Upcoming Events -
Fite Fuaite - The Quiet Persistence of Making Workshop
All are welcome to drop in to The Quiet Persistence of Making a free workshop taking place in Gort Library (Church Road, Gort, H91F5P8) on Friday Jun 12th, join us anytime from 11am-1pm and 2pm-5pm - no booking needed
Slow Down through Making using Stitch and Knot
You’re part of the process… Macken+Magner will share some of the processes that they use in their work inviting you to slow down in the calm surrounds of the library for a few moments or longer - no skill is needed - using simple repetitive stich and knot to connect with your self, your creativity and each other - all stitched and knotted pieces created on Friday will be assembled to join a growing communal artwork celebrating shared creativity
Workshops with public in Stitch & Knot as part of the Macken+Magner ‘Quiet Persistence of Making’ Exhibition
Thanks to our sponsors
Fite Fuaite (interwoven) is a series of artists workshops available free to the public coordinated by Gort Arts and funded by Creative Ireland and Galway County Council
Recent Exhibitions: The Quiet Persistence of Making
The Quiet Persistence of Making (Oct, 2025) was a collaborative exhibition by Macken + Magner, Galway-based artist Sinead Macken and artist and educator (Textiles, ATU Galway) Tony Magner, showcasing a body of current work rooted in process-led, repetitive, and meditative practices. Through the mediums of stitch and knot, the artists explore rhythm, materiality, and the contemplative nature of making.
Throughout the week-long exhibition, the gallery adopted an Open Studio format, inviting visitors to engage directly with the artists’ methods. Without the barrier of skill visitors had the opportunity to slow down and experience the stillness that repetitive making brings. Creating their own stitched or knotted pieces and contributing to a growing communal artwork. These individual contributions were assembled and presented collectively during the closing event (Finissage), celebrating shared creativity and the evolving nature of the artists’ practice.
Macken+Magner ‘The Quiet Persistence of Making’ Exhibition Walk Through
Dr. Seamus McGuinness, socially engaged practicioner and textile artist opened the show, with a public reception on Friday 23rd October at 7.30pm in KAVA, Courthouse Gallery, Kinvara, Co. Galway to a packed house. The exhibition ran from Saturday 24th Oct-Sunday 2nd Nov. with over 250 visitors to the space.
In addition to presenting their work, the artists explored the impact of inviting the public in to participate in a calm and welcoming environment. This experimental initiative took on it’s own life, with the open studio format quickly becoming a weeklong workhsop, sowing many seeds for future exploration……meaningful multigenerational dialogue, improved wellbeing, and strengthened connections to creativity, self and community. Notably, the project challenged traditional gender norms associated with engagement in textile arts and demonstrated substantial potential for further community engagement and creative exploration.
These outcomes highlight the value and scalability of this approach for future arts programming, so onto the next phase………watch this space!
Macken+Magner present on Bold Boys + Bold Girls at The Atrium, Cork City Hall (4:00mins)
