SERC Tutor Collaborates with Local Artist on Exhibition Projects

SERC’s Aine McGreeghan, Engineering Curriculum Manager, along with other SERC engineering department members, has been collaborating with Bangor artist Robert Peters to help bring art to life.  

Robert Peters has worked in the visual arts sector as an exhibiting artist, curator, arts facility manager and educator. Robert has recently been working with Stepping Stones, a Lisburn-based service provider, who support people with Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, learning difficulties and disabilities to gain training and employment in the south-eastern region of Northern Ireland. 

Robert has been working with a group of young adult service users supported by Stepping Stones, as part of a skill building project to create art pieces. Robert reached out to Aine to help print out these art pieces onto print blocks, using the SERC engineering department’s laser cutter on SERC’s Bangor Campus. Robert wanted print blocks made in order to bring the art to life and to create prints as part of a bigger project he has been working on with the R-Space Gallery in Lisburn. Aine was keen to collaborate as she welcomed the challenge of taking the art images and converting them into vectors that she could send to the laser cutter. 

On his collaboration with Aine, Robert comments, “I have worked with several regional colleges over the years on a range of projects, benefiting from their specialist knowledge. Working with the Engineering Department at SERC Bangor has surpassed my experience to date. Aine McGreeghan engaged creatively with my imagery for the Translating Linen exhibition at R-Space Gallery in Lisburn, to create laser cut wood blocks that I printed onto linen.” 

“She then enabled the same process for young adults with learning disabilities supported by Stepping Stones. The group were thrilled to see their own designs laser cut onto wood, which they then printed with to create repeat patterns on linen provided by Thomas Ferguson Irish Linen in Banbridge. I believe the project is a great example of what partnership working can achieve." 

A representative from Stepping Stones NI commented, “Stepping Stones NI were delighted to participate in the Art Project and all of the trainees enjoyed their time learning about the flax flower and creating fantastic designs onto linen. One of our trainees (Christine) commented ‘It was terrific, I didn’t know linen was made from a plant.  I never knew vases were interesting even though my print of the vase looked like little fishes.  I just wish there was more of the class because it was terrific!’” 

Robert Martin, Curatorial Director R-Space Gallery, commented, "Translating Linen was commissioned by R-Space Gallery with funding from The Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Arts and Business. It is an excellent example of partnership working between Robert Peters and Dr Anthony O'Kane and many other agencies, including NI Screen, Fusion Antibodies and of course South Eastern Regional College. As well as the invaluable support for the community engagement project funded by the Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland we would like to express our sincere thanks for SERC Bangor campus engineering departments involvement." 

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