Preaching House Pottery assists Lecale Ladies to put on a show at the St Patrick Centre in Downpatrick
The members of Lecale Ladies social group launched their project in an exhibition today (26th February 2025) at the St Patrick Centre in Downpatrick mentored by Preaching House Pottery.
The ‘Rising Tide’ exhibition was something “quite different and unexpected” said Centre Director Dr Tim Campbell as he welcomed the members to The Gallery and congratulated them on their creativity.
The exhibition consists of a number of sails printed using Batik techniques of waxing areas and dying and repeating the process to create stunning patterns and graphics along with several boats hung from the ceiling.
Dr Tim Campbell said: “I’m so impressed with this method of creating semi-abstract imagery through batik that I am now considering developing it for some sections of the St Patrick’s Exhibition.
“St Patrick spent time as a shepherd and he was also shipwrecked and helped to save sailors from drowning.These types of images could be translated into batik art forms. It’s very exciting.”
Also, in the exhibition there are a number of small model vessels which are hung from the ceiling and create the illusion of movement. There is an old fishing yawl, a curragh, and a model of the last boat, the St Barchan, which was the last vessel sunk by the Germans at the end of WW11 located just 4 miles off St John’s Point.
Meave Gilchrist from Lecale Ladies said: “We are a social group and enjoy arts and crafts, just chatting, and we play different table games and so on. They are quite a lively bunch.
“If anyone around Ardglass is interested in joining just contact me at: [email protected] .
“John Smyth, the former Harbour Master, build the wooden replica boats with help from some friends. They are just marvellous.
‘We’d like to give a big thank you to Peter Lee-Surginor of Preaching House Pottery for working with us over a few weeks to get the exhibition into shape.
“And last but not least we’d like to thank the Public Health Agency for funding this art project which really has been very exciting as we learned new skills along the way.”
Peter Lee-Surginor said: “It’s been a real pleasure to work with the ladies on this National Lottery-funded project. Basically it is focussed on health and wellbeing, and is just part of a range of activities recommended by the Public Health Authority to engage in as you get older and look after you health and wellbeing.
“It touches on mental health too and this group are a very cheery bunch and are quite uplifting.
“We worked on the batik methods and the results are very impressive. We produced a range of decorated sails that grace The Gallery for this exhibition.
‘The boat builders started work around late November, but the ladies have been working on the batik techniques of waxing and dye-ing for around 4 weeks and have really got into it.”
 at the St Patrick Centre in){kind=link}