About
Projects
De Dijkwacht
Flock, Folk, Field
Groene Groeiboost
Wool (Re)discovered
Wolwevers
Shed & Heddle
Landschaap
Journal
'De Dijkwacht' (The Dike Guardian) is an artwork designed for the street-facing windows of the Dijkmagazijn (dike warehouse) in Scharwoude. The triptych, composed of three panels of felted wool, provides privacy for guests while simultaneously offering passersby a cross-sectional view of the dike. 'De Dijkwacht' emphasises the vulnerable strength of the dikes body and translates it into a textile work that connects the building's past as a part of the care system for the dike landscape.
Sheep graze on the dike, offering more than just economic or historical value: as they graze, their hooves gently press down the top layer of the dike, contributing to the network of roots and vegetation that holds the soil together and keeps the dike firm.
Pollyanna Moss created the work using wool from six sheep that graze in the region. The wool, in various shades of white, grey, and brown, was washed and wet-felted by hand.
A cross-section of the dike was projected onto a workbench, serving as a guide for selecting and layering finely carded wool, both undyed and colored with plant-based pigments. The different shades and layers of wool evoke the strata of clay and sediment that make up the dike.
Words are embroidered onto the panels. Terms such as 'wheelbarrow', 'posts', and 'sails' refer to the materials and structures associated with the dike, while words like 'salt', 'fresh', and 'Zuiderzee' highlight the relationship between the land and the surrounding water. These words, legible from both the inside and the outside, form fragments of the landscape’s material and cultural history, bridging the past and the present. The title, 'De Dijkwacht' (The Dike Warden), pays homage to the wardens who kept watch over the dikes and stored their equipment in dedicated dike-side warehouses.
Common Practice designed a bespoke suspension system, allowing the piece to be mounted on a wall as an artwork or hung in front of windows, much like curtains.
This project was a commission made in collaboration with Common Practice and Culture Matters, under the initive DIJK. Special thanks to Marlies Buurman, Inara Nevskaya, Jurriën van Duijkeren and all those who supported the project through the their donations.
About
Projects
De Dijkwacht
Flock, Folk, Field
Groene Groeiboost
Wool (Re)discovered
Wolwevers
Shed & Heddle
Landschaap
Journal
De Dijkwacht 2026 Textile Artist
'De Dijkwacht' (The Dike Guardian) is an artwork designed for the street-facing windows of the Dijkmagazijn (dike warehouse) in Scharwoude. The triptych, composed of three panels of felted wool, provides privacy for guests while simultaneously offering passersby a cross-sectional view of the dike. 'De Dijkwacht' emphasises the vulnerable strength of the dikes body and translates it into a textile work that connects the building's past as a part of the care system for the dike landscape.
Sheep graze on the dike, offering more than just economic or historical value: as they graze, their hooves gently press down the top layer of the dike, contributing to the network of roots and vegetation that holds the soil together and keeps the dike firm.
Pollyanna Moss created the work using wool from six sheep that graze in the region. The wool, in various shades of white, grey, and brown, was washed and wet-felted by hand.
A cross-section of the dike was projected onto a workbench, serving as a guide for selecting and layering finely carded wool, both undyed and colored with plant-based pigments. The different shades and layers of wool evoke the strata of clay and sediment that make up the dike.
Words are embroidered onto the panels. Terms such as 'wheelbarrow', 'posts', and 'sails' refer to the materials and structures associated with the dike, while words like 'salt', 'fresh', and 'Zuiderzee' highlight the relationship between the land and the surrounding water. These words, legible from both the inside and the outside, form fragments of the landscape’s material and cultural history, bridging the past and the present. The title, 'De Dijkwacht' (The Dike Warden), pays homage to the wardens who kept watch over the dikes and stored their equipment in dedicated dike-side warehouses.
Common Practice designed a bespoke suspension system, allowing the piece to be mounted on a wall as an artwork or hung in front of windows, much like curtains.
This project was a commission made in collaboration with Common Practice and Culture Matters, under the initive DIJK. Special thanks to Marlies Buurman, Inara Nevskaya, Jurriën van Duijkeren and all those who supported the project through the their donations.