The Feminist Project for Rural Arts Hundred Heroines

The Feminist Project for Rural Arts

International Women’s Day 2025 marks the conclusion of the second chapter of the Feminist Project for Rural Arts with the unveiling of the artwork commissioned to reflect the local heritage of textiles and women’s work.

Recent years have witnessed a revival in textile and fibre-based arts and many of the Heroines use textiles in their work.

Supported by The Ampersand Foundation, the Feminist Project for Rural Arts puts a contemporary spin on Gloucestershire’s textile heritage. Working with Monica C. LoCascio, we’ve grown an artwork.

The Great Train Tapestry was the preface, the first chapter began with SCOBY’s arrival and incubation in Gloucester and the second chapter began with the first SCOBY installation.

Stay tuned for chapter 3 …

The Ampersand Foundation

"Without Us The System Fails" by MONICA C. LoCASCIO

From Bacteria to Artwork

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SCOBY

Create with Applique, Plant Based Leather

WORKSHOP: Join artist Katie Taylor in this innovative workshop where you’ll explore the creative potential of appliqué using dried SCOBY leather.

Batik & Natural Dye Workshop with Zariq Rosita-Hanif

Event : Sunday 20th October - Free Batik & Natural Dye Workshop with Zariq Rosita-Hanif

BioArt

BioArt exists at the intersection of science and aesthetics, fusing together forms of biotechnology, scientific inquiry, and artistic expression.

Performative Art Installation

29/9 Stroud: Performative Art Installation - An immersive SCOBY experience with Monica C LoCascio at Museum in the Park

MicroSCOBY

It's been an exciting week of discovery in the SCOBY lab! We've been examining the baby SCOBYs under a microscope and the findings are intriguing.

SCOBY Art I

In response to our call out for artists to experiment by incorporating an offspring of the Gloucestershire SCOBY into their practice, fine art photographer, Rita Long, has risen to the challenge.

SCOBYologist Challenge

The recent warm weather has spurted the growth of our SCOBY and we have lots of babies to give away. For those who love the vibrant intersection of art and science, the SCOBYologist challenge beckons!

Join the SCOBY Experiment

We’re intrigued to find out more about the way SCOBYs can be used artistically. We’d love you to take part in the experiment, by taking a SCOBY home, nourishing it with memories and tea, then using it – or its water – in your art or craft, or even a living SCOBY-world…

SCOBY Installation

The Gloucestershire SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast) is a one-of-a-kind, living art installation. In the autumn, contemporary textile artist Monica C. LoCascio will hold a performative harvesting. The repetitive, dirty and smelly nature of SCOBY harvesting will reflect, in real terms, the working conditions of the historic textile industry.

The Gloucestershire SCOBY

A unique, living and growing art installation by Hundred Heroines will weave Gloucestershire’s textile history with the story of its forgotten workers.

Photography & Textiles

Our new core display references the local textile history, situating it within a framework of contemporary art and photography. Photography Heroines, whose oeuvres explore photography and fibre arts include...

Women’s Work: From feminine arts to feminist art – by Ferren Gipson

Book Review: Historically, the practices of decorative and applied arts - including textiles and ceramics - have been regarded as better suited for women...

Jenny Matthews: Sewing Conflict – Photography, War and Embroidery

Exhibition Review at Street Level Photoworks, Glasgow until 12th May.

Self portraits by African artists come together in new exhibition

Heroines Yagazie Emezi and Zohra Opoku feature in exhibition held at Jeffrey Deitch Gallery, Los Angeles until Dec 23

Buttons, Books and Dorodangos

Objects made by hand, some traditional, some unusual, some unexpected, and all show the ingenuity and dexterity of their makers.

Shag: Provocative Textiles

Adama Delphine Fawundu features in new Nashville exhibition

Geta Brătescu

Exploring the reality of living under a totalitarian regime in Communist Romania

Rosie and her Sisters

Week 14, Historic working conditions sometimes seem long ago, but still have a very contemporary feel to them.

This project has been made possible through the generous support of The Ampersand Foundation

About The Ampersand Foundation

The Ampersand Foundation is a UK grant-awarding charity that exclusively supports the visual arts. The Foundation supports high-quality exhibitions and projects, provided they are free to the public at least one day per week. It also supports public collection expansion. The Foundation is focused mainly on supporting institutions and projects within the United Kingdom.

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www.theampersandfoundation.com