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Sculpture Ramelton And Plumbridge
June 2007
LEADING SCULPTURE COMMISSIONED FOR PUBLIC ART IN PLUMBRIDGE AND RAMELTON
The unique cross-border HEART programme (Heritage, Environment, Art and Rural Tourism) has commissioned leading Northern Irish sculptor Brian Connolly to produce two sculptures as part of its public art scheme. The HEART programme will eventually see an innovative trail of twelve pieces of public art located in towns and villages throughout the Strabane District Council area and County Donegal.
Although people may not be immediately familiar with the name Brian Connolly, they will no doubt recognise some of his more famous pieces of public art strewn around the North – for example, the stunning ‘Sun Dial’ on Kerr Street in Portrush, the ‘Healing Tree’ at Antrim Area Hospital or the ‘Turning Point’ at Writer’s Square in the Cathedral Quarter of Belfast – to mention a mere few!
Brian said that he was not only delighted to secure the public art commission from the cross-border HEART programme, but also to have an open and free-ranging scope for creativity.
“I am interested in historic contexts and how histories can be passed by word of mouth from generation to generation. Place names also interest me – how they can be a result of oral history. Place names can often be an echo of a mystic event or can relate to a historic character, a rock, an old tree and so on,” explained Brian.
“As many of these old names or oral histories are being lost, I would like to make a permanent record of some aspects of place and memory. I plan to meet with people from both the Plumbridge and Ramelton areas, to listen to stories and memories and develop artwork from dialogue.
“I also think it’s important that the public art should be part of the fabric of the local landscape, that it should nestle into its place and not shout ‘Look at me!’”.
Based in Bushmills, County Antrim, Brian Connolly’s public art commissions are featured throughout Northern Ireland. He has exhibited extensively as both an individual artist and as part of collaborative exhibitions throughout the UK, Ireland and Europe.
As a practising artist for over twenty years, he has extensive experience in producing innovative and unique commissioned public art, as well as other contemporary art practices on an international basis including performance art, sculpture, mixed and multi-media installations, site specific artworks and gallery exhibiting.
Roisin Connolly, manager of the cross-border HEART programme said “The public art element of the HEART programme will be one of the most rewarding aspects overall. It will eventually see a fabric of new public art woven throughout the twelve participating towns and villages in Donegal and the Strabane district, for the enjoyment and appreciation of local communities, while enhancing rural tourism through a public art trail.
“The work of Brian Connolly is instantly recognisable across Northern Ireland, especially in places like Portrush, Antrim Hospital and Writer’s Square in the Cathedral Quarter of Belfast.
“HEART is delighted to have commissioned this talented artist to produce public art for both Plumbridge and Ramelton.”
HEART is funded by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Border Action through Measure 1.1 of the EU’s Interreg IIIA programme, the International Fund for Ireland, Donegal Council, Strabane District Council and the private sector. HEART stands for Heritage, Environment, Art and Rural Tourism.
For further information, contact HEART programme manager Roisin Connolly at Strabane District Council on 028 7138 2204 ext 266 orrconnolly@strabanedc.com
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For further information contact:
Ø HEART programme manager Roisin Connolly at Strabane District Council on 028 7138 2204 ext 266 or rconnolly@strabanedc.com
Ø For media enquiries please contact Julie McCaughan @ Issue Island PR on 028 796 59626 orissue.island@btinternet.com
