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FACES AND FABRICS: A COMMUNITY QUILT OF IDENTITY AND BELONGING
ESEA Unseen  x Coin Street Community Builders


Faces and Fabrics of Coin Street Community Quilt was a joyful collaborative project between the Coin Street Over 50s Art Group, ESEA Unseen, and the wider Coin Street community. The project was led by Nishi Begum and Libbie Jackson-Bell from the Coin Street Youth and Community Team and Sue Man and Kim Chin from ESEA Unseen.

Inspired by a group visit to the Barbican’s Unravel exhibition in early 2024, the Over 50’s Art Group expressed interest in creating a textile project to celebrate their community. ESEA Unseen were commissioned to lead a series of five intergenerational workshops over the summer, to create a collaborative quilt made up of fabric self-portraits created by community members. 

In the sessions, ESEA Unseen introduced techniques for working with fabrics, and different ways to make a portrait. Over 80 people contributed to the quilt, including local families, young people, art group regulars, neighbours, volunteers, and Coin Street staff. The youngest participant was 7 years old, the oldest 80. The final quilt was hand-stitched by staff and volunteers across 18 months, bringing together local people, places and community. 

The team is currently working on a book about the quilt for future publication. Once the final touches are in place, the quilt will be exhibited again - details coming soon. 



Mock up coin street by Nishi Begum
Photos Sue Man