Artist Julie Forrester has been exploring the theme of family trees with Traveller children, creating unique chandeliers that represent each family. The young people at Mayfield Youth Cafe, who all share a grandmother, have been actively involved in this project. Each family member is depicted by a face on the chandelier, with five chandeliers in total.
The boys’ group has been hammering tin can lids, connecting with the proud Tinker trade of their ancestors. Meanwhile, the girls have been painting pendants on paper plates, illustrating family members’ faces and decorating them with ribbons, heart shapes, and tissue paper. The names of family members are also inscribed on ceramic hearts that hang from the chandeliers. These chandeliers celebrate family, recycling, upcycling, and the value of contemporary single-use items. Additionally, two life-size portraits of ancestors in traditional dress, drawn from photographs from around 1900, will be displayed alongside the Exhibition of Traveller Culture at Cork Public Museum.
For Cruinniú na nÓg, there will be a one-hour drop-in drama workshop that uses the children’s artwork as a springboard for creative expression and exploration of family trees, names, connections, ancestors, and Traveller culture. This workshop is created and produced by the boys’ and girls’ groups from Mayfield Youth Cafe.
The exhibition will be on display until the end of June and will be enhanced for the Cork Midsummer Festival YouthQuake event on June 21st.
Exhibition of Traveller Culture at Cork Public Museum
