ArtHouse Jersey is inviting members of the public to donate a shirt or t-shirt that holds a special meaning to them to become part of a large-scale public art installation.
The installation is called ‘Dancing Together,’ created by leading Finnish contemporary artist Kaarina Kaikkonen and will be unveiled in the centre of St Helier this summer. Dedicated donation points around the Island will open from this coming Friday 7 June and remain open until the end of July.
It marks the first piece in the newly launched Butterfield Public Art Series, a succession of artworks in Jersey’s public realm produced by ArtHouse Jersey together with Butterfield.
The artwork will be a canopy that stretches across the high street made from over 600 shirts, donated by the community. The artwork will be installed in mid–August and will be in-situ until mid-October, after which it will be reimagined and moved to the ArtHouse Jersey exhibition space at Capital House where it will be open to the public from 7 November.
Donate a shirt (or t-shirt) and become part of the art
Shirt collection points include:
- Ransoms Garden Centre
- Citizens Advice Jersey
- Jersey Library
- Jersey Library in St Brelade (Communicare)
- Mind Jersey Drop-In Centre
- ArtHouse Jersey at Capital House
- Butterfield at the IFC6
Donations will be open for just over six weeks, between Friday 7 June until the end of July or until a maximum total of 600 shirts have been donated.
You are also invited to share the memory or story associated with your shirt by anonymously filling out a project postcard or by emailing text, audio or video to
[email protected]. There is no obligation to share your shirt’s meaning, only if you wish to do so as these stories and memories may be shared publicly.
Director of ArtHouse Jersey, Tom Dingle, said: “For the first edition of the Butterfield Public Art Series we’re thrilled to be opening with a stunning artwork by an incredibly talented artist right in the heart of St Helier. Kaarina Kaikkonen’s piece, ‘Dancing Together’, will be about the stories and memories of Islanders and act as a representation of our diverse local community’s many experiences. We very much look forward to including the many hundreds of shirts and t-shirts that will feature in this spectacular artwork.”
Jacob Cockcroft, Chief Commercial Officer of Butterfield Bank in the Channel Islands, said: “Partnering with ArtHouse Jersey to bring together the three-year series of public art speaks to our continued commitment to the local community which extends beyond providing financial products for islanders. The arts play an incredibly important role in enriching the lives of those who live and work in Jersey and we are proud to be supporting this initiative. We very much look forward to showcasing some fantastic and creative installations for everyone to enjoy.“
Pictured: ‘Dancing Together’ by Kaarina Kaikkonen
