16 June - 31 August 2022.
This multisensory artwork by artist Joanna Hopkins was inspired by the People’s Park in John Coyle’s painting which was exhibited as part of 'A Collection of Conversations, a dementia inclusive exhibition'. It was created with people living with dementia in mind. Local people living with dementia participated in a series of workshops with Joanna to explore different ideas and ways to make the final multisensory installation engaging and inclusive.
Throughout June 2022, participants, carers and family members were invited into The Growing Gallery. Cuttings of the Catmint plant were taken before each session, with permission, from the People's Park. They eco-printed Catmint flowers onto the hanging material. This involved pressing flowers into fabric with a hammer until the bright green and purple pigment was released. The Catmint leaves were also used to test out a tea infusion, this was unfortunately not very successful. Participants propagated plants from small cuttings taken from larger plants. These cuttings grew in the Gallery window for the duration of the installation.
The gallery was filled with dried cuttings collected over 6 weeks from the Park. Free samples of custom made chocolates were available. They contained bee pollen and cinnamon, melting the summer and winter elements of the painting and the installation together. When viewing John Coyle’s painting, one of the participants, Helen was struck by how The Growing Gallery, filled with purple flowers, and the woman with the red hat sitting on the bench reminded her of a poem. Helen narrated this poem 'Warning', by Jenny Joseph and this was available to hear as part of the installation.
The Growing Gallery invited visitors to explore John Coyle’s Painting through touch, smell, taste and sound.
The Growing Gallery was generously funded by Creative Ireland's Creativity in Older Age Programme 2022.
Gallery
