‘Unfolding’. Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre. 2015.

‘Unfolding’ residency explored links that we share in cultural spaces in the context of diverse culture. Sarah used different methods of paper cutting, paper folding and printmaking to investigate how cultural buildings communicate with their communities and how collaboration becomes a conversation. During the residency a series of site-specific works were created for the Uillinn building.

Part of this residency led to an opportunity to work with visual artist Julia Pallone. Each artist shared the studio space for a short period, working individually and collaboratively experimenting and testing new ideas.

‘Fragments’. Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre. 6 May to 27 June 2019.

Fragments is an arts for health residency. In Spring 2018, following the annual Arts + Health Check Up, Check In, a reflective practice and reading group was initiated at Uillinn. The group comprised of West Cork-based Sarah Ruttle and Charlotte Donovan, Galway-based Marielle MacLeman, and Glasgow-based Kirsty Stansfield – all visual artists with over 15 years experience of working in arts and health.

This group provided a supportive space for the individuals to reflect on their broad experience and explore pertinent questions relating to maintaining an artistic practice in health settings. The residency formed an important incubator period for the group – time to focus on critical reflection with peers, using dialogue, making and writing to explore participative and collaborative methodologies in Arts and Health – and a catalyst to generate the momentum needed for continuous exchange.

During the residency at Uillinn, the group explored ideas related to:

• autonomy, creativity and end of life
• place-making and place-based knowledge in hospital and community health contexts
• the interplay between participative and collaborative approaches in hospital and community health contexts
• authorship and visibility of the visual artist in Arts and Health and in the wider contemporary art world

https://artsforhealthwestcork.com/fragments/

‘Beauty in Struggle’. Working Artist Studios. 2021.

The ‘Arts Participation Bursary Award’ from the Arts Council focuses on providing artists with the time and resources they need to think, research, reflect, and deeply engage with their artistic practice. Through the support of this award Sarah was able to undertake a period of in-depth reflection on her work within an Arts & Health context.

She undertook significant time in the studio engaging in practical experimentation and the development of new solo work. Having an artist residency as part of this work, in the creative space of the ‘Working Artist Studios’ supported a significant and new direction in Sarah’s work. This allowed for the creation of a series of artwork responding to conversations with healthcare staff and peers working in Arts & Health.

This period of research included a reflection on working with participants experiencing different levels of cognitive function. Consultations with Mentor Kirsty Stansfield led to the development in understanding of sensory engagements. https://www.tracingautonomy.net/

Interviews with healthcare staff explored a participant’s sensory experience in creative engagement. While time in the studio with collaborators: composers/musicians Fiona Kelleher & Justin Grounds supported Sarah’s understanding and learning of the complexities of sound.

This award and residency allowed Sarah to consider the development of innovative work in a sustainable and meaningful way for her participatory practice, while also looking at how her participatory process and solo work are intertwined.

‘Love & Loss’ | Working Artist Studios. 2023.

In preparation for a solo exhibition in January 2024, Sarah undertook a three artist residency in Working Artist Studios, to make a pair of large scale works. ‘Love & Loss’ explores a story of survival after loss, with layers of stories told through this work is completes the body of work ‘This is for You’. The collection explores some difficult conversations and includes drawings that are based on social crises, address division and inequality and reflect on humanity and healing.

Other pieces focus on mental health and consider both the perspective of someone experiencing mental health challenges and the person supporting their loved one on their recovery journey.

Some of Sarah’s inspiration for this collection has come from: collaborating with people living with Dementia; working with our older generation; marking milestones; celebrating the uniqueness of everyday moments and taking advice from those who have lived through the adventures of life. Although this exhibition explored how complex, emotional challenges are experienced, behind the work is always an anchor of hope.

‘Experimentation’. Working Artist Studios. 2024.

Over a six week residency Sarah explored her ideas and style in contemporary portraiture. Using a variety of media she challenged herself to work freely & playfully, making marks to see how each media worked. She practised drawing/painting with oils, acrylics and pencil to see which could help her create the fine detail she wanted. During this residency Sarah took a road trip to meet artist Catherine Weld in her West Cork studio for a making session. This creative exchange enriched her experimentation in the studio time which followed.

An important part of the residency was also practicing her drawing skills, supported by friends who kindly visited to sit for her. She was reminded of the place for experimentation without defined outcome, nourished by this time in the studio.

www.workingartiststudios.com

www.catherineweld.com