Ipswich-to-Ipswich: History through Art is a series of activities that will take place in Ipswich, Massachusetts, from May 18-August 5, 2007 to celebrate the only Northeast American appearance of the famous embroidered Ipswich Charter Hangings from Ipswich, UK. These activities are designed to engage residents and visitors of all ages in the history, art, and architecture of "the two Ipswiches" whose heritage is irrevocably linked. Ipswich-to-Ipswich activities will also foster an appreciation for the active artists' community that thrives today in Ipswich, Massachusetts.
The Ipswich Charter Hangings are eight 3 1/2' x 5' colorfully embroidered framed textile panels that depict the eight centuries of Ipswich, UK, history -- from its founding in 1200 when King John granted a royal charter to create the town to Ipswich's present-day character as a busy industrial port that lives happily with its historical past. Each Charter Hanging is a brilliant collage of castles, churches, taverns, public buildings, marketplaces, museums, bridges, horse-drawn carriages, ships, and ferries; historical figures, kings, farmers, and fishermen; coats of arms, royal seals, and religious symbols; and natural elements including the River Orwell which flows through each panel just as the Ipswich River flows through and defines Ipswich, Massachusetts.
Commissioned in 2000 by the Ipswich (UK) Arts Association, Isabel Clover, the nationally acclaimed lecturer, teacher, and embroidery artist, completed the first panel in 2000 for the 800th anniversary celebration of Ipswich, UK. Working with some of her talented students, she spent the next three years completing the remaining seven panels of hand- and machine-stitched embroidery, fabric, leather, and metallic thread. The Ipswich Arts Association describes the Charter Hangings as "jewel-like," "fine works of masterly composition," "a pageant of the town's history," and "a display of embroidering techniques." They describe Isabel Clover as the "presiding genius" of the project.
The eras represented in the Charter Hangings include: Pre-Charter (before 1200); The Granting of the Charter; The Medieval Town; The Tudors; The Stuarts; The Georgians; The Victorians; and The Twentieth Century.
One Charter Hanging depicts Puritans leaving for the New World during the 17th century, a historical "migration" that would eventually lead to the settlement of Ipswich, Massachusetts, in 1633, among many other towns. Because the histories of the United Kingdom and America are inextricably linked, the Ipswich Charter Hangings will visit Jamestown, Virginia, this spring as part of Jamestown's 400th anniversary celebration. The Charter Hangings' appearance in Ipswich, Massachusetts, marks their second and final viewing -- and the only one in Northeast America.
This series of eight text-and-graphics panels will be displayed with the Charter Hangings to explain how the proximity of East Anglia and Ipswich, England, to Northern Europe helped form the commerce, religion, politics, and architecture of their region and ours in New England by virtue of the Puritan migration of the 17th century. The creators of the historical timeline hope to incorporate images from artist Alan Pearsall's new mural of Ipswich, Massachusetts history, which was commissioned by EBSCO Publishing and illustrates "history through art" beautifully. Copies of these historical timeline panels will be made available to the Ipswich Public Schools, and to the Ipswich Visitor Center.
School personnel will be invited to have students participate in Learning by Design (LBD) projects and Ipswich-to-Ipswich: History through Art activities scheduled during this celebration. LBD is an interdisciplinary approach to teaching the process of design through a foundation of an eight-step process: defining the problem, investigation, brainstorming, selecting and approach, describing the solution, testing the solution, presenting the solution, then redesign (if necessary).
According to the Boston Society of Architects, a strong promoter of LBD, "By involving children in community-based design projects, LBD enables children to actively shape their world. Given the opportunity, young people are eager and wholly capable of expressing their ideas about architecture, about their community -- and about themselves -- through design." Specifically, LBD Projects seek:
• to give young people the opportunity and the skills they need to communicate their ideas about the built and natural environments, about community, and about themselves
• to engage children in architectural awareness and design projects with architects, designers, and planners, meeting the creative needs of both the children and the designers
• to give educators and youth program providers the training and support they need to engage children in interdisciplinary, curriculum-based architectural awareness and design projects
• to enable the next generation to build a better future.
The Steering Committee for Ipswich-to-Ipswich: History through Art hopes to use this LBD pilot project to embed LBD concepts within the Ipswich Public Schools curriculum for many years to come, and to develop a working relationship with the Boston Society of Architects.
In May, Ipswich Public School students will enjoy specially arranged visits to view the Ipswich Charter Hangings exhibit with trained volunteer docents. On May 18, students will display their projects at the first exhibit opening.
The designer of the Ipswich Charter Hangings will visit Ipswich, Massachusetts, to discuss how she created her eight masterpieces in a special evening lecture. To supplement her presentation, and to promote Ipswich's active artists' community, local textile artists will give demonstrations of their techniques during the reception following the lecture and have their work available for sale.
Because the Steering Committee is fully aware that we are making history while we celebrate it, the process is being documented on videotape by a talented Ipswich High School student. Meetings, interviews, exhibit set-up, school visits, and visitor engagement -- all will be recorded for the future.
Members of the Steering Committee represent the civic, cultural, and business organizations in Ipswich. Through combined efforts and regular communication, we expect Ipswich-to-Ipswich: History through Art to be a town-wide celebration this summer. Specifically, through the activities listed above, the Steering Committee hopes to promote:
• the Town of Ipswich as a destination
• Ipswich artists and galleries
• Ipswich's cultural heritage
• the region's cultural heritage
• students' engagement in their present and future community
• a deep appreciation for all of the above among Ipswich and North Shore residents of all ages
• the special relationship between Ipswich, Massachusetts, and Ipswich, UK
In addition, the Steering Committee will recruit and train volunteer docents from the community who will learn about the histories of the two Ipswiches and the process of creating works of textile and embroidery art.