South East Technological University (SETU) unveiled the One Million Stars project’s ‘LOVE’ installation at its Carlow campus this week.
The One Million Stars Ireland project is run by Amber Women’s Refuge. This is an inclusive community arts project that connects communities across the country who stand in solidarity against domestic abuse and all forms of violence. The travelling ‘LOVE’ art installation, now in place at SETU’s Carlow campus, is made up of woven eight-point stars, with each star representing light, hope, and solidarity against violence.
Speaking at the unveiling of the art installation at SETU, David Denieffe, Vice President for Student Experience commented, “At SETU, we understand the importance of community and standing with those who are most vulnerable and in need of support. The One Million Stars project recognises the impact of domestic abuse and all forms of violence across communities in Ireland, and globally, and seeks to counter this by bringing people together and spreading awareness through impactful initiatives such as this community art project. We are delighted to partner with Amber Women’s Refuge in their work on this project by hosting the ‘LOVE’ art installation here at our Carlow campus as a symbol of solidarity and hope, not only to our university community, but to the wider locality.”
Standing in solidarity
Speaking about the installation at SETU, Lisa Morris, Manager at Amber Women’s Refuge said, “We are delighted to welcome SETU to the list of generous local hosts of our travelling LOVE stars installation and accompanying art exhibition. The installation and exhibition contains thousands of stars that are hand woven by volunteer star weavers across Carlow, Kilkenny and the south east of Ireland, who stand in solidarity with victim-survivors of domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence. We hope that everyone who sees LOVE and visits the exhibition will be inspired to work towards a future for all our community that is free from violence.”
This project creates community through group weaving workshops. To date, these workshops have been attended by secondary school students, care home residents, women’s groups, and teams from family resources centres; alongside various groups, businesses, and organisations across the Irish social and charity sectors. Since the launch of the project in 2019, weaving communities have been established in 18 counties, with 100,000 stars now woven.
One Million Stars Ireland is part of the global One Billion Stars project, founded in Australia in 2012. The project was brought to Ireland by Art Therapist Siobhan McQuillan and Amber Women’s Refuge.
For more information, visit onemillionstarsireland.ie
Photo caption: Representatives from SETU and Amber Women's Refuge at the 'LOVE' art installation of the One Million Stars Project at the university's Carlow campus this week.