From 3rd May until 13th June 2022 we hosted the ‘Dementia Darnings’ at the Hearth Gallery. Artist Jenni Dutton was joined by her daughter and Creative Writing Tutor and Mentor, Briony Goffin, to present this inter-generational project spanning 3 generations of women.
Jenni created this body of work over 10 years in response to her mother’s dementia diagnosis, by making intricate stitched portraits of her mum from old family photos. The large stitched images (130 x 90cm) are very life-like through the use of wool and Jenni’s incredible use of colour. This makes the gaze of the portraits even more personal and poignant, bringing intrigue and emotions to the viewers. We were delighted to be the first gallery to exhibit the ‘Dementia Darnings’ in Wales.
Briony hosted two creative writing sessions throughout the duration of the exhibition. The workshops explored ‘Writing as Tribute’ and gave the participants an opportunity to respond to the Jenni’s artwork and to write a tribute to someone special in their lives. The workshops were really well received and all participants were thrilled with the opportunity.
We received an overwhelmingly positive response to the exhibition and workshops, and we were thrilled to welcome so many people through the Hearth Gallery doors (the highest number of visitors since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic). We’d like to say a huge thank you to Jenni and Briony for bringing the exhibition to the Hearth Gallery, to the Staff Lottery Bids Panel for making it possible, and to all who visited the gallery and shared their personal stories.
If you would like to keep up to date with Jenni Dutton’s latest projects, you can follow her on Instagram (@jennidutton9342) and Twitter (@JenniDutton).
If you would like to keep up to date with Briony’s latest projects, you can follow her on Twitter (@brionygoffin).
Ailedrych ar y ‘Dementia Darnings’
O’r 3ydd o Fai tan 13 Mehefin 2022 gwnaethom gynnal arddangosfa’r ‘Dementia Darnings’ yn Oriel yr Aelwyd. Ymunodd ei merch a Thiwtor a Mentor Ysgrifennu Creadigol, Briony Goffin, â’r artist Jenni Dutton i gyflwyno’r prosiect rhyng-genhedlaeth hwn sy’n rhychwantu 3 cenhedlaeth o fenywod.
Creodd Jenni y corff hwn o waith dros 10 mlynedd mewn ymateb i ddiagnosis dementia ei mam, drwy wneud portreadau cymhleth o’i mam o hen luniau teuluol. Mae’r delweddau mawr wedi’u pwytho (130 x 90cm) yn edrych yn real iawn drwy’r defnydd o wlân a defnydd anhygoel Jenni o liw. Mae hyn yn gwneud y portreadau hyd yn oed yn fwy personol a theimladwy, gan ddod â chwilfrydedd ac emosiynau i’r gwylwyr. Roeddem yn falch iawn o fod yr oriel gyntaf i arddangos y ‘ Dementia Darnings’ yng Nghymru.
Cynhaliodd Briony ddwy sesiwn ysgrifennu creadigol drwy gydol yr arddangosfa. Archwiliodd y gweithdai ‘Ysgrifennu fel Teyrnged’ a rhoddodd gyfle i’r cyfranogwyr ymateb i waith celf Jenni ac ysgrifennu teyrnged i rywun arbennig yn eu bywydau. Cafodd y gweithdai dderbyniad da iawn ac roedd yr holl gyfranogwyr wrth eu bodd gyda’r cyfle.
Cawsom ymateb hynod gadarnhaol i’r arddangosfa a’r gweithdai, ac roeddem wrth ein bodd yn croesawu cynifer o bobl drwy ddrysau Oriel yr Aelwyd (y nifer uchaf o ymwelwyr ers dechrau’r pandemig Covid-19). Hoffem ddiolch yn fawr iawn i Jenni a Briony am ddod â’r arddangosfa i Oriel yr Aelwyd, i Banel Cynigion Loteri’r Staff am ei gwneud yn bosibl, ac i bawb a ymwelodd â’r oriel a rhannu eu straeon personol.
Os hoffech gael y wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am brosiectau Jenni Dutton, gallwch ei dilyn ar Instagram (@jennidutton9342) a Twitter (@JenniDutton).
Os hoffech gael y wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am brosiectau Briony, gallwch ei dilyn ar Twitter (@brionygoffin).