My Family Protect

My family protect

Me

My ex

A big Irish man

Nobody messes with

My nephew.

Stay inside

Walk away

A bit of karate.

Always go to me dad

Uncle

down the road.

When you’re on your own

Got to watch your back.

Ann Marie Abberley

embroidered sunflower from the project Armour

Armour is a project that uses words and stitches to explore the ways we protect ourselves. It is a collaboration with veterans of armed conflict and with people who have lived experience of homelessness. We asked people to describe their personal "armour", physical and mental. Artworks inspired by gambesons, the quilted jackets worn under suits of armour, were made out of rust dyed fabric and embroidered with poems, and other writings. arthur-martha.com/portfolio/armour/