Ali Fell: ‘This Do’

Opening: Thurs 5 September (6:00–8:30pm) at Carlisle Memorial Church.
Continues 6, 7 September (11am–5pm) & 8 September (11am–4pm).
Dementia friendly session Fri 6 September (11am–1pm).

Belfast Buildings Trust and Vault Artist Studios are proud to announce the third instalment of ‘Engaging Art’, in Carlisle Memorial between 5th-8th September. This ‘Engaging Art’ exhibition features work from Vault artist Ali Fell, who will fill the landmark building with thousands of crochet forget-me-not flowers.

‘This Do’ is a community craft installation in the incredible Carlisle Memorial Church in Belfast. Created by Ali Fell (with the support of Anita Murphy) the piece features thousands of crocheted flowers from makers all across Northern Ireland. Aged between 10 and 86 the installation has been some five months and approximately 600,000 stitches in the making!

According to Ali:

‘While we’ve been making, I have been asking people to think about the special places that they make memories, and about what happens when those places don’t exist anymore, or aren’t available how they once were. Where do your memories live then?’

All flowers will be displayed in Carlisle Memorial Church between the 5th-8th of September, when visitors will be encouraged to bring their own crochet flowers as the exhibition grows and cultivates over the weekend. After the show, the Alzheimer’s Society are going to take flowers to dementia units in hospitals. During the show, people can make a flower, and a memory.

‘This Do’ responds to Carlisle Memorial Church as being an important place for people’s memories for nearly 150 years; marking their beginnings, endings, loves and losses. Historic buildings hold a special power in helping us to recall memories from our past. And now, Ali’s exhibition prompts us to ask how we should honour these memories as we reimagine Carlisle Memorial for future use.

‘This Do’ is FREE to visit and open at Carlisle Memorial during the following:

  • Thursday 5th September: 5:30pm-9:30pm (including a drinks reception 6-8pm).

  • Friday 6th September: 11am-5pm.

  • Saturday 7th September: 11am-5pm.

  • Sunday 8th September: 11am-4pm.

Refreshments and opportunities to share your memories available throughout the exhibition.