Desks of Fabric – Scone Museum
A century after students carved their initials and words into two large cedar school desks from Scone Grammar School, these historic artifacts located at Scone Museum were reimagined through the This Here Then Now Museum activation program by Arts Upper Hunter's cultural program Creative Valleys.
Textile artist Sophie Cox was commissioned through Arts Upper Hunter’s museum activation program to respond to two large cedar school desks, carved with student initials and messages over a century ago. Using innovative techniques of textile rubbings and embroidery, Cox captured the physical imprints of history in fabric form. The project came full circle when today’s Scone Grammar School students participated in embroidery workshops led by Cox and Scone Museum volunteers, stitching directly into the rubbings and adding their own mark to this intergenerational conversation.
Initially displayed as a temporary installation, the work now resides at Scone Museum alongside the original carved desks, creating an exhibition that bridges past and present.
This project was made possible through the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund, with additional support from the NSW Government, highlighting the importance of preserving and reimagining rural heritage through contemporary practice.