On a grey and miserable cold day I quietly stood in this little house. Instantly I knew that this is where I wanted to make an art installation. Soggy leaves were piled high, dirt dripped off the walls and told silent stories that reverberated. As I often do, I sensed dreams of generations gone by, our own and of those to come. Deep-down no matter when in history, we all long for the same safety, peace and commonly in the winter for the returning of light and the new life that spring brings. It is precisely this which we celebrate on February the first.

We honour powerful historic women, Brigid, the Celtic Goddess and our Patron St Brigid who are believed to visit homes on the eve of February 1st. Domestic preparations were made, houses cleaned, people gathered for meals. Often a doll or a cloth was left out. There was an expectation of a blessing for protection on their homes; a blessing of abundance and the promise of new life in the year ahead. From that visit in November grew the idea of ‘In Expectation’ which is a two/fold installation.

First I undertook to clean this little house. The leaves and rubbish were swept and taken out. It was a process of renewal and reclaiming this little hidden building in Swan Park.

A white beaded curtain hangs in the doorway, open to welcome the new life that we are expecting. I designed and crochet over 120 circles in recycled bangles. They are interconnected with beads from the charity shop. I like the idea of necklaces and bracelets once belonging to members of our community threaded together in this project.The white cotton is from Leonalde at our lovely local wool shop. It is a key intention for me as an artist to support our local suppliers.
The white symbolizes the blank canvas that is the world still drained of colour but also the light with which it will spring to the life which in turn is also waiting to blossom.
On the window hang several large crochet circles crafted with different yarn and hooks.They are held together by fishing line and transparent beads are threaded through to create reflections of the light.
It has been my absolute pleasure to create this installation for Art in the Park 2023. A big thank you to Denis Doherty for carefully measuring the spaces, building the frames and installing it. Deep Gratitude also to The Mill River Conservation Group and the Inishowen Rivers Trust who kindly saw to the clearing out and re-purposing of the materials inside the ‘house’.

About the Artist

Anna Stainsby was born in former Czechoslovakia, she grew up in Holland, but Ireland has been her home for the past thirty five years. Based in Buncrana she has initiated and contributed to many community art projects. She loves the surprise element of the town waking up to a new artistic expression of temporary art. She is often inspired by random, recyclable, natural or collectable objects to create something new.

The sense of a refreshed tradition is an important aspect of her creative thinking and making. She works with yarn to transform traditional ideas we may have and create a contemporary respect for a traditional craft like crocheting.