Winter Wastelands artist development commission

The Immaculate Sisters of Hartshill is a collaborative project by artists Deb Rogers and Sam Mace, created during the upheaval of 2020. Both artists share a longstanding commitment to participatory practice, working closely with communities to explore how creativity, ritual and shared expression support wellbeing during times of change.

During the autumn months, the Sisters turned their attention to the symbolism and behaviours surrounding ritual. Drawing inspiration from the natural shifts of mid-autumn and the ancient traditions of Samhain, their work navigates the emotional landscape of a year marked by disruption and uncertainty. Through costume, gesture, movement and iconography, they created a series of thoughtful, playful and at times poignant interventions in Hartshill Park.

The project grew from their own experience of lockdown — the absence of familiar celebrations, the difficulty of gathering, and the need to find new forms of grounding and connection. Their Winter Wastelands commission became a way to consider how rituals, old and new, can help us process emotion, rebuild connection and hold on to a sense of possibility.