, such as a jacket or jeans...
- your pockets can be anything you want them to be, try thinking about adding words or embellishments
- maybe your pocket will have a story to tell or a point to make - maybe there will be something inside your pocket?
IMPORTANT UPDATE
This project has been dedicated to my dear friend and fellow artist Ellen Devall
who passed away in the hospice whilst holding my hand, on 25th June 2019
I made Ellen an unconditional promise to keep her work going
watch out for my new community art project
This project has been dedicated to my dear friend and fellow artist Ellen Devall
who passed away in the hospice whilst holding my hand, on 25th June 2019
I made Ellen an unconditional promise to keep her work going
watch out for my new community art project
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'Ellen's Legacy'
coming soon... 
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This is Ellen at the launch of the Dangerous Pockets Project Essex University on International Women's Day 2019
Are there any guide lines?
- please only use up-cycled materials (old clothing, bedding etc) or scraps from your stash.
- please add either a couple of holes or tags on the back corners, or include a casing along the top of the back - so I can thread them all onto red cord.
- You are welcome to add your name on the back of your pocket - but you can stay anonymous if you would rather.
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Lucy Locket - by Jen Dines
My Pocket - by Anne Ragan
Womb - by Lyn Lewis
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Dangerous Coats Someone clever once said Women were not allowed pockets In case they carried leaflets To spread sedition Which means unrest To you and me A grandiose word For common sense Fairness Kindness Equality So ladies, start sewing Dangerous coats Made of pockets & sedition by Sharon Owens 
Protect and Faith - by Ellen Rivett Devall
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Myself - by Belinda Cockerill
Women's Land Army
Frida Kahlo - by Jacqui Law
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I have set up a Go Fund Me account to help with this project - to find out more click here
This is an on-going/growing project that will last throughout 2019.
There will be shows and exhibitions along the way,
so the sooner you make your pocket the more times it gets to go out into the world.
March 2019 - Essex University
April 2019 - Stony Stratford Library, Buckinghamshire
May and June 2019 - Museum of Power, Langford, Essex
July - The Civic Hall, Stourport on Severn
August - The Fish Factory Gallery, Penryn, Cornwall
and - Parndon Mill in Harlow, Essex
I am in negotiations with:
Shropshire and Northumberland - plus others tba
The last UK date is International Women's Day March 20th 2020
where it will return to it's birth place in Colchester, Essex.
Then on to a tour of Australia starting in
Tasmania
The Gold Coast
plus others tba
Please get your pockets to me by the end of December 2019
if you would like to be part of the Dangerous Pockets Project
watch out for my next community art collaboration
'Ellen's Legacy' - coming soon!
what happens next?
send them to me and I will thread them onto long lengths of red cord and send them out as travelling exhibition.
why a red cord - it is symbolic of the joining together of women in a common goal.
send them to me and I will thread them onto long lengths of red cord and send them out as travelling exhibition.
why a red cord - it is symbolic of the joining together of women in a common goal.
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we have a FaceBook page: Dangerous Pockets Project
you can also find us on Twitter 
do you belong to a group or a guild that could take part? could you invite some friends for a sewing circle session? how ever you do it, please take it on board and run with it have fun and enjoy making your pockets! Oh and make sure you read the poem 'Dangerous Coats' by Sharon Owens which gave me the inspiration for this exciting project! |
please share the Dangerous Pockets Project far and wide
I have created an A-Z of textile techniques to help inspire you in the creation of your pockets
please click below if you would like to see it - and let me know if you can add anything to it!
please click below if you would like to see it - and let me know if you can add anything to it!
A is for Appliqué - B is for Boro - C is for Crazy Patchwork
