'Stories In Clay'

'Stories In Clay' , a ceramic project by third year art students of Scoil Mhuire,  

in the Gallery

 Friday 26th Oct at 6.30pm.

All welcome

Congratulations to the Third year Art Class in Scoil Mhuire, Ennistymon who  exhibited their artwork ‘Stories in Clay’ in the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Dublin on Sat 13^thOctober. The exhibition showcased work by 29 of the 80 schools nationally who were awarded funding for their projects from the Creative Engagement NAPD committee in 2012.

The exhibition was officially opened by the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deehihan. This is the first time that Creative Engagement has held a national exhibition and it is a very prestigious event.

Minister Denehan had high praise for the students’ ceramic sculptures. The students explained the concept of their work to the minister. The five large clay vessels, with sculptural detailing illustrate the stories ‘The Salmon of Knowledge’, ‘The Children of Lir’, ‘An Glas Gaibhneach’, ‘Tír na nÓg’ and a Polish folk tale ‘The Dragon of Krakov’. Twenty six Scoil Mhuire students took part in the project which was funded jointly by the NAPD Creative Engagement and the Clare Arts Office and took place under the direction of their art teacher Mary Fahy.

It was a highly educational and thoroughly enjoyable project. The students wish to thank the NAPD, the Clare Arts Office, their principal, Seosaimhín Uí Dhomhnalláin,  art teacher MaryFahy and all who helped in any way with the project. Special thanks to Bairbre Geraghty for the use of the kiln for firing the sculptures and to our caretaker John Hayes for his help in transporting them.

This is the third ambitious art project in Scoil Mhuire that has benefited from both Creative Engagement NAPD and Arts Council funding. In 2010 the students of Scoil Mhuire performed a shadow puppet theatre show in the Courthouse Gallery with renowned Puppeteer Daragh Bradshaw, and in 2011 they held  an alumni art exhibition and series of workshops, also in the Courthouse Gallery. Thanks also to the staff of the Courthouse who regularly support our students in bringing their work to the wider community.

The ‘Stories in Clay’ sculptures will be officially launched in the Courhouse Gallery on Friday 26th October at 6.30pm. All are welcome, teas and coffees will be served on the night. An animated slide projection of the project will accompany the show.

This project was kindly supported by NAPD Creative Engagement, the Clare Arts Office and Scoil Mhuire, Ennistymon.

The students involved were as follows:

‘ TÍr na nÓg’ by Lauren McMahon, June O'Connor, Caoimhe Haran, Erin Flening, Nicole Mullane, Fiona Byrne-Boland and  Alice Creagh.

‘The Dragon of Krakov’ by Emma Waldron, Wiktoria Malicka, Rachel O'Brien and Fiona O'Brien.

‘The Salmon of Knowledge’ by Aideen Bonito, Aoife O'Gorman and Aoife Fitzgibbon.

‘An Glas Gaibhneach’ by Lily Donovan, Shannon Harriman, Katie Leigh, Chloe O'Looney, Rachel Meehan, Sarah O'Loughlin, Sarah -Mai O'Loughlin  and Aoife Rynne.

‘The Children of  Lir’ by Áine Mullane, Katie Considine, Katie O'Flaherty and Skye Stagno-Navarra.

 Pictured: Scoil Mhuire art students with Mary Henly NAPD Creative Engagement, Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht Jimmy Denehan and the Chairperson of the NAPD.