Dragon’s Tail by artist Marie Brett is an enchanting exhibition on show across two locations at University Hospital Waterford until Friday, 5 April 2024. The exhibition was originally launched as part of the Well Festival of Arts & Wellbeing 2024. Fairytale meets frenzied carnival in this series of ambitious folk-myth artworks, exploring how electromagnetic energy fields affect human health.  Fusing fact and fiction, the exhibition consists of a film, a series of intaglio prints and photographs, poetic texts and large, wearable animal effigies made from willow and steel, each depicting key characters from the Dragon’s Tail folk-myth: the hare, the wolf, the deer and the raven. This compelling artwork offers beautiful evocative visuals and atmospheric sound, and contributes critical new thinking on humanity’s significant global wellness issues. Visual artist Marie Brett works across film, immersive multi-media installation, print, book and live event, with artworks presented in gallery and temporary off-site contexts.  Conceptually her work is about profound human experiences, often involving trauma, ill-health or varied forms of loss and/or injustice.  Marie’s socially engaged practice is rooted in health and community care contexts. The creation of the Dragon’s Tail film was supported by the Arts Council of Ireland, Cork County Council, Cork Printmakers, Nano Nagle Place and the National Museum of Ireland. During the making of Dragon’s Tail, Marie Brett consulted with a diverse team including farmers, historians, folklorists, dancers, musicians, craftspeople, healers, druids, strawers, circus performers and varied scholars, a Council of Elder specialist in elemental and extra-sensory perception, a necromancer, shaman, electrician and an art curator. Creative Collaborators Cinematography & drone: Colm Mullen and Chris Garrett. Circus /other...

Dragon’s Tail Workshop with Marie Brett: A workshop for everyone, no artistic experience required As part of the Well Festival of Arts & Wellbeing 2024, artist Marie Brett with host an art-making workshop inspired by her exhibition, Dragon’s Tail which is currently showing in two locations at University Hospital Waterford. Dragon’s Tail is an enchanted fairytale meets frenzied carnival in this series of ambitious folk-myth artworks exploring how electromagnetic energy fields affect human health.  Fusing fact and fiction, the exhibition consists of a film, a series of intaglio prints and photographs, poetic texts and large, wearable animal effigies made from willow and steel, each depicting key characters from the Dragon’s Tail folk-myth: the hare, the wolf, the deer and the raven.  This compelling artwork offers beautiful evocative visuals and atmospheric sound, and contributes critical new thinking on humanity’s significant global wellness issues. Visual artist Marie Brett works across film, immersive multi-media installation, print, book and live event, with artworks presented in gallery and temporary off-site contexts.  Conceptually her work is about profound human experiences, often involving trauma, ill-health or varied forms of loss and/or injustice.  Marie’s socially engaged practice is rooted in health and community care contexts. Workshop Venue: Réalta/Waterford Healing Arts Centre for Arts + Health, University Hospital Waterford, Dunmore Road, Waterford, X91 ER8E Date: Fri 16 Feb, 1pm – 2:30pm Workshop fee: Free To book: wha@hse.ie / 051 842664 / eventbrite  Places limited – advance booking essential See also www.wellwaterford.com for the full festival...

Beauty & Struggle with Sarah Ruttle: A CPD workshop for artists of all disciplines working in arts + health As part of the Well Festival of Arts & Wellbeing 2024, artist Sarah Ruttle will lead a continuous professional development (CPD) workshop, focusing on reflective practice as a methodology to sustain arts and health practice.  In a relaxed and safe space, participating artists of all disciplines will be invited to share from their own experience, while gaining insights from peers working in arts and health. Based in West Cork, visual artist Sarah Ruttle has a solo and participatory arts practice.  Individually, she specialises in illustration, paper-cut art and textiles, making art to capture unique moments of humanity, emotion, courage and hope.  Collaboration is central to Sarah’s work with groups, developing playful, considered and inclusive projects with participants and other artists within health and social care settings. Sarah has been working on the Arts for Health Partnership Programme artist team in West Cork since 2008 and is an Arts Educator for ‘In the Picture,’ a Dementia friendly gallery programme in Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre.  She has also developed projects within the community and in an acute mental health setting.  In 2021, she received an Arts Participation Bursary Award from the Arts Council. Workshop Venue: Réalta/Waterford Healing Arts Centre for Arts + Health, University Hospital Waterford, Dunmore Road, Waterford, X91 ER8E Date: Tues 13 Feb, 11.30am-1.30pm Workshop fee: €10.00 To book: wha@hse.ie / 051 842664 Places limited – advance booking essential See also www.wellwaterford.com for the full festival...

Creative Communities at the Well Festival Following the tremendous success of the online iteration of this event in 2022, the Creative Ireland Waterford Programme, together with the Well Festival partners, are delighted to present an in-person getting-to-know-you session on the theme of arts and wellbeing in Waterford.  Showcasing the work of local creative organisations, individuals and community service providers, this event aims to foster collaboration and spark new initiatives.  Presentations will be followed by the opportunity to ask questions and make connections. Open to all, but particularly relevant to anyone working or interested in getting involved in the arts in Waterford City and County. Venue: WCQ Place, 17-18 O’Connell Street, Waterford Date/Time: Thurs 15 Feb, 4pm Admission free, but registration essential. Click here to...

Sounds Good – the Well Festival of Arts and Wellbeing 2024 announces diverse programme of music, art, dance, poetry, film and stories to lift our spirits Festival dates: Monday 12 – Saturday 17 February Sounds Good, Dragon’s Tail, Self-Care R(E)volution and Augmented Body, Altered Mind are some of the highlights of this year’s Well Festival of Arts and Wellbeing.  Taking place in Waterford Monday 12 to Saturday 17 February, the Well Festival features an inspirational line-up of fun, free, inventive, inspirational and sociable arts events for all ages.  In this, its eleventh year, the festival presents musicians, visual and environmental artists, poets, storytellers and dancers, as well as a programme of Wellies, the festival’s events for younger audiences.  The full festival programme is available from www.wellwaterford.com The Well Festival of Arts and Wellbeing champions and celebrates all the ways that the arts help us to feel good.  Each day, festival-goers will have the opportunity to witness colourful, beautiful, thought-provoking music, art, dance, film, literature and talks, and to experience the joy of creativity through a range of workshops and interactive opportunities for all ages. Festival 2024 Highlights Highlights of the Well Festival of Arts and Wellbeing 2024 programme include: – Sounds Good, a daily half-hour of ambient live music to soothe the body and soul, featuring Bill Stuart, Ruairí O’Shea, Killian Browne, Liam Merriman, Eoin Ó Meachair and Liam Kavanagh, in the foyer of University Hospital Waterford; – Dragon’s Tail, a series of ambitious folk-myth artworks by artist Marie Brett, exploring how electromagnetic energy fields affect human health, exhibiting at University Hospital Waterford (UHW) and the Réalta/Waterford Healing Arts Centre...