Shimenawa: Threshold to the Sacred

Time: 10am (120mins) 
For: Adults 

As we approach Samhain, the end of summer and the beginning of the Celtic New Year, explore the relationship between thresholds and the sacred through the lens of the Shimenawa, a traditional Japanese ritual object made from rice straw. Guided by exhibiting artist Emily Waszak, begin with a gallery tour and discussion about her work. Create your own Shimenawa or sacred rope while examining their role, use for ritual purification, and protection against evil spirits as we prepare to welcome in the harvest and usher in “the dark half” of our Celtic year.

Emily Waszak is a Donegal-based visual artist of Japanese-descent working in sculpture and textiles. With a background in industrial weaving, her work is concerned with ritual and ruin. As a widow, themes of grief and loss are ever present in her art. Exhibited in Ireland and internationally, recent solo exhibitions include The Land and Others Including the Dead, Pallas Projects/Studios, Dublin; Grief Weaving, Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny; Shadow and Fold, Arts Itoya, Japan; To Guide Shadows, Old Church Grangegorman, Dublin. Waszak has also exhibited in IMMA, participating in the RDS Visual Arts Awards exhibition.