In the Picture on Tour visited Bantry’s Memory Café this week as part of Arts for Health’s Bealtaine Festival celebrations!
Visual artist Sarah Ruttle shared a glimpse of Athmhúscail (Reawake) by artist Sonia Caldwell with participants. Sonia kindly loaned some work connected to her current exhibition for the group to explore. The work created dynamic and inspirational conversation for the café participants as they explored materials and artwork together!
Sonia had prepared a wide collection including raw materials used to make fionnán paper and oak gall ink. She also included raw, sculpted and polished Kilkenny Limestone, and a selection of clay figures from her ‘Pilgrimage’ series.
Sarah explains, ‘The work is incredibly tactile, and we were able to compare the different materials as we thought out where they came from and what they can create.’
The group closed their time together with some making their own figures in flax paper (porcelain) clay. Thank you to the Memory Café organising committee and each participant for a beautiful morning of creative conversation and making!
The event today was one of the many being held across the country marking 30 years of Ireland’s Bealtaine Festival, celebrating arts and creativity as we age.
In the Picture
In the Picutre is an Arts for Health programme that invites people with dementia, along with their carers, family, and friends to participate in a facilitated experience exploring the current artwork and exhibition space.
This programme represents a new way for rural Ireland to involve people with dementia, their family members and carers in a local arts facility. Our sessions are about making observations, describing and building connections. Allowing each person the time to comfortably observe and experience the space and artwork. Each bespoke session facilitates a small group and includes light refreshments as part of the social and friendly approach.
Athmhúscail is showing at Uillinn West Cork Arts Centre until 21 May.
Images by Sarah Ruttle.