The Curtain. Photo by Goodman Gallery

Easily the biggest project Beloved Beadwork has ever undertaken, we assisted Bili Bidjocka in making a 2.5 by 4 metre beaded curtain… in ten days! Looking back, we can hardly believe we managed it. In that week and a half, our lives (Laurence and I especially) just became that curtain. The little black beads would turn up in all sorts of places – our shoes, pockets, books, everywhere! But at the end, the sense of pride we felt was just overwhelming. There were audible gasps as it was lifted into place, and no one could believe how accurate the Hebrew was at the end.

Laurence and I with the Curtain

We used size 5/0 and 6/0 Czech Seed Beads, and the wonderful Bead Tool to map the pattern. The words translate as ‘What in this night is different from any other night?’, which is traditionally sung by children at the celebration of Passover.

Beaded Canvas

We also assisted in embroidering two large canvases. I just love the labour intensivity of beadwork. This took five people one week to complete.

All in all, an amazing experience, which taught us how much we’re capable of when we put our minds to it.