Pride in Skill: Creative and Historical Workshop

About

What counts as ‘a job well done’ and how is this influenced by the work of the hand? How central is pride to the external appearance of work? And do surgeons, like makers, have an identifiable style that can be characterised?

This workshop invites you to explore pride in skill through historical encounters, hands-on practice and creative reflection on the haptic connections between surgery and craft.

You will undertake a guided skills sharing exercise where surgeons will be introduced to hand sewing stitches and stitchers will undertake an exercise using suturing kits. Engaging with an unfamiliar technique and encountering moments of challenge provides a starting point for discussion about confidence, mastery and the emotional dimensions of skilled work and provides an insight into the parallels between different but related forms of handwork.

Alongside this practical activity, you will take part in a curator-led tour of The Hunterian Museum at The Royal College of Surgeons of England, encountering historic objects that prompt further reflection on skill, expertise and professional identity.

The workshop also includes the opportunity to make part of a textile sculpture with artist Ruth Singer. Selecting fabrics that reflect the workshop theme and discussion, you will use hand stitches and stuffing to create three-dimensional pieces that will inform an artwork to be displayed in 2027 at The Hunterian Museum and The Festival of Quilts.

This workshop takes place at The Royal College of Surgeons of England, London, and is funded the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

This workshop is free and open to those interested in surgery, sewing and other forms of handwork. All participants must be aged 18+.

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Schedule

· Welcome: about The Victorian Hand (13.00-13.20)

· Reflective activity on our hands and what they do (13.20-13.40)

· Skills sharing exercise (13.40-14.20)

. Coffee/tea break (14.20-14.30)

· Hunterian Museum tour and discussion (14.30-15.30)

· Hands-on textile activity (15.30-16.30)

· Reflections, photographing our hands and next steps (16.30-17.00)

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Additional information

Teas and coffees will be provided for attendees.

The workshop will be audio recorded for research purposes.

The workshop space has step free access via an elevator. If you have any additional access requirements, please contact [email protected]

This workshop is part of the Arts and Humanities Research Council funded Victorian Hand: Emotions, Embodiment and Identity project based at The University of the Arts London and Lancaster University and has been approved by the London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London, College Research Committee.

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