Uncovering our Hidden Histories: Community, Art, and the Power of Storytelling
“It’s about refusing to accept a censored version of history that glorifies certain people and erases others.”
— Suzannah Lipscomb, What Is History, Now
Damer House Gallery is proud to present Stories in the Making: Arts, Community & Unearthing Our Histories, a one-day seminar taking place on 7th June at The Black Mills, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary. This thought-provoking event brings together artists, curators, and community members to explore how art can illuminate overlooked stories and reclaim silenced voices.
Opening the seminar are author and curator Catherine Marshall and artist Sinead Fahey of KCAT Studios, who will discuss their shared experiences in engaging communities through art. This conversation will examine who gets access to the arts, why certain communities feel excluded, and how we can build more inclusive and representative cultural spaces.
The seminar continues with textile artist and educator Jackie Carter, who will share the personal journey of her grandmother Agnes through her artwork—a “critical fabulation” blending memory, imagination, and history. Carter’s work seeks to recover the lives of women too often reduced to gravestone inscriptions like Devoted Wife and Mother. Her piece was recently featured in the Seanchas;Lore exhibition at Damer House Gallery, which also travelled to Florence in 2024.
The afternoon will conclude with film screening of two works by acclaimed artists Therry Rudin and Patricia Hurl. Valise, created with Roscrea’s Active Retirement Group, honours everyday stories at risk of being forgotten. It will be followed by The Last of the Summer Wine, a touching tribute to the memories and lives of Roscrea’s senior residents. Both films invite us to reflect on community, change, and the importance of preserving our collective past.
This free event invites everyone to join a vital conversation about art, identity, and memory.
Booking is essential and tickets are available at Damer House Gallery on Eventbrite or email kate.damerhousegallery@gmail,
Damer House Gallery gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Creative Ireland and Tipperary Arts Office and thank the OPW for the use of the Black Mills.
