The Poetry of Stitch Competition
Age 16 to 19
Eirian Short
Renowned figure in the world of British embroidery as a Lecturer, both at Goldsmiths College of Art and Hornsey College of Art as an Author and as a prolific maker of embroidered panels yielding a rich body of work that commands admiration, respect and delight.
Her work is exhibited widely and can be found in both public and private collections.
One of a series of drawings of snakes which in more than one occasion provided the observational foundation enabling her hand embroidered masterpieces; always straight stitches and French knots and always with Appleton crewel wool – she had every colour.
Find out more: dianaspringallcollection.co.uk/eirian-short
Ouroborus
1991
Pencil drawing.
Creative Prompt
An ouroboros is a symbol of eternal rebirth, or the constant flow of life, usually depicted as a snake or dragon eating its own tail. Consider what time means to you. Are there episodes when it seems to move quickly and others which slow down, do you feel you are always trying to get somewhere or repeatedly in the same place, does time flow or is it stuck? Our relationship to time feels like it is governed by external events and environments and yet really rests with how we relate to it. Write a poem which plays with the concept of time, perhaps using repetition and punctuation for emphasis.
Created by Marina Castledine, Creative Learning Consultant Fiona.
To print the image and the prompt, download the PDF: