Good for the soul
Plans for an exhibition featuring contemporary textiles are taking shape in Mallow.
‘Soulful Threads’ is a joint show with works from two local visual artists, Sarah Buckley and Claire O’Reilly.
Claire and Sarah’s work complements each other in processes and materials, both using embroidery, stitch and installation.
Both practicing visual artists living and working in Cork and this is the first time the two friends will showcase their work together.
The show will interweave themes of nature and childhood, exploring the impact of both on the human condition. Both artists are makers, using slow stitch and intricate, delicate work to consider their conceptual concerns
Weaving the personal together with the universal, they are asking the viewer to pause and consider the influences and impact of nature and childhood. Claire creates intricate hand-stitched embroideries that capture the beauty and delicacy of nature, reflecting on its significant yet frequently overlooked influence on our health and wellbeing.
Her creations, extending to crochet and installation art, highlight the integral role of nature, not merely as a setting for our lives but as a vital component in our pursuit of wellness and contentment.
In contrast, Sarah’s work explores childhood and memory through drawing with stitch, installation and print.
Her exploration offers a deeply personal yet universally resonant perspective, addressing the complexities of difference and the lingering impacts of early experiences.
Interested in engaging discussion around childhood memory and perception, she uses the medium of textiles for its accessibility of understanding, associations of childhood and slow, mediative production.
The exhibition will take place in West End Art Studios and will be officially opened on Friday 4 October at 6pm by Emma Dwyer, Assistant Arts Officer, Cork County Council.
Sarah, also a founding member of West End Art Studios, said: “It is a pleasure to be hosting a second textiles exhibition in Mallow in 2024. Claire and I have been working towards this exhibition together over the last few months, sharing ideas and supporting each other.
“Being a visual artist can be a lonely road sometimes so it is great to have a supportive network and a wonderful exhibition space in West End Art Studios to bring our work out into the world,” the Cork artist added.
The exhibition will run every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11am-5pm from 5-20 October.