some things last a long time

Adopting a Benjaminesque approach to quilt making, assemblage, and sculpture, Amelia Skelton's exhibition digs into the complex social dimensions of textiles, exploring memories and histories embedded in their fibres. The central standalone sculpture, 'Bricks (Well)' (2023), is built from found materials packaged in transparent vinyl plastic 'bricks', drawing the viewer into the political implications of extraction and resource exploitation in fast-fashion industries. Ten quilts incorporate various materials and images, from scraps of clothing donated by friends to Woolworths shopping bags and archival images of textile production, transforming disused materials into an embodied archive. Works feature intricate layers of stitchwork, beading, and embroidery, with scraps of language from Daniel Johnston's song 'Some Things Last A Long Time' (1990)—which gives the exhibition its title—Benjamin's writings, and the artist's memories woven throughout. Skelton's archaeological approach considers textiles as memory-laden objects that hold histories and can enrich or haunt daily life. The works encourage viewers to look slowly, dig into fragments, and decode narratives embedded within the materials themselves.