Out of the Blue – an Artist’s book

Interrogating the brain

<strong>Out of the Blue</strong>, Artist’s book, Susan Aldworth, 42 x 30 cms, 2020. Photograph by Colin Davison, Hatton Gallery Newcastle.

My Artist’s book Out of the Blue is both an archive of my research and a stand alone artwork.  It formed part of the installation Out of the Blue shown in the exhibition Illuminating the Self  at Hatton Gallery in 2020. Out of the Blue explores the lived experience of epilepsy. This book contains and archives the testimonies of 48 people living with epilepsy, and shows photographs of the work of the 106 embroiderers who responsed to these words by sewing them onto antique undergarments. The book gives voice to those who have epilepsy, for whom it is a lived and living experience, and celebrates the skill of the embroiderers. It was funded by Arts Council of England.

Out of the Blue is a limited edition Artist’s book of just 15 copies. It has a cloth debossed and silkscreened cover and contains two original cyanotypes in a pocket attached to the inside back cover. It is a large format 120 page book – the size of a family bible –  with 64 pages of photographs by Peter Abrahams alongside the full texts. It is printed on a variety of beautiful Italian papers and designed by valle walkley.

The scale and ambition of this work redefined collaborative work for me.
48 writers, 106 embroiderers, scientists, artists, designers and computer experts participated in the project.

<strong>Out of the Blue</strong>, Artist’s book. Susan Aldworth, 42 x 30 cms. 2020. <strong>Out of the Blue</strong> Absence, Susan Aldworth, 2020. Embroidery by Erin Ledsom, words by Fiona N. Photograph by Peter Abrahams. <strong>Out of the Blue</strong> Withdrawal, Susan Aldworth, 2020. Embroidery by Alison Beadnell, words by Willow N. Photograph by Peter Abrahams. <strong>Out of the Blue</strong> Lonely & Raw, Susan Aldworth, 2020. Embroidery by Frances Manz and Kate Scorey, words by Nick Martin and Shannon McCarthy. Photograph by Peter Abrahams. <strong>Out of the Blue</strong> Confusion & Frightening, Susan Aldworth, 2020. Embroidery by Eliza Tutere and Carol Smith, words by Simon Privett and Claire O’Hara. Photograph by Peter Abrahams. <strong>Out of the Blue</strong> Self, Susan Aldworth, 2020. Embroidery by Rachel Burnett, words by Max Eilenberg. Photograph by Peter Abrahams. <strong>Out of the Blue</strong> Why Me?, Susan Aldworth 2020. Embroidery by Pritpal K, words by Manveer K. Photograph by Peter Abrahams. <strong>Out of the Blue</strong> Wizardry, Susan Aldworth, 2020. Embroidery and words by Jayne Shipley. Photograph by Peter Abrahams. <strong>Out of the Blue</strong> Overwhelming, Susan Aldworth, 2020. Embroidery by Rebecca Offredi & Lucy Tiley, words by Gordonnay Gaines. Photograph by Peter Abrahams.

» Introductory Note for Out of the Blue, Artist’s book by Susan Aldworth

» Shop: Out of Blue Artist’s book