‘The Washing Line’ art installation hosted at OVADA Warehouse Gallery
20 July 2024
11:30am - 1pm
The Washing Line first appeared through the collective efforts of Banbury community members who attended a workshop at Bridge Street Garden’s Mini Peace Festival on 30 June 2024
Artist Hayley Stevenson thanks Tila Rodríguez-Past and Holly Searle, who were instrumental in the development of the project in which “you will see refugees, trans people, neurodivergent individuals and mental health represented in these flags. I am proud of how the project went and that I was able to create a safe space to generate such honesty and understanding.”
All photographs from this initial installation below were taken by Lauren Perkins
Quote from The Washing Line artist Hayley Stevenson
“Like many I have been outraged at the treatment of Palestinians, historically and then recently with the intensity of the war crimes committed by Israel in the last year. I wanted to organise a space where I could protest this, and generate a movement in the community where we could do this peacefully together.”
The artist continues
“As an artist I decided to create an installation called The Washing Line. I thought it was important to draw on what was most affecting me, and it is these innocent children being murdered in their home country. And how as a parent I can't even begin to understand the grief and panic around ‘how will I look after my children, how can I keep them safe?’ I looked at my washing pile and thought was a beautiful problem to only have.
The Washing Line is symbolic of the human desire to persevere and find beauty in these circumstances, when we are helpless from afar. The flags represent hope, the collective efforts to mend the fabric of society torn apart by conflict. The act of hanging the flags on the line mirrors the process of airing out grievances and provides a community catharsis.
I am passionate about how community art can support mental health and wellbeing. During the workshop the community brought their own stories, many for the people of Palestine, but others decided to bring their own stories of struggle and conflict in their own countries or this country. You will see refugees, trans people, neurodivergent individuals and mental health represented in these flags. I am proud of how the project went and that I was able to create a safe space to generate such honesty and understanding.”