1916 Art Project Booklet FINAL

LOOKING BACK - LOOKING FORWARD
A collaborative Laois Post-Primary Schools project
As part of the Laois commemoration of the
Centenary of the 1916 Rising
Looking Back, Looking Forward
1916 -2016
LOOKING BACK LOOKING FORWARD
A collaborative Laois Post-Primary
Schools project as part of the Laois
commemoration of the Centenary
of the 1916 Rising
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Looking Back, Looking Forward
Foreword
From the outset, the idea
of an art project, rich in
visual imagery involving
all Laois Post-Primary
schools was an inherently
appealing idea and one that
had not been done before.
Human experiences today
often revolve around visual communication.
We use images to share many aspects of life
with one another. The challenge however
is how to find the images that show best
what we want to know clearly and simply.
As Cathaoirleach of
Laois County Council
and a member of the
Laois Commemorations
Committee I am delighted
to join with the Director of
Laois Education Centre in
presenting this wonderful
artwork to the people of Laois. This artwork
will be one of several lasting legacies of the
Centenary Year of 1916, and we are delighted to
have worked with all of the post-primary schools
in the county to design and deliver the artwork.
This ceramic wall sculpture has surmounted
this challenge. By means of visual imagery,
it tells the complex story, in its own unique
way, of 1916 and beyond, of the heroes and
the ordinary man, of the everyday artefacts
and of the symbols of past and future all of
which have made our Nation what it is.
It was a mammoth ask of all involved, starting
with a blank canvas, teasing out possible ideas,
problems, solutions and outcomes for the
group of twelve teachers and thirty one student
ambassadors from their respective schools.
The Laois Commemorations Committee, with
representatives of all parts of the community of
Laois, has been tasked with the roll-out in Laois
of the national programme of commemoration
for the centenary of 1916 and it has been really
heartening for us to see the level of commitment
and enthusiasm for the commemorations from
all sections of the community. This has helped
to ensure that this is and will continue to be, a
people’s celebration, for all the people of Laois
and of Ireland, and that is a truly positive result.
No one person had the answer so everyone’s
voice was important and heard and even
the experts in their fields of art had to be
comfortable with a level of uncertainty.
The outcome is a magnificent ceramic
wall sculpture which depicts 1916 -2016,
looking back and looking forward.
Cllr. Catherine Fitzgerald, Cathaoirleach
of Laois County Council
What has been achieved is a rich cultural
ceramic asset which will serve as Laois
Post-Primary schools’ legacy, their
contribution to the commemoration of the
1916 Rising for many years to come.
This project is certainly one-of-a-kind.
Jim Enright, Director of Laois Education Centre
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Looking Back, Looking Forward
This project forms part of the Laois
commemorations of the Centenary of the
1916 Rising. In 2015, a working group of the
Laois Commemorations Committee met to
discuss ways in which the schools, teachers and
students of Laois could be engaged with the
commemorations in a meaningful way, and those
discussions led to the design of this project.
The project steering group comprised
• Jim Enright, Director, Laois Education Centre
• Yvonne Nolan, C.P.D. Course
Administrator, Laois Education Centre
• Catherine Casey,
Laois 1916-2016 Co-ordinator
• Michael Parsons, Laois Heritage Society
• Muireann Ní Chonaill, Laois Arts Officer
• Bernie Foran, Laois County Librarian
The Laois Commemorations Committee
whole-heartedly supported the project, and it
was managed by Laois Education Centre, with
funding from the Ireland 2016 Programme.
What was involved
Artist Poilin Ni Aolain was asked to manage the
project, with ceramic artist Maeve Sookram.
The project started with an invitation to all
nine Secondary Schools in Laois to participate.
A teachers workshop was held with Dr. Lisa
Godson, a lecturer in NCAD, in November
2015. This workshop encouraged debate
and gave a fresh perspective on 1916, its
objects and symbolism. Poilin and Maeve
assisted teachers in researching the period
and selecting images for the artwork.
The artwork was designed during a workshop
at Laois Education Centre by the students
and teachers, with facilitation by Poilin and
Maeve. Two days were spent by the students
creating the piece on clay tiles based on the
drawings and research they had carried out.
The students during the days of the workshop
succeeded in drawing on to clay, working in
relief, hollowing and detailing their sculpture.
They finished by spot painting areas of the
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piece with underglaze to highlight the detail.
The tiles were brought back to Sevensisters
Ceramics, cleaned, hollowed and left to dry,
this process took a month. The tiles were fired,
stained with black iron oxide to highlight the
intricate detail and Celtic interlace and refired
before a final firing with transparent glaze. A
timber frame was made in the studio in the
shape of the overall piece and the tiles adhered,
grouted and finished with a timber trim showing
off the stunning work of the students.
What will happen next
Each of the nine secondary schools in Laois
is represented by a portion of the artwork.
Each school will also design a specially
designed ceramic tile to commemorate
their participation in the project.
The ceramic artwork will have a permanent home
at Laois Education Centre, where it will serve as
a reminder both of the collaboration of all the
schools and of the 1916 Commemorations.
Looking Back, Looking Forward
A note from
Póilín Ní Aoláin, Artist and Project Manger.
I am both delighted and honoured
to be invited to co-ordinate a project of this
calibre with the teachers & students from all
the Post-Primary schools in Co. Laois and
ceramic artist, Maeve Sookram. Arguably,
the first of its kind in Co. Laois; it has been a
challenging but most enjoyable project resulting
in a phenomenal piece of ceramic sculpture.
Students & teachers who worked on the project with
Maeve Sookram, Ceramic Artist & Póilín Ní Aoláin, Artist & Project Co-ordinator.
The whole process has been a positive
experience and has created a lasting working
friendship among the teachers & students
of Co. Laois. The ceramic sculpture, by its
very nature, encapsulates the thoughts and
inspiration of the students who collaboratively
designed & built the piece. The pictorial
content representing the theme, was inspired
by an amalgamation of symbolic and historical
sources. It is illustrative of the students’
immense talent & creative imagination.
When you look at the artwork, look beyond
the images. Look at the textures, the shadows,
the effect of light, the colour, the relief work
in each unique element. Hence, one can
appreciate the individuality of each student’s
participation, while overall, the work is the
panacea of a collective group of artistically
creative people. Together, they have generated
much more than this wonderfully aesthetic piece.
They were an active part of an incomparable
working atmosphere, an experiential
exercise that they will always remember.
Thank you to all involved: Laois Education
Centre, Laois Heritage Office, Laois County
Council, Laois Arts Office, Laois Library Service
and the Ireland 2016 national programme.
My appreciation to the fantastic art teachers
and their respective schools. Thank you
most especially to the students, who made
this possible & whom as a result, can each
be called an artist in their own right.
Go raibh mile maith agaibh,
Póilín Ní Aoláin.
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Looking Back, Looking Forward
Ceramic wall sculpture
The right and left Profiles of this
wall sculpture represent the outline of a person
looking back and looking forward, the initial
inspiration for this piece of work. The top
panel shows a Celtic knot entwined with the
date 1916 and the rising sun of the Fianna
(legendary warriors). The 3D hands, one
with the key to Ireland and the other with the
jigsaw piece, represent unlocking the nation
and the puzzle of the Ireland of the future.
The GPO was designed by architect Francis Johnston and
opened in 1818. The entire building bar the portico and
front facade were destroyed in 1916. Between 1916 and 1929
the GPO was rebuilt and extended. The new postal hall and
clock on front facade are in the Art Deco style. The building
reopened in 1929. The semi circular design at the top of this
piece is a detail taken from the art deco clock.
The tricolour, designed by Thomas Francis Meagher, came
in to official use as the national flag of Ireland in 1922.
However it had been used from the nineteenth century along
with the plough and the stars and the harp on a green or
blue background, which today is the flag of the President of
Ireland
Nelson’s Pillar in this sculpture is interpreted in two ways,
built in 1809 it was eventually demolished in 1966. One
interpretation shows the pillar with the flag of the United
Kingdom transforming into the tricolour and the other
shows the pillar evolving into the Spire, which was designed
by Ian Ritchie Architects and completed in 2003. This
symbolism bridges the old and the new Ireland.
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Looking Back, Looking Forward
The swan was inspired from the sculpture of the Children
of Lír by Oísin Kelly which is the centre piece in the Garden
of Remembrance in Dublin, a garden dedicated to those
who lost their lives for Irish freedom. The swan symbolises
rebirth and resurrection.
The Irish wire-strung harp was depicted as early as the 11th
century, testament to the major role the harpist played for
centuries in Gaelic society. The harp became recognised as
a national symbol of Ireland from at least the 13th century,
although it had declined by the late 18th century.
The Shamrock is traditionally linked with Ireland and St
Patrick. It is a symbol that features heavily in this sculptural
work. St. Patrick is said to have used it as a metaphor for the
Christian Holy Trinity.
The Easter lily was introduced in 1926 by Cumann na mBan as
a lapel badge. Proceeds from the sale of the badge went to the
Irish Republican Prisoners Dependants’ Fund. Traditionally,
lilies were sold outside church gates on Easter Sunday and
worn at republican commemorations.
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Looking Back, Looking Forward
The forgot-me-not is associated with remembrance. It
symbolises faithful love and remembrance during partings
or after death.
Legend suggests that the Claddagh ring originated in the
west of Ireland as a symbol of love, friendship and loyalty.
Celtic interlace is featured throughout the sculpture. Linking
to the monastic artists of 8th to 10th century Ireland, it is a
core identifier of our Celtic heritage.
Countess Markievicz (1868 - 1927) an Irish Sinn Féin and
Fianna Fáil politician, revolutionary nationalist, suffragette
and socialist. In 1918, she was the first woman elected to
the British House of Commons, though she did not take her
seat. Along with the other Sinn Féin TDs she was a member
of the first Dáil Éireann. She was also one of the first women
in the world to hold a cabinet position (Minister for Labour,
1919–1922).
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Looking Back, Looking Forward
P.H. Pearse (1879 - 1916) was a teacher, barrister and writer.
Known as a nationalist, political activist and leader of the
Easter Rising, he was executed in 1916 and was to become a
hero of the nation.
Thomas Clarke (1858 - 1916) was a leading republican leader
and member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood. He was
the first of the seven signatories of the Proclamation. He was
executed by firing squad on the3rd of May, the second person
to be executed, following Patrick Pearse.
The scroll lists the sixteen leaders who were executed for
their part in the Easter Rising. Fifteen men were executed
between the 3rd and the 12th of May. The sixteenth person
executed, Roger Casement, was hanged in Pentonville Prison
in London in August 1916.
The ordinary civilian is represented by this unidentifiable
man. Over half of those killed during the fighting at Easter
1916 were civilians.
Hibernia, the maid of Ireland, often shown with a wolfhound
and harp, is associated with the Celtic Revival of the late 19th
century. She represents the revival of the Irish language,
music, literature and culture. The symbol gathered popularity
in the early twentieth century.
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Looking Back, Looking Forward
Who was involved
PORTLAOISE COLLEGE
Teacher: Karen O’Grady
Students: Ciara Matthews, Maria
Adeline Bors, Laciey Gorman.
CLONASLEE COLLEGE
Teacher: Lesley Kelly
Students: Aoibhe Foynes,
Bronagh Conroy, Chloe Breen.
ST FERGAL’S COLLEGE
RATHDOWNEY
Teacher: Clodagh Kennedy
Students: Daragh Carroll, Danielle
O’Sullivan, Kelly Gorman.
HEYWOOD COMMUNITY SCHOOL
Teacher: Sharon Webster
Students: Chris Goode, Jessica
Quinn, Shannon Bailey.
SCOIL CHRIOST RÍ, PORTLAOISE
Teacher: Jayne Louise Kelly
Students: Kate Deegan, Aoife
Hyland Conlan, Kate Corrigan.
MOUNTMELLICK
COMMUNITY SCHOOL
Teachers: Una Mangan
& Maryse Lennon
Students: Cian Horan, Kellie
Quinn, Conor Sage.
ST MARY’S CBS, PORTLAOISE
Teacher: Sarah Williams
Students: Sam Bolton, Jack Farrell,
Jason Woods, Aleksejs Gusevs.
MOUNTRATH COMMUNITY
SCHOOL
Teachers: Therese McGrath
& Aidan McGuinness
Students: Lorna Quigley, Ellen
Bergin, Victoria Dobbyn.
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COLÁISTE ÍOSAGÁIN,
PORTARLINGTON
Teachers: Caroline Kingston
& Norah-Jane Harte
Students: Dean Davidson, Leanne
Fitzpatrick, Katie Dumpleton,
Celeste Cannon, Sufyan
Anjum, Sarah McLoughlin.
Looking Back, Looking Forward
Who was involved
Póilín Ní Aoláin,
B.A. Hons., Dip. Man. Ed., C.Guid., ATAI, IPEA.
Póilín taught art, craft & design with Laois Offaly E.T.B. for almost three decades. Her main place
of work was Head of the Art Department in the Education Centre of the high security Portlaoise
Prison. She also taught in Portlaoise Vocational School/Portlaoise College, Wheatfield Education
Centre, Midlands Prison Education Centre and other areas. She has also delivered education
training to prison officers during their training in Officer Training College. She has been
Artistic Consultant & project manager for a myriad of art projects, both national & international
such as the European Prison Art project. As a painter, Póilín has been involved in numerous
solo & group exhibitions and established Windyhill Art studio in 2003. She has studied Arts &
humanities, Philosophy, Painting, Educational Management & Adult Guidance in University
of Stirling, University of London, Trinity College Dublin & N.U.I. Maynooth among others.
Maeve Sookram, Ceramic Artist
MA DHMC, BA Env Des
Maeve Sookram has a degree in environmental design (interiors) from DIT, 1979. She worked
as a designer in the private sector until 2006 when she took a career break to pursue other
interests. She now runs Sevensisters Ceramics in Co Kilkenny, a successful ceramics studio which
was awarded Craft Business of the Year in 2012. Maeve has lectured in DIT and works with the
Design and Crafts Council of Ireland as a regional facilitator and teaches through the CRAFTed
educational programme. She currently runs a ceramic skills course in Co. Kilkenny and provides
CPD training. She is a past secretary of Sculpture in Context and exhibits in Ireland and abroad.
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This project is part of the Laois Commemorations of the Centenary of the 1916 Rising.
The project is supported by Ireland 2016, The Department for Arts, Heritage & the Gaeltacht,
the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government
and Irish Public Bodies Mutual Insurrance.
For further information on the 1916 Commemoration Programme in Laois see www.laois2016.ie
Photography by Dylan Vaughan, dylanvaughan.photoshelter.com
Printed by Mochua Print & Design www.mochuaprint.ie