Opening of ‘Obair na mBan’ exhibition in Gaoth Dobhair

THE official opening of an exhibition which features the work of a women’s group established in Ionad Mhachaire Rabhartaigh in 2008 took place in the Gaoth Dobhair Library on Wednesday evening.

The group was formed to create a space for women from Magheraroarty and surrounding areas to meet, socialise, access information and services and to learn new crafts and skills.

The work on display is the result of various projects undertaken with Mary Toland who is a member of the group. Mary is a local artist living in Gortahork, and the new exhibition is part of the Bealtaine Festival.

Speaking at the opening of the exhibition Mary said the group possessed excellent skills in sewing, knitting, crocheting to name but a few.

“Needlework has always been seen as ‘women’s work’, a lesser art form mainly decorative,” she said.

“The creativity involved is overlooked.

“I wanted to focus on the creativity. We experimented with fabric collage in 2019. The A4 panels each group member produced was their own personal response to their immediate environment.

“Covid brought a halt to further developments. When we started back meeting again we got back to working with fabric. The framed pieces are the results of this.

“Because we all had leftover bits of yarn and wool, tapestry weaving became our next project. This was something completely new to the group. The results are seen on the table easels.

“The satisfaction of being immersed in a tactile and richly colourful way of expressing ideas is immeasurable.”

Mary thanked Ealaín na Gaeltachta who awarded Mary a bursary to allow her to explore textile art.

She also thanked Donegal ETB for funding classes for the group and Denis and Anne in Leabharlann Gaoth Dobhair for facilitating the new exhibition which runs until the end of May.

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