CLOSE KNIT EXHIBITION LAUNCHED IN OMAGH
Close Knit' exhibition launched in Omagh
BY CONOR SHARKEY
OMAGH Community House was the venue on Friday for the unveiling of two stunning art works, designed to mark the tenth anniversary of the Omagh bomb.
More than 20 young people took part in the cross-community project, entitled 'Close Knit' and on hand to unveil the wall hangings was the Duchess of Abercorn.
The inspiration behind the project, spearheaded by local artist Teresa Poyntz, was a headline published in the aftermath of the 1998 tragedy. It read simply 'This morning in Omagh, the sun rose again'.
Each and every aspect of the works is symbolic in some way. The heavy stitching of the first piece indicates the troubled times of the town's past, while the web like stitching of the second art work points to the fragile yet resilient nature of everyone affected by the bomb.
The webbing has 29 holes and two little flowers, representing the lives so tragically lost on that fateful August day.
One of the project co-coordinators explained, "The theme of sunlight and reflection for the textile piece resonates with the theme of the 'Garden of Light' memorial which is that 'light unites us all hi that it makes all life possible'. It is very fitting that the healing energy of the sun should be captured and harnessed to reflect the dreams and wishes of the young people in Omagh.
"The acronym OMAGH spells out a positive message for us all and this is further echoed in the words and sentiments of the young students. Some of the phrases are in Spanish to take cognisance of all those involved on that fateful day. These words permeate the fabric and are completed in machine stitch.
"The second wall hanging wall hanging comprises ten pieces which are representative of the ten years since the Omagh atrocity and are an attempt to capture the mood and atmosphere of the town, shown by the graduation in colour in moving from the very dark days and years toward a brighter and more positive future," she explained.
The pieces will now remain on permanent display at Omagh Community House.
BY CONOR SHARKEY
OMAGH Community House was the venue on Friday for the unveiling of two stunning art works, designed to mark the tenth anniversary of the Omagh bomb.
More than 20 young people took part in the cross-community project, entitled 'Close Knit' and on hand to unveil the wall hangings was the Duchess of Abercorn.
The inspiration behind the project, spearheaded by local artist Teresa Poyntz, was a headline published in the aftermath of the 1998 tragedy. It read simply 'This morning in Omagh, the sun rose again'.
Each and every aspect of the works is symbolic in some way. The heavy stitching of the first piece indicates the troubled times of the town's past, while the web like stitching of the second art work points to the fragile yet resilient nature of everyone affected by the bomb.
The webbing has 29 holes and two little flowers, representing the lives so tragically lost on that fateful August day.
One of the project co-coordinators explained, "The theme of sunlight and reflection for the textile piece resonates with the theme of the 'Garden of Light' memorial which is that 'light unites us all hi that it makes all life possible'. It is very fitting that the healing energy of the sun should be captured and harnessed to reflect the dreams and wishes of the young people in Omagh.
"The acronym OMAGH spells out a positive message for us all and this is further echoed in the words and sentiments of the young students. Some of the phrases are in Spanish to take cognisance of all those involved on that fateful day. These words permeate the fabric and are completed in machine stitch.
"The second wall hanging wall hanging comprises ten pieces which are representative of the ten years since the Omagh atrocity and are an attempt to capture the mood and atmosphere of the town, shown by the graduation in colour in moving from the very dark days and years toward a brighter and more positive future," she explained.
The pieces will now remain on permanent display at Omagh Community House.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE HERALD
Ref: TYH10An/02
Published Date: 11-Aug-08
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