Reflections on Refugees: Communicating through Art

 Tuesday 29 March, 7pm, Old Church Centre, Cushendun

The Old Church Centre, Cushendun will host an evening of discussion and reflection on the current refugee crisis with local artist Raymond Watson and Conflict Textiles curator Roberta Bacic on Tuesday 29 March at 7pm.

The evening will put a spotlight on the plight of refugees both at home and abroad. Following the Russian invasion into the Ukraine, the experience of refugees – and a willingness to offer practical supports – is at the forefront of people’s minds across Europe and beyond.

Drawing on his recent experience, Raymond Watson reflects on his involvement working with migrants in Caulonia, southern Italy in 2021. In collaboration with a group of young adult refugees, they created paintings inspired by Picasso’s world-renowned painting ‘Guernica’ and are now included in the international children’s peace mural project ‘Kids Guernica’, which has been running for many years and has been implemented in more than 45 international venues.

In partnership with the Good Relations team at Causeway Coast and Glens, curator Roberta Bacic has been invited to share her insight on working with refugees in Northern Ireland and share the Conflict Textiles collection with our rural community in the Glens.

Conflict Textiles is home to a large collection of international textiles (380), exhibitions and associated events, focused on elements of conflict and human rights abuses. The collection is mainly comprised of arpilleras, quilts and wall hangings. Arpilleras – three-dimensional appliquéd tapestries of Chilean origin – became the medium for women to denounce the human rights abuses of the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile (1973-1990).  Since 2008, these textiles have been exhibited in a variety of venues both in Northern Ireland and worldwide, seeding many new partnerships in the process. It is a privilege for the Old Church Centre to be able to exhibit a curated selection of the textiles for this event and to welcome Roberta to Cushendun to share her insights of her experience.

There will be contributions from both Raymond and Roberta, an exhibition and post-discussion Q&A on Tuesday 29 March. Admission is free but booking advised. In lieu of admission charge, we would welcome donations to the Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine appeal. Donations can be made online or in person at the event.

The Conflict Textile exhibition will then be displayed in the Old Church Centre between 29 March until 3 May. It concludes at the Cushendun Big Arts Weekend where Roberta will host a workshop engaging the local community in the creation and story of the Conflict Textiles.

Book here: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/cushendunbpt/t-dyeovx 

For more information contact maeve@theoldchurchcentre.com