“Flowers We Give To Ukraine”

“Flowers We Give To Ukraine” is a programme of community integration textile projects developed by a local curator and educator, Magdalena Glowacka, who, following the invasion of Ukraine started a support group for Ukrainian women at Tolworth station called Ariadne’s Thread. Their first meeting took place symbolically on International Women’s Day. Since then, every week, they have been engaging in traditional crafts and collaborative activities with the goal of preserving cultural heritage and providing a therapeutic outlet and social interaction to those displaced by the conflict. In June 2022, the first tapestry officially started. This was initially intended as participatory needlework for local Ukrainian women, including those arriving under the ‘Home for Ukraine’ scheme. The project, however, quickly became a global collaboration with refugees stitching smaller parts across Europe. Further tapestries followed when visitors from Uckfield and Canterbury joined the group. To bring people together and help the integration of new arrivals within the community, the group hosted open events and embroidery workshops for all ages and abilities. In total five tapestries were started in different locations. Every tapestry is unique and tailored to each group. So far over 170 people have been involved. 

The main tapestry, “Blue Cornflowers” 2022 is a large-scale cross stitch embroidery reproduction (2m x 3m) of a painting by the celebrated Ukrainian folk artist Maria Prymachenko. This is an ongoing participatory installation which anyone is invited to join. Sessions take place on Mondays at Baking Ideas kitchen in Tolworth 11AM - 2PM and on Thursdays at the Rose Cafe. Please visit the Rose theatre's website for more details.

The four smaller tapestries were based on artworks made by two very talented Ukrainian refugee girls on the autism spectrum, Sasha & Masha, who inspired the group to start raising funds for families with additional needs displaced by the war.  A JustGiving page was set up and it is an ongoing fundraiser.  Instagram: @ariadnesthread2022 Facebook: @FlowersWeGiveToUkraine

Flowers We Give To Ukraine exhibition is on view at the ROSE Theatre from 3 February to 15 March - 10am - 5pm (Subject to ROSE theatre’s opening times)