Mural for “Space to Create” Temple Bar, Dublin
Celebrating Creativity: Reflections on the Opening Ceremony of "Space To Create"
This week, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in the opening ceremony of "Space To Create" a new initiative aimed at providing much-needed studio workspaces for artists in Dublin. I'm thrilled to share my experiences during this memorable occasion in this blog post.
Wednesday, the 21st of June, holds a special place in my heart as it’s the summer solstice—a significant milestone for my husband Iliocht and me in our journey together. It marks not only 15 years of togetherness but also 12 years of marriage, filled with cherished memories. I am immensely grateful for Iliocht's love, support, and unwavering companionship. When the opportunity to create a mural at the opening of a new Dublin Studio building in Temple Bar came up, being my wedding anniversary I was initially unsure if I should apply, or if I would even be selected. However, after discussing it with Iliocht, he encouraged me to apply and as always, assured me of his support.
I was delighted when I received a call from Dublin County Council's arts office on Monday, just a few days before the event, informing me that they were happy for me to participate and covering my expenses. With limited time to plan, I arranged to stay in Dublin on Wednesday night before the opening on Thursday. However, the building where I was to create the mural would be closing early at 6pm, adding to the time constraints. To ensure I had enough time to work, we made the decision to give our youngest son the last day of school before the summer-break off and drop him off at the sitter early in the morning. We reached the old Filmbase building in Temple Bar by 2pm, and with just four hours to complete my mural, I immediately began working on the piece while Iliocht took care of parking the car and checked into the conveniently located accommodation, just a minute's walk away.
Working alongside Zurdie, my fellow Minaw Collective member, who had already been painting since 10am, seeing her progress motivated me, fueling my focus. Zurdie's piece featured her iconic graffiti writing in her unmistakable bold and colorful style, incorporating a ‘Z’ for Zurdie and a lizard whose tail extended into the middle panel that divided our two mural pieces. The 4 wall panels we were working on stretched up to the ceiling at a height of 3 meters.
For my mural, I decided to paint a mermaid with a unique twist. Her soft, pale blue skin and webbed fin-like ears added an enchanting touch. I sketched her head and shoulders, allowing her hair to float up to the ceiling. To speed up the process, I used stencils for adding quick details like pink seahorses, bubbles, and underwater foliage that adorned her hair and the surrounding space. Framing her in ultramarine blue with a paisley-style, drop-like pattern added a decorative touch.
6pm Wednesday - finished in time!
Throughout the process, I documented my progress with a GoPro, creating a captivating time-lapse video that showcases the transformation of a blank wall into a vibrant mural. I invite you to watch the birth of this artwork through the embedded video below:
Video Timelapse, four hours of painting condensed into 1 min of video.
By 6pm, I had packed up my paints and was ready to leave. Iliocht, who had spent the four hours exploring Temple Bar and calling in to see me over the course of the day, came to help me gather my supplies and carry my ladder. We dropped off the paints and tools at the car and then went back to the room to freshened up after a day's work. It was a great feeling to take a shower and then venture out into the bustling evening of the city. As luck would have it, we stumbled upon a little Moroccan restaurant, an adventure for our taste buds. We sat outside on the veranda and enjoyed watching the bustle of the city pass by. With the warm summer evening and the extended daylight of the solstice, the longest day of the year. It turned into a memorable anniversary date night, celebrating our 15 years together.
The Opening Ceremony
Thursday marked the official inauguration of "Space To Create," and the atmosphere was charged with anticipation and excitement. As I entered the venue, I was greeted by a flurry of people busily preparing for the event. Security staff were stationed at all entrances, and crash gates had been placed at the courtyard entrance from the street. Arriving at 10am, an hour before the event's start, I had grabbed a coffee on route to sip whilst I gathered my thoughts and familiarized myself with the surroundings. I had been instructed to complete the bulk of the mural the day before and do finishing touches during Thursday’s ceremony. My mural was now positioned against a small stage that had been set up earlier that morning, accompanied by cool lighting and what I was later informed was a radio transmitter. I moved the spotlight placed in front of my mural onto the stage, illuminating the ceiling with a purple hue. In the courtyard, an aerialist was practicing, captivating the crowd with her sideways walk and breath-taking stunts as she practiced affixing the sign that read "Space" onto a first-floor window above the main entrance to the building.
Me climatizing to the space.
I had packed light, carrying only a small palette, a jar of water, brushes, kitchen towel, and a few tubes of acrylic paint in a tote bag. I set up my supplies in front of the wall and focused on adding small details, such as dot eyes to the stencilled seahorses, intricate patterns to the fish and further defining segments of my mermaid's hair.
By 11am, the space was brimming with the energy of art enthusiasts and distinguished guests. Members of the press were capturing the moment through their lenses, and everyone gathered in the courtyard to witness the aerialist's performance.
I set up and began my live painting whilst everyone gathered in the courtyard to witness the aerialist's performance.
Later, they moved inside for the announcements, speeches and a video presentation of the new studio initiative with footage of some of the spaces and some of the artists speaking on how the initiative will benefit their practice. I also had the privilege of meeting the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Caroline Conroy, and the Minister for Arts, Catherine Martin, T.D. Although I don't typically follow politics closely, sharing my mural with them felt an honour, their presence exuded an air of importance and grace, as they carried themselves with the awareness of being the esteemed guests of honour. Though I may not have been familiar with them before last Thursday, their dignified bearing and the way others acknowledged them made it clear that they held significant positions in the realm of politics and the arts, their presence indeed felt it highlighted the significance of initiatives like "Space To Create" in supporting and nurturing the art community. The opening of 60 new artist studios by Dublin City Council is a positive development for the local arts community, fostering creativity and contributing to the city's cultural life.
“Space To Create" not only benefits artists in Dublin but also has the potential to inspire similar initiatives throughout Ireland. As an artist outside of Dublin, it was encouraging to hear Minister for Arts, Catherine Martin, T.D. express her intention to work on a scheme with local authorities to provide more spaces for artists in every county. This commitment demonstrates the recognition of art's profound impact on our lives, fostering connections and breaking down barriers.
Being part of the opening ceremony was a truly fulfilling experience, and I'm grateful for the support and recognition I received. It was a celebration that showcased the power of art and the resilience of artists. It reinforced the commitment to nurturing creativity and providing artists with the spaces they need to thrive.
In conclusion, the opening ceremony of "Space To Create" exemplified the transformative power of art and the dedication to fostering creativity. It is my hope that similar initiatives will continue to emerge, supporting the flourishing art communities not only in Dublin but also throughout the entire country.
