Sarah Ruttle, Charlotte Donovan, Marielle MacLeman and Kirsty Stansfield

Fragments of Worth

11 May to 27 June, 2019

Studio Open to the public on Mondays

Four artists with established Arts and Health practices are coming together for a seven week residency at Uillinn to reflect on their experiences and explore pertinent questions relating to maintaining an artistic practice in health settings. Taking its title from a Liz Lerman text, the residency will form an important incubator period for the collective as they formalise a reflective practice and reading group - a catalyst to generate the momentum needed for continuous exchange.

Using selected texts and making, to open up dialogue and critical reflection on participative and collaborative methodologies in Arts and Health, the group will explore themes spanning autonomy, place-making, and the inherent challenges of the practice. Sarah Ruttle and Charlotte Donovan will be in the studio at various times throughout the residency – together each Monday. Marielle MacLeman and Kirsty Stansfield will join them virtually and be present in Studio 3 for a weekend intensive 17 to 20 May.

Drawing from their work in health contexts, they will use making as a catalyst for exchange throughout the weekend intensive. Beginning with baking, the wares of their first night together will be shared in an Arts and Health café of sorts on Saturday 18 May, 1.00 – 2.30pm (free drop-in event). Upholding process over output, this is a (non)event for open discussion on the themes of their residency, with contributions from all visitors welcomed and valued.

Charlotte Donovan studied Fine Art Printmaking at Glasgow School of Art. She has worked as a socially engaged collaborative artist in community and healthcare settings for over 25 years. Charlotte came to Ireland from Scotland in 2005, and was Triskel Art Centre’s full time artist-in-residence in St Finbarr’s Hospital for 3 years. For 10 years she has co-ordinated a Community Arts for Health Programme and Community Garden in Knocknaheeny, Cork, for Niche Health Project. Charlotte has been a visiting artist and mentor on the West Cork Arts for Health Programme, and was Uillinn Artist-in-Residence: Learning and Engagement from June 2018 to March 2019. She continually undertakes a variety of freelance participatory, curatorial and consultancy projects as well as public and private commissions.

Marielle MacLeman studied Drawing and Painting at DJCAD, Dundee and relocated to Galway in 2011. Her Arts and Health practice spans 15 years, including the development of long-term participatory programmes in palliative care and haemodialysis, and public art commissions in care for the elderly, paediatric, maternity bereavement, neonatal, and mental health contexts. Arts and Health publications include The Music of What Happens (2014), The Magician and the Swallow’s Tale (2013), and The Pattern of a Bird (2008). She collaborated with filmmaker Tom Flanagan for GUH Arts Trust on the artsandhealth.ie Documentation Bursary 2017-18 and was awarded the Arts Council Artist in the Community Scheme Bursary Award 2018: Collaborative Arts in Health Contexts. www.mariellemacleman.com

Sarah Ruttle, a graduate of Textiles from DJCAD Dundee, Scotland, works across disciplines using textiles, paper-cutting, print and illustration, developing both small, intricate and large-scale installations. Since 2009 Sarah has worked on the Arts for Health Partnership Programme, where she is a mentor for new artists entering the programme. As a gallery educator, Sarah works with primary and second level schools at Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre, where she also leads the In the Picture’ Uillinn’s dementia friendly gallery programme. Sarah co-facilitates a programme with West Cork Mental Health Services’ Centre for Mental Health Care and Recovery. Sarah’s participatory practice includes work with early years and families and commissioned artist for a number of West Cork Arts Centre’s Discovery Box gallery resources for families. She has received awards from CREATE, Cork County Council, Creative Ireland and the Arts Council.

Kirsty Stansfield explores ideas around the body, including the voice, and how objects, gestures, sound and mark-making can mediate our relationships with others and our surroundings. In 2009 she completed a PhD from the University of Dundee. More recently she has been working in a range of participatory arts and health  settings, including care for the elderly, renal dialysis, neonatal and palliative care. Since 2014 she has been a member of the Creative Arts Service team at The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice, Glasgow. She has also co-written an Arts & Medical Contexts module for students from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. She is one of the collaborating artists of Tracing Autonomy www.tracingautonomy.net

www.artsforhealthwestcork.com/

www.artsandhealth.ie/

West Cork Arts Centre is proud to be supported by the Arts Council and Cork County Council.