Finding the Common Thread, 2022 was an International Teacher Artist Partnership School Residency project. The development took place over a 3 month planning period with a 3 months engagement period with 30 children, both boys and girls, in St Kilian’s NS School in Cavan, Ireland. See video below as part of the Arts in Education Portal Documentation Award.
Pupil learning to stitch as part of the Finding the Common Thread Project 2022
Since first meeting in 2016 and after working together on a number of successful Teacher Artist Partnership projects, artist Vera McEvoy and teacher Breeda Kenny, embarked on an ambitious lacemaking project with pupils in a 6th class primary school setting (aged 11 and 12 years). This project embodied heritage, environment and creativity in a unique and special way. Pupils learned about the local bog environment and used their knowledge to design and stitch floral lace pieces in Carrickmacross lace style based on flora and fauna found on the bog.
Pupil exploring the stitches of Carrickmacross lace.
Arts in Education Portal Documentation Award for Finding the Common Thread (FCT) project. FCT is an International Teacher Artist Partnership School Residency project. The project combined the local bog landscape and environment with the traditional skills of Carrickmacross lace-making. 30 pupils, aged 11 and 12 years visited the local bog landscape to explore, record and document the flora and fauna. They then developed their recordings and mark making to form designs for lacemaking, in a contemporary style. The pupils were introduced to the the stitches synonymous with, and the history of Carrickmacross Lace. The International Teacher Artist Partnership is funded by Erasmus+
Pupil engrossed in their new sewing skill. Arts in Education Portal Documentation Award 2022. Photographer Éilís Murphy