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Jackets of the World, our free exhibition showing the fabric of societies

Headshot of Stephen Scourfield
Stephen ScourfieldThe West Australian
Stephen Scourfield with a few of the jackets, and his sewing box.
Stephen Scourfield
Camera IconStephen Scourfield with a few of the jackets, and his sewing box. Stephen Scourfield Credit: Stephen Scourfield/The West Australian

The fabric of a society can be revealed through the fabric of that society.

And more than 50 countries can be seen in a unique exhibition of jackets in Fremantle on September 14 and 15.

I hand-sew tapestries, embroideries, textile and fabrics onto my denim jackets.

Each is from a different country. Each piece is carefully selected during my travels and has a story . . . some are incredibly powerful.

I will bring out more than 50 of my favourites to display in the Jackets Of The World exhibition, the like of which has not been seen before.

This Travel event in Fremantle for our readers is free.

The India jacket was the first. 
Stephen Scourfield
Camera IconThe India jacket was the first. Stephen Scourfield Credit: Stephen Scourfield/The West Australian

I will be there all the weekend, from 9am to 3pm, for this free event on Saturday September 14 and Sunday September 15. It is at Old Customs House, 8 Phillimore Street. It’s all very casual, and free. Come and chat, meet the rest of the Travel team (and feel free to ask your questions).

Other members of the Travel team will join me throughout the weekend, with some casual but special events, like the recording of an episode of The Pod Well Travelled.

Composer and musician Steve Richter will bring to life with music some of the stories of the African jackets.

We all connect with local cultures in our own way. For years, I have been bringing back fabric, embroideries and tapestries from my journeys, one from each country, and then hand-sewing them to a denim jacket.

Each piece of fabric has to be relevant to the place, and bought there and hand-sewn by me, and some have significant stories. The choice of the embroidery or fabric is important to me. So is sewing by hand, using running back stitch, blanket stitch and lazy daisy. There’s something about the commitment and connection of hand-sewing that suits the jackets.

You are all invited to this free Travel event.

(There’s no ticketing, no need to register online, just wander in!)

Travel. Leyanne Baillie, Penny Thomas, Stephen Scourfield, Megan French, Mogens Johansen.
Camera IconTravel. Leyanne Baillie, Penny Thomas, Stephen Scourfield, Megan French, Mogens Johansen. Credit: Jackson Flindell/The West Australian

WHAT’S ON (& all free)

Stephen Scourfield will be at the exhibition both days, from 9am to 3pm.

SATURDAY

Saturday 9am The Jackets Of The World exhibition doors open.

Saturday 9.30am Official opening by fashion & travel writer Megan French, and introduction to the exhibition by Stephen Scourfield.

Saturday 10am A (very) brief history of denim, and a (quick) guide on making your own jacket. Megan French, fashion & travel writer.

Saturday 11am Meet the team. Travel writers Penny Thomas, Leyanne Baillie, Mogens Johansen and Megan French, and West Travel Club’s Christine Sutherland drop by. Come and casually mingle, and say hello to the writers and producers of Saturday Travel, Sunday Travel, The Pod Well Travelled and West Travel Club.

Saturday 1.30pm Composer and musician Steve Richter and Stephen Scourfield combine words and sounds to bring the stories of some of the African jackets to vivid life. This is a short, free performance.

Saturday 3pm Doors close.

SUNDAY

Sunday 9am The Jackets Of The World exhibition doors open.

Sunday 10am Mogens Johansen gives a brief (free) guide to photographing exhibitions and museums with your phone camera. Wander round the exhibition with Mogens, looking for angles and good composition, and get tips on managing the indoor light — just as you have to when you travel.

Sunday 11am The Pod Well Travelled recording. Bring a travel question for the Travel team for our “quickfire” round, which will be recorded for an episode of our podcast. Solo supplements? Which travel insurance? Tyre pressures on the Great Central Road? Ask them all and more. (Think it through. One question per guest, please!)

Sunday 3pm The exhibition closes.

A few of the jackets.
Stephen Scourfield
Camera IconA few of the jackets. Stephen Scourfield Credit: Stephen Scourfield/The West Australian

OLD CUSTOMS HOUSE & ARTSOURCE

Old Customs House is a heritage-listed building in Fremantle’s West End. It was built in 1908 to house the main branch of the Customs Department of Western Australia.

It is now a venue supporting WA’s visual artists and is managed by, and the home of, Artsource.

A hub of creativity for 35 years, Old Customs House now has 26 artist studios.

Established in 1986, Artsource (the Artists’ Foundation of WA) is one of the longest-running art membership organisations in WA.

A spokesperson explains: “Combined with our custodianship of the Old Customs House and our program of exhibitions and arts events, we provide affordable or free cultural enrichment that supports the careers of artists and the wellbeing of West Australians.”

artsource.net.au

fact file

Where: Old Customs House, 4-8 Phillimore Street, Fremantle

When: Saturday September 14 and Sunday September 15

Open: 9am to 3pm, both days. Free

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