Yesterday, we were told – “Tomorrow ,Redruth’s young Town Crier, Max Morrison, will wear his new Storycoat for the first time, as part of the town celebrations for St Piran’s Day.
Ten artists have so far contributed to the coat – hand-dyeing the fabric with natural dyes fixed with tin and copper, handcrafting traditional woven buttons, embroidering story patches, collecting peoples’ images for the digitally printed lining and constructing the coat itself. More hands will work on it in the future, adding stories as the years go by.
You can see elements of the artwork here, but if you want to see Max and the new coat in all its glory, you’ll need to come to the Miner’s statue by the clock tower in Redruth for 10.00am.”
So, of course, today we went to see Max in the big reveal of the new Storycoat.
Max in the old Town Crier coat
Sloughing off the old coat
Town crier in action wearing his wonderful new coat. He’s a natural!
Showing off the beautiful lining
Detail on the back, our new ButterMarket embroidered by Sara Clasper, craftivist, of Make A Mends
Each patch illustrates something of Redruth’s history and Max will be telling the stories at the various events when it will be on show. They are all remarkably beautiful. My patch will soon be finished and will be on the coat for its next outing for Murdoch Day, June 15th.
Meredith
March 8, 2024 at 2:06 am
It’s amazing! What a wonderful work of art! My father just told me about St. Piran’s Day earlier this week, because our ancestors were miners in Cornwall (we are in the U.S. now). Now, I will share this post with him.
mybeautfulthings
March 8, 2024 at 9:55 pm
And it’s going to get better and better as more story patches are added. Mine is coming on, still work to do. Lovely to hear a bit of your family history. Do you know exactly where your ancestors lived and worked? 🙂
Meredith
March 9, 2024 at 2:35 pm
I would love to see more pictures as the work progresses. My family lived in Redruth and Hayle/Gwinear area, I believe. My 86 year old grandfather and his daughter (my aunt), recently made a trip to Cornwall and visited some of the places where there are records of our family living.
mybeautfulthings
March 9, 2024 at 9:58 pm
I will post pictures as the patches are made. There is so much local history available especially about the diaspora. I’m glad your Grandfather was able to visit. 🙂
nrhatch
March 3, 2024 at 1:23 pm
Long live, Max . . . b/c good luck finding another town crier small enough to fit into that cloak!
mybeautfulthings
March 3, 2024 at 2:18 pm
Funny you should say that – it is a multi size one made by the clever designers and sewing ladies in Redruth! 🙂
mybeautfulthings
March 3, 2024 at 2:19 pm
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw5zlle4l6go?fbclid=IwAR0tUD8prZnVK31hmmsfsniPahGPUJntSvDvs_UFYRNhdbBVY-B1QX5wSwI