Jodrell Bank’s new exhibition celebrates cosmic connections & creativity

Jodrell Bank has announced details of a brand-new exhibition which will explore the cosmic threads that tie us together.

In collaboration with the Royal Astronomical Society, A Stitch in Space Time celebrates connections to the wonders of the cosmos through creativity and craft.

Displayed against the iconic backdrop of the Grade I-listed Lovell Telescope, Jodrell will open its doors to the RAS Bicentennial Quilt, an inspiring community project launched in 2020 that weaves together 200 years of discoveries from across the solar system.

In a historic first, the quilt will be displayed alongside its companion piece, which pays homage to astronomer Ellen Baker’s spectacular 1876 Solar System quilt, which she used as a visual aid when giving astronomy lectures.

Elsewhere, the exhibition will feature fascinating pieces from innovative spacewear and textiles artist Anurita Chandola. The collection includes personalised Martian spacesuits, made for her children, that blend the ‘infinite possibilities of space travel with sustainability and ancestral narratives’, and a one-of-a-kind occasion dress made from the same parachute fabric that transported NASA’s Perseverance Rover to Mars.

The public will have the opportunity to channel their own cosmic creativity and engage with themes of the exhibition in a busy programme of workshops and drop-in sessions. These span everything from a ‘Design Your Martian Spacesuit Patch’, led by Anurita, to a ‘Create a Constellation’ embroidery session. You can find all upcoming workshops here.

Dr Sian Prosser, Librarian and Archivist at the Royal Astronomical Society, said: “We are delighted to partner with the Jodrell Bank Centre for Engagement to showcase this unique and symbolic partnering of quilts,
created as part of our 200th anniversary celebrations.

“This exhibition offers the public a rare opportunity to engage with these handcrafted artworks, each telling a story of discovery, wonder, and our shared journey through the cosmos. By displaying them in the iconic home of radio astronomy, we are bridging the art of storytelling with the science that has transformed our understanding of the Universe.”

A Stitch in Space Time will run in Jodrell Bank’s Space Pavilion from Sat 17 May – Sun 29 Jun. Tickets are included in general admission.