Athletics, Art and Activism

Imagine combining an artist, academic, marathon runner and embroiderer who is concerned about his environment. What would you get?

You’d get David Morrish. David, an academic from the north of England, was running a marathon around Lake Windermere in the Lake District last year. As he ran, he was horrified by the amount of rubbish he spotted along the route.

David in front of his panel (source)

He channelled that outrage into his Masters project – a huge, embroidered tapestry containing 27 sections (a marathon is 26.2 miles long). Each section represented the environment at that particular mile marker and the rubbish he observed there.

Collaborating with the Sheffield branch of the Embroiderers’ Guild, he asked each contributor to interpret the scene in whatever way they chose.

David and 21 stitchers from the Sheffield branch of the Embroiderers’ Guild stitched the completed tapestry (source)

Some panels were returned to him unfinished due to the lockdown, but he decided to include them as they were to represent the strange times that 2020 represented.

He had plans to display the piece this year at the Nottingham Trent University’s graduate show, but due to the restrictions he hasn’t been able to yet. So, the piece is safely stored away until it can be properly put on display and really appreciated.

If you would like to read more about David and his fascinating work, you can go to the Yorkshire Post article or follow him on Instagram @kingflytailoring