The One Million Stars to End Violence Project with Amber Refuge and Arts Reach Ireland is a community arts project that connects our community through weaving stars. Some of our weavers include St Joseph’s home Kilmoganny, Loreto Secondary School, Respond Ireland, Rehab Group Ireland, Callan FRC, The ICA and individual weavers across the country who weave at home during lockdown.
- The project began in Australia and is now a global movement http://www.onemillionstars.net (Kilkenny are representing Ireland as the first county to join the Project).
- The hand-woven stars represent light, hope and solidarity against all forms of violence.
- We display the hand-woven stars in public areas to raise domestic violence awareness.
- The display in MacDonagh Junction runs from 25th Nov-6th Jan 2021. 2021. https://macdonaghjunction.com/one-million-stars-project/
- Creative Ireland support our project https://www.creativeireland.gov.ie/en/event/one-million-stars-community-installation-by-amber-refuge/ . We also have support from Kilkenny County Council , Kilkenny Leader Partnership and Healthy Ireland.
- Our last exhibition formed part of Design and Craft Council of Irelands Sculpture Trail, CONNECTED.3,000 stars woven during lockdown were displayed in The Medieval Mile Museum as a symbolic representation of a connected community in solidarity against all forms of violence.
Our exhibition is currently on at MacDonagh Junction Kilkenny and running from the 25th November throughout the Christmas Period until the 6th January. The exhibition also marks the 16 Days of Activism an international Campaign to challenge gender-based violence.
We are proud to display 10,000 hand woven stars in an installation that represents love and light and solidarity against violence. The 10,000 stars shall hang in The Workhouse Square and alongside this will sit 3D letters spelling LOVE (made and kindly donated by JM Steel).
Members of the public are encouraged to weave a star and leave it in the Drop Box at MacDonagh Junction over the duration of the exhibition so their star can attach to the Love sign.
To join our star weave community, donate or find out more visit: www.onemillionstarsireland.ie
Description of Installation Artwork
Weaving Communities of Courage Against Violence.
A community art project, One million Stars to End Violence was founded in Australia in 2012 by Maryann Talia Pau. Amber Women’s Refuge with Arts Reach Ireland are proud to bring the One Million Stars to End Violence Project to Ireland.
The Amber One Million Stars are a visual representation of solidarity against all forms of violence. The exhibition is the culmination of a wider community of weavers (Ireland Star Weavers) who kept connected throughout lockdown and Covid-19 restrictions by engaging in the craft of weaving. The star weaving community is made up from a cross section of our community. We have stars from care home residents, Syrian refugees, TY students from Kilkenny, Waterford, Meath, Louth and Tipperary, individuals cocooning across the country, the ICA guilds of Kilkenny, Tipperary and Mayo, local knitting groups and individuals from local villages and the wider area.
- Title: Handwoven Stars
Material; Poly ribbon and recycled Paper.
Stars stitched and hanging in 6 meters lengths.
Hand woven stars curated into a public installation exhibited during the 16 Days of Activism 2020. (November 25th through the Christmas period).
Staying connected as a community with a shared goal increases resilience and enables us as individuals to feel part of a wider cause, together we can make a difference. The stars raise domestic violence awareness and remind us that domestic abuse is everyone’s business. The hanging star installation acknowledges that abuse happens, and it is wrong. The stars represent a symbolic gesture of support for those affected and a stance of solidarity against all forms of violence and abuse.
- Title: LOVE
Material: Two-meter letters in precast steel frame with a grid infill (Kindly made and donated by JMSteel Cufesgrange Kilkenny) covered in fabric and paper handmade stars.
Originally intended as an interactive piece, members of the public would be encouraged to attach their own woven stars. Due to Covid-19 restrictions we can attach your star for you when you leave your star in the OMS drop box. The aim is to cover the letters over the Christmas period and beyond showing support and love to those going through difficult times this Christmas. The word LOVE is a reminder that in uncertain times we are innately connected as humans by both our vulnerability and our strength. That as a community we can show support and compassion in adversity. That love and compassion are stronger that hate and violence; love is universal and instils hope and encourages connection. We are reminded of what it means to show healthy love: respect, acceptance, trust, empathy, and unity.
“Returning hate for hate multiples hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”
Martin Luther King
Weaving Communities of Courage Against Violence.
Amber Refuge 24/7 Helpline: 1850 42 42 44.
Text AMBER 50300 to DONATE €2
To join our weaving community and
find out more or MAKE A SECURE PAYPAL DONATION to Amber Refuge visit : www.onemillionstarsireland.ie
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