Westmeath artist and doll maker to launch TUS exhibition

A Westmeath-based artist and doll maker will launch a unique exhibition of work in the TUS Library in Athlone tomorrow morning (Tuesday, October 22) which was created in conjunction with the members of the Offaly Traveller Movement.

Teresa Doyle, an acclaimed artist and founder of Teresa Doyle Bespoke Dolls and Craft, which is based in Ranaghan, Castlepollard in north Westmeath, will launch the 'Threading Needles, Telling Stories' exhibition at 11am tomorrow morning, which features 14 three-dimensional hand-sewn dolls made by the members of the Chatters and Matters Tullamore Women's Shed.

'Threading Needles, Telling Stories' is a storytelling through doll-making project which was led by artist and doll maker Teresa Doyle, with funding from Creative Ireland.

The purpose of the project was to explore Traveller heritage and culture in a new way, with each doll serving as a vessel for participants to demonstrate and tell the stories of their Traveller experiences.

Through this project, each participant had the opportunity to explore and share their heritage and culture in a new way, through the creation of a three-dimensional fabric doll-like figure. The dolls are an effigy that served as a vessel to help demonstrate and tell the stories of the participant’s Traveller experiences, which reawakened skills that might have been inherent for some group members.

Skills including planning, designing, pattern-making, pattern-cutting, pressing, stitching, knitting and garment assembly were undertaken and practised throughout the project.