Gypsy Maker 5 exhibition features on ITV NEWS

The Romani Cultural and Arts Company have launched the fifth instalment of the Gypsy Maker project at Art Central in Barry.

The Council’s Arts Development Services worked with the Romani Cultural and Arts Company to bring the project to life with Welsh Government funding.

An official opening event was held on 08 April, International Roma Day.

Large numbers attended the launch, including ITV who subsequently featured the exhibition on their news programme.

The project celebrates the Roma, Gypsy artistic heritage through a range of mediums, aiming to raise awareness of the community and engage with the public about how the community’s traditional techniques and art forms continue to enrich our lives today.

The exhibition showcases a range of art produced by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller artists, Imogen Bright Moon, Corrina Eastwood and Rosamaria Cisneros.

Imogen is a British-Romani craftswoman, studio weaver and textile artist. Imogen created the exhibited ‘Black Tent / Black Sarah’ artwork, combining hand-weaving with storytelling, folklore, and heritage crafts to explore the ongoing story of textiles and their place in our lives today. 

Corrina is a Romani artist, art psychotherapist, lecturer, writer and activist. Corrina created the ‘Rokka Nixi installation’ for Gypsy Five. The piece includes a photographic essay, representing the journal of the installation, and sculptures based on explorations of the Romani identity, ethnicity, culture and generational trauma.

Rosamaria Kostic Cisneros is a dance historian and critic, Roma scholar, Flamenco historian and peace activist. Her screen dance film ‘LifeStrings’ uses traditional Flamenco choreography, originating from the Spanish Roma community.

The exhibition is open to the public, Monday to Saturday 10am – 4pm until 21 May 2022.