Celebrating fixing and mending our exhibition, Caring for Repairing and Repair Fête condenses 10-months (Feb-Nov ’22) of work on Repair Acts, Ireland.
Our Saturday (5th Nov) and Sunday (6th Nov) programme extends the art works created for the programme, including the documentary ‘Turning the Collar’ as well as archival, declaration and online work by bringing together an exciting number of repair specialists, artists, designers and activists who are working across the fields of repair, care, maintenance and healing cultures.
The following schedule is a summary of our programme. While all events are free, some require registration via Eventbrite as numbers will be limited due to space and facilitation. We also advise to turn up early, as no-shows, will be returned, so others can participate.
Workshops, Conversations & Performances
10.00-19.00 // Caring for Repairing at St. James’s Hall. Exhibition continues. Displays works generated by Repair Acts, lead artist Teresa Dillon with exhibition design in collaboration with architect Ana Filipovich and Men Shed, Mullingar. Archival research and text collated by Dillon, Alma Clavin, Robin Ferguson and Maya Vizel-Schwartz illustrates changes in professional repair practices across the last eight decades. With installation based documentary, video, textile and images based works weaving past, present and future local and global narratives of repair, together with stories gathered from the People’s Archive of Everyday Repair.
10.00-13.00 // Make Your Own Tool-Box with DIY Dave, St. James’s Hall. Learn how to make your own tool-box with Dave who joins us from The Rediscovery Centre. All tools and parts will be provided. Suitable for those interested (15yrs+) in gaining confidence in making and come away with your own toolbox. Limited to 15 persons. Registration required.
10.00-16.00 // Dig The Glitch Workshop, TokTek, National School (Main Hall).
Working with broken electronic toys, TokTek and guests take you on a sonic journey that transforms that broken, glitchy toy into a sonic, art object. Eight parent-child spaces available, ideal for ages 12-17yrs, registration required.
10.00-16.00 // Lace Affair Workshop at the Distillery. Working with ideas of the broken and fractured artist Fiona Harrington works with Irish lace techniques to create contemporary reparative objects. Join Fiona for a workshop where you can learn the basic of needle lace and the lace making process. Limited to 12 persons. Registration required.
10.00-16.00 // Of Mortars and Stone Walls at The Yard, Part 1, Lower Main Street. Expert stone masons Neil O’Dwyer and David Corrigan (O’Dwyer Masonry) and conservation consultant Caroline Gethings (Anú Heritage) are passionate about the restoration of our built environment. Part 1 of this two-day workshop brings you through the basics of dry stone walling and its repair, with advice given on how to approach heritage repairs and working with traditional mixes and mortars. To attend this workshop you need to be available for both days (Saturday and Sunday). Limited to 15 persons. Registration required.
11.00-13.30 // Meet at the Bridge, meeting point outside Kilbeggan Chocolate and Coffee Bar. Author of the ‘Little Book of Westmeath’ (2016) author, historian and tour guide, Ruth Illingworth provides her take on Kilbeggan’s rich industrial heritage, including its history in cooperage and other such crafts. Limited to 30 persons. Registration required.
12.00-13.30, Jiminy Toy Repair Café, Library. Eco toy store Jiminy will diagnose, advise and provide live demonstrations on how to mend your broken toys. Materials provided. Drop-in session, no booking required.
12.15-13.15 // Repairs From the Other Side, St. James’s Hall. Kilbeggan and Westmeath is home to people from across Europe, Brazil, India, China and Africa. Join us for conversation on global perspectives to repair and waste.
13.30-14.30 // Patching Workshop, Gill Stanley (ICA), St. James’s Hall. Want to try again or don’t know where to start? Don’t worry join The Irish Countrywomen’s Association (ICA) for short demonstrations on quick and easy darns. Limited to 15 persons. Registration required.
14.00-16.00 // Fun Mends with Noelle at the Library. Ideal for those busy little fingers (3-6yrs), who enjoying craft activities that use and recycle everyday materials.
15.30-16.30 // Jane Ní Dhulchaointigh, Sugru In Conversation with Teresa Dillon, St. James’s Hall. Join Jane Ní Dhulchaointigh artist, designer and award winning inventor who created Sugru, a mouldable ‘repair putty’ for a conversation about her work. Drop-in, no booking required.
17.00-20.30 // David Kitt, at St. James’s Hall. Genre crossing, multitalented singer, musician and producer David Kitt is known for his delicate electronica, skewed beats and tender songs. In the minimalist surrounds of St. James Hall, Kitt stripes it back for an acoustic set. No booking required. Seating limited.
20.00 // Exhibition Close, St. James’s Hall and Community Hub.
21.00-00.00 // Larrigy’s Pub. Live gig with Neil Moran with closing DJ set by David Kitt