Headway Jersey pop up exhibition

This weekend ArtHouse Jersey welcomes Headway Jersey for a Pop Up exhibition at Greve de Lecq Barracks. Open from Saturday 28 September to Wednesday 2 October, 10am to 4pm each day.

This heart-warming exhibition will showcase beautiful embroidery works crafted by survivors of brain injuries. The unique collection is the product of a weekly embroidery group at Headway and each piece is a testament to their resilience, creativity and journey toward recovery.

Headway group members actively collaborate within a supportive space to explore their artistic talents and share their journeys of recovery. Members freely express themselves using the act of stitching with a sense of accomplishment and purpose, helping to rebuild fine motor skills and boost self-esteem. The benefits of engaging in embroidery is therapeutic, aiding in cognitive rehabilitation and emotional healing. Sewing together fosters camaraderie, reduces feelings of isolation and is found to promote mental wellbeing.

Some of the most intricate embroidery techniques used by Headway members include stump work (a form of raised embroidery) that adds a three-dimensional quality to the artwork. This technique involves padding parts of the design with stitches, wire, and fabric to create raised textures and shapes, bringing the work to life in a tactile and visual way. For those engaged in stump work, the process can be both challenging and rewarding. The fine manipulation of materials helps enhance dexterity and hand-eye coordination, while the three-dimensional nature of the work can stimulate creative problem-solving and spatial awareness—skills that may have been affected by the brain injury.

During embroidery sessions Headway group members imagine their design which could be inspired by their personal experiences, emotions, or even natural motifs like flowers, animals, or abstract patterns. Some may choose to incorporate symbols of strength and recovery, while others might depict scenes from their past or dreams for the future. Members are encouraged to explore different textures and colours, which can also help reawaken sensory processing skills affected by their injury. Throughout the creative process, members engage in a mindful practice that allows them to focus on the present moment. This can have a profound effect on mental health, reducing stress and providing a sense of purpose and calm.

Alli Carroll, Arts and Crafts Co-ordinator for Headway Jersey said: “We’re excited to showcase this exhibition of embroidery because it highlights the incredible resilience and creativity of people with brain injuries. Each piece tells a unique story of healing, strength, and expression. Despite the challenges they face, our members achieve so much through the power of their artwork. Hopefully, it will inspire others and raise some awareness of the support Headway provides.”