A beautiful, powerful exhibition by women impacted by mother and baby homes in the North of Ireland is coming to the Linen Hall Library Belfast on November 4th.
The Sunflower Project Exhibition brings together the writings, paintings and personal items of a group of women whose lives were deeply impacted by their experiences of these notorious institutions. Prints created by the women - Marie McGinn, Attracta McGuigan, Fiona O’Doherty, Carmel McCallion and Caitriona Cunningham - with the guidance of artist Brónagh Corr will be the main part of the exhibition.
The poignant exhibition also includes Christening robes, baby outfits knitted at the homes, and ornate tiles from the Marianvale mother and baby home in Newry. It is the result of two and a half years of workshops aimed at supporting the women to express themselves through drama and art, it provides a deep insight into the impact of the homes on the lives of the women and their babies.
The project was managed by Patricia Byrne, Artistic Director of Sole Purpose Productions who brought together experienced theatre practitioner Shauna Kelpie, mental health and trauma researcher Dr Colette Ramsey, and artist Brónagh Corr to work with the group to find their creative voices. They describe how the women developed during the process, losing any sense of stigma about the past, becoming more confident, open and free to express their emotions.
A short film of monologues written and performed by the group will be part of the exhibition and will be shown on a loop on 12th, 20th and 28th November 10am – 12noon. The group also made a one hour film which follows their journey over the two years of the project, ‘In Each Other’s Shelter We Survive’, which will be screened at the library on November 27, 1-2pm. After the screening, some of the women and facilitators involved in the project will discuss the issues raised in the exhibition. Booking is essential, please book at https://www.linenhall.com/event/the-sunflower-project-screening
One of the participants, Caitriona Cunningham, has now written a powerful, emotional play, The Marian Hotel, which stunned audiences in her native city of Derry and will play to sold-out audiences at Belfast’s Lyric Theatre 21st - 23rd November. Caitriona said the past two and half years has had a life-changing effect on her and her fellow participants. “It was so cathartic. It started conversations and got a lot of feelings out about those places that had haunted us, memories that had been buried. The workshops were very safe, everything was handled so sensitively. We had support all the way through,” she added.
Both the exhibition and play are part of a major creative heritage project which aims to dispel the shame of those affected by the institutions, encourage more people to come forward and tell their stories, and preserve this part of Ireland’s dark history.
The Marian Hotel production, workshops and oral histories is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council of Northern Ireland Commissioning Programme, Foyle Foundation and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council. The Sunflower Project Exhibition is in The Linen Hall Library from 4 November to 29 November in The Vertical Gallery. It is free entrance.
For more information go to: www.solepurpose.org
