"Strangers" - Sarah-Joy Ford - Collaboration with Jordon Taylor - 2018

Strangers - Sarah-Joy Ford - Collaboration with Jordon Taylor - 2018

Digitally printed velvet, cotton thread, wool, polyester wadding & cotton

150cm x 200cm

Strangers is a queer kind of quilt. It is, all at once, a quilt, a banner and a flag.
It is a meditation on queer visual coding, symbolism and the possibilities of queer solidarity across difference.

The inverse triangle references the pink triangle used to identify homosexuals under the nazi regime, which was mobilised by Act Up as a symbol for queer resistance during the AIDs crisis. It references too, the black triangle used to identify the anti-social class including sex workers, Romani and nomadic people and unruly women including queer women.

The quilted flowers include the green carnation popularised as a gay symbol by Oscar Wilde, and violets which were adopted as a lesbian symbol derived from Sappho's poetry.

Around the edge is a blanket stitch, we sat one day in the sun and stitched toward one another. A collaborative act of care - the dipping and piercing of the needle creating new potentiality along the edge of the quilt.

These stitches were picked up in chrochet, with finally hand made tassels woven in - the rainbow, a final symbol of pride.

Strangers is a collaboration between Sarah-Joy Ford and Jordan Taylor, originally created for Strange Perfume at South London Gallery in 2018.

Both queer artists who are interested in working with textiles, print and pattern in uncanny and anti-disciplinary ways.

The pair met, as students of The School of the Damned in 2015 - which began a life long collaborative practice of friendship and fibre craft. They went on to create the collaborative digital quilt project Log Cabin, which was commissioned by Superbia, Manchester Pride in 2021.

More about our collaborative practice here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3hv-DTxNmwY

Featured in Manchester's Finest: https://www.manchestersfinest.com/arts-and-culture/superbia-spotlights-manchester-textile-artist-sarah-joy-ford/

Dr. Sarah-Joy Ford, artist and scholar, delves into queer communities through textiles, blending digital and traditional techniques like quilting and digital embroidery.

Recognized with an NWDTCP award for her PhD on quilting's emotional impact on British lesbian archives, she exhibits internationally.

Jordan Taylor is an anti-disciplinary artist working across print, thread and fashion.
Their work teeters from intimate hand embroideries, to playful twists on digitally embroidered garments, and riotous crochet assemblages.

In 2018 they co-founded PageMasters, a sustainable, affordable, experimental print studio. In 2022 they expanded to found ThreadMaidens, working with artists to create bespoke digital embroideries. They regularly run workshops and events with partners including Tate, South London Gallery and most recently curated the PageMasters Print Residency at May Day Rooms.

Important Information About Shipping Rates

Please note that the shipping rates provided are default estimates and should be used as a guide only. The final postage cost may vary based on the exact delivery location.

We are committed to ensuring you receive the most accurate shipping cost. Therefore, after you place your order, we will review the delivery details and contact you if any adjustments are necessary. We will confirm the final shipping cost with you before finalising the sale.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.