The Linen Memorial

The Linen Memorial,^[1] conceived and created in 2001 by Lycia Danielle Trouton^[2] is made from almost 400 Irish linen handkerchiefs listing almost 4000 names of those killed during the fraught period in contemporary Northern Ireland, called 'The Troubles';. It was conceived in 1999 after the artist exhibited at The Waterworks, Antrim Road, North Belfast. Subsequently, Lycia did research into the fabric of linen, at The Linen Museum,^[3] Lisburn^[4] and also toured a former flax scutching mill in the Irish countryside.

The Memorial was first unveiled on September 7, 2001 in Washington state, USA, as part of an ecumenical project with the names list on printed handkerchiefs and a 'coffin' represented in compressed peat moss (Irish bog oak). The 2002 in Australia showing on The Day of the Dead featured a soundscape by Thomas Fitzgerald (composer) which incorporated Kevin McFadden's Gaelic poetry, with oration by Anthony Stamboulieh,^[5] and a performance with choreography by Elizabeth Cameron Dalman, OAM, and her Mirramu Dance Company.^[6] In 2004, the printed names on the handkerchiefs were embroidered by volunteers, with more than 200 completed by 2010.

The Linen Memorial was initially exhibited in Northern Ireland at the Corrymeela Community^[7][8] Centre for Peace and Reconciliation on June 21, 2007 and 2008, in recognition of the first Day of Private Reflection;^[9] both showings included a names reading, and in 2008, persons who so wished could pin a memento or token of remembrance, beside a name on a handkerchief. The Linen Memorial was also exhibited at the Flax and Linen Biennale in Quebec in 2011.^[10]

partial Exhibition History

• June 21, 2008 - The Linen Memorial
  • The second Day of Private Reflection, Host organisation: Corrymeela Community of Peace and Reconciliation, Ballycastle, Northern Ireland
  • with a Names Reading
  • participating embroiderers: 35
• June 5 - 15th 2008 - The Linen Hall Library exhibition
  • Groves Conference, USA, on Trauma, the Community and the Family
• June 21, 2007 - The Linen Memorial
  • The first Day of Private Reflection, Host organisation: Corrymeela Community of Peace and Reconciliation, Ballycastle, Northern Ireland
  • with a Names Reading
  • participating embroiderers: 20.
• 2006 - Slide Presentation by Dr. Lycia Trouton
  • Australian National University, Cross Cultural Research Centre, Canberra, ACT, Australia
  • Electric Violin Performance by Dr. Thomas Fitzgerald
  • Shroud Artwork (bodybag with a figurative punched hole pattern) by Monique Van Nieuwland^[11]
• 2005 - The Irish Linen Memorial exhibition
  • Faculty Gallery, University of Wollongong,^[12] Australia
  • Silent viewing along with a personal installation called Make Do and Mend.
  • participating embroiderers: 5.This year Lycia, the artist, began sewing 'freckled spots' of human hair. This aspect has been written about by Textile Theorist Jessica Hemmings,^[13] PhD.
• 2004 - Transformation of Tears: The Irish Linen Memorial
  • Canberra, ACT, Australia
  • Sponsored by The Canadian High Commission^[14]
  • Canberra, ACT. opening by Revd. Dr. James Haire (who delivered a brief Ecumenical service and a speech about the history of linen and Irish migration)
  • Original score by Thomas Fitzgerald, sonic-surround.
  • participating embroiderer: Margot Damon (née McGladdery)
  • Original choreography by Elizabeth Cameron Dalman, performance with 2 dancers on the theme of maiden, mother, crone with Mirramu Dance Company.
  • Embroidery by Margot Damon, 25 handkerchiefs, and tatting by Edith Morriot on 3 handkerchiefs, with an attachment of a lock of human hair.
• 2002 - Horrific Hankies: The Irish Linen Memorial
  • Centre for Canadian-Australian Studies, Australia.^[15]
  • Launched by Dr. Gerry Turcotte from Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
  • Original score by Thomas Fitzgerald, Australian composer
  • Original choreography by Elizabeth Cameron Dalman, OAM, choreographer and pioneer modern and contemporary dancer, Australia.
• 2002 - Unfolding Territories group exhibition
  • Fabric(ation)s of The Postcolonial: Text and Textiles conference
  • Launched by Janis Jefferies, Constance Howard Textiles Research Centre, Goldsmiths College of the University of London, UK.
  • small-scale artwork of 3 handkerchiefs by Lycia Trouton
• 2001 - Between Two Worlds: The Common Body, The Irish Linen Memorial and an earthwork or land art piece
  • Group Exhibition called Natural Causes, curated by Cheryl Hahn
  • Gallery One, Ellensburg, WA, USA^[16]
  • Opening Chanting for the Dead, September 6.
  • Intercultural/Ecumenical service led by Korean Buddhist nun, Chong Do Sunim (formerly Geraldine Finegan).

(UTC)^[17] Conflict Archive on the Net (CAIN): Victims: Memorials/Monuments. Funding of website is by The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) UK and Access Research Knowledge ARK Northern Ireland

References

1. "The Linen Memorial website". Linenmemorial.org. Retrieved 2013-12-24.
2. "Lycia Danielle Trouton website". Lyciatrouton.com. Retrieved 2013-12-24.
3. "The Linen Museum". Discovernorthernireland.com. 2012-11-12. Retrieved 2013-12-24.
4. "(linen industry". Lisburn. Retrieved 2013-12-24.
5. Anthony Stamboulieh IMDB
6. "Mirramu Dance Company". Mirramu.com. Retrieved 2013-12-24.
7. Brendan Rice, www.gumpshen.com (2012-10-16). "Corrymeela Community". Corrymeela.org. Retrieved 2013-12-24.
8. "Reflections of a troubled NI past". BBC News. 2007-06-21. Retrieved 2013-12-24.
9. "HTR - Day of Private Reflection - Home". Dayofreflection.com. Retrieved 2013-12-24.
10. Surface Design Journal Editor Patricia Malarcher. "BILP 2011: Honoring Linen Culture Quebecoise | SDA NewsBlog". Surfacedesign.org. Retrieved 2013-12-24.
11. "Monique Van Nieuwland". Craftact.org.au. 2012-02-21. Retrieved 2013-12-24.
12. "University of Wollongong". Uow.edu.au. Retrieved 2013-12-24.
13. Jessica Hemmings
14. The Canadian High Commission
15. "Centre for Canadian-Australian Studies, Australia". Uow.edu.au. Retrieved 2013-12-24.
16. "Gallery One, Ellensburg, WA, USA". Gallery-one.org. Retrieved 2013-12-24.
17. "CAIN: Victims: Memorials: The Linen Memorial". Cain.ulst.ac.uk. Retrieved 2013-12-24.

General

• Jessica Hemmings (2007). "Review". Fiber Arts Review USA.
• Carolyn Strange (ed.). "Politics, Aesthetics, Legalities". Pain and Death (The Australian National University, Research School of Humanities). XIV. No. 2.

• Meredith Hinchliff (February 11, 2004). "Review: The Fabric of 30 years of The Troubles". The Canberra Times. p. 27.

External links

• http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/victims/memorials/static/monuments/1700.html
• CAIN Web Service Conflict Archive on the Internet
• Healing Through Remembering project
• CDEN was established in March 2007 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, by Kala Shreen and Maruska Svasek. The creation of the CDEN Website was funded by the Internationalisation Funds, School of History and Anthropology, Queens University Belfast. The aim is to stimulate international and interdisciplinary research on cultural dynamics and emotions. The Network intends to build on recent debates in the fields of globalisation and emotion studies that investigate emotional processes in a world of movement.