What we do

Workhouse Assembly

Date
August 2013
Location
Callan, County Kilkenny
Artists/Designers
Gareth Kennedy, LiD Architects, Dee Harte

Workhouse Assembly, Union & Guild were a trio of projects undertaken by Workhouse Union focusing on the history, development and public engagement of the Callan Workhouse building, where the Workhouse Union team and library are based.

Workhouse Assembly was a twelve-day research workshop exploring the history and future development possibilities of a semi-derelict wing of the Callan Workhouse. It was an important stage in the conception, development and transformation of a wing of this unique heritage building with particular reference to public involvement, imagination and accessibility to the site.

Workhouse Assembly included over thirty participants, with backgrounds in architecture, art, heritage, geography, photography, writing and conservation. Between 31st July and 11th August, LiD Architecture ran daily workshops to make an embroidered map of the six acre Workhouse enclosure with the expert guidance of textile artist Dee Harte. Visual rtist Gareth Kennedy worked with participants to make lime render to coat a derilict space within the Workhouse interior. Collaborative research was conducted in seminar discussions, local consultation, design and making, artistic response, historical enquiry, and site exploration.

For more, visit www.workhouseassembly.com 

Images

Workhouse Assembly Report (PDF)
Workhouse Guild
Workhouse Union
One legged stools workshops led by Gareth Kennedy. Image by Brian Cregan.
One legged stools workshops. Image by Brian Cregan.
Mapestry workshop - an embroidered map of the Callan Workhouse enclosure. Image by Brian Cregan
Mapestry workshop - an embroidered map of the Callan Workhouse enclosure. Image by Brian Cregan
Mapestry workshop - an embroidered map of the Callan Workhouse enclosure. Image by Brian Cregan
Workhouse Assembly mapping workshop. Image by Brian Cregan
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