Remembering Hirael Through Photographic Portraits And Memories

As part of the ‘Hirael’ photographic collection currently on-show at Storiel, Bangor, Garry Stuart will re-visit some of his images of the area from the 1970’s which are part of the current exhibition during a morning drop-in event. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The discussion will take place on Saturday, 16 July between 12:00-3:00pm and anyone with memories and stories from Hirael past and present are welcome to join Garry Stuart who will be discussing the portraits he took during 1970’s. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The original work by Garry Stuart is a combination of portraits of local characters from the Hirael area which convey life and views on the area’s changing nature. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

At one time the area of Hirael in Bangor consisted of nothing but a few households gleaning a living from the sea. But with the arrival of the slate industry and increased activity of Port Penrhyn and her ships, a thriving working class community was born. Hirael developed its distinct local identity which is recalled with pride and affection in the words of some of the inhabitants who were localy referred to as ‘Sibols’. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Four decades since Garry Stuart’s photographic collection, the exhibition at Storiel re-visits Hirael as it is today and includes contributions from Ysgol Hirael pupils who photographically interpret their take on the community. By using the recent collection as a source of inspiration, and also referring to Garry Stuart’s earlier collection, the pupils developed their own artistic impressions of Hirael today and the work can be seen as part of the exhibition. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The exhibition can be seen until 10 September. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​