Seeking station memories for art history project

Published: Mon 16 May 2022, 2:10 PM

Artist Ciara Maxwell has launched a project to gather history and memorabilia in relation to the old Streamstown train station and the Old Rail Trail Greenway.

In conjunction with her studies at the National College of Art and Design, Ciara is conducting a project to include memorabilia, artefacts and tickets that relate to the history of the former train station.

She said she wants to connect people’s memories, whether the old generation and their recollections of the train station and using the trains, or younger people and their memories now of it as a greenway.

“There seems to be a disconnect in a way between the two generations of what they remember the track as. The younger generation just see it as a cycle tack. The older see it as a site that was a train station.

“I’d love to be able to take all of those memories and look at how the whole thing has changed over the last 50 years of what we see it as and how all those memories are still relevant, are practised and recorded really, and for the community to have and remember.”

As part of the project, Ciara will facilitate two workshops to inform people about the history of the train station and about different art processes such as craft making and hand embroidery.

The first workshop was last week and the second will take place on May 26.

“A lot of the generation that have memories of that train station that was in use are passing way and I really have always found it so important to try to remember everything that happened back then and document those stories, because otherwise they’ll be lost. I loved history throughout school so it’s always been kind of something that I try to incorporate into my work as an artist,” she added.

The young artist is studying fine art at NCAD but specialises in textile art. “I deal a lot with soft materials and fabrics where I’m using a sewing machine or hand stitching or even knit or crochet.

“I’m in my second year, so I’m still trying to develop my own style and aesthetic, but I’ve always loved working, kind of incorporating history into it and try to tie in a community around my work.

“I love to teach as well. I love working with a group and seeing how everyone can have an involvement in an artwork. I love working through art process with people rather than just on my own in the studio.”