Across the Pond

April 28, 2026

A collaborative textile project is bringing together artists from across the globe, weaving creativity and connection into a single, evolving work of art.

Community members will have the opportunity to learn more about the project at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 9, when English artist Meier Williams presents the “Across the Pond Coat” and shares insight into its creation.

“Across the Pond,” coordinated by Williams, links more than 35 contributors from the southwest of England and Oklahoma through a shared exploration of identity and artistic expression. The project, which began in January 2025, continues to grow as more participants add their voices through fabric and thread.

Williams, who has spent more than 35 years working as a theatre maker, costume designer, and textile artist, developed the project during preparations for a trip from Cornwall, England, to Oklahoma. Her goal was to encourage creativity as a form of mindfulness while fostering a meaningful connection between communities separated by distance.

Before traveling, Williams invited fellow creatives, friends, and family in England to contribute 8-by-8-inch textile squares centered on the theme “This is who I am.” Participants interpreted the theme freely, using a wide range of techniques including stitching, fabric collage, quilting, paint, print, photography, and embroidery.

After collecting contributions in England, Williams traveled to Oklahoma, where she led workshops in Ames and invited additional participants to contribute their own pieces. She later returned to the United Kingdom and began assembling the work without a predetermined design.

“I love to work organically, allowing the creative process to guide me—you could say the work shows me the way,” Williams said.

As the project developed, the piece took shape as a coat, though it has grown beyond its function as a garment. The “Across the Pond Coat” has become a large-scale textile artwork representing collaboration, storytelling and shared human experience.

The work incorporates contributions spanning four generations, highlighting both contemporary creativity and traditional textile practices. It also reflects the importance of domestic crafts and the passing down of skills over time.

Williams, who trained in London and Cornwall and now resides in Cornwall, England, is known for combining a variety of artistic forms in her work, including drawing, painting, clay, film, and photography. She embraces experimentation as a core part of her creative process, viewing both successes and failures as essential to artistic growth.

The May 9 event will also include an opportunity for attendees to create their own small piece of textile art to contribute to the ongoing project.

The “Across the Pond Coat” stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and the ability of art to connect people across cultures and continents, one stitch at a time.

About the Enid Public Library:

The Enid Public Library is a vibrant community hub dedicated to providing free access to materials and services in a variety of formats while reflecting community standards to meet the informational and recreational needs of the community. The Library promotes freedom of thought, literacy, a love for reading, and lifelong learning