ART PROJECT ST. JOHN’S N.S. SCHOOL DROGHEDA
The Book, as a symbol of St. John, author of the 4th Gospel, is the focal point for the art installation in St.John’s N.S.
The Book, as a symbol of St. John, author of the 4th Gospel, is the focal point for the art installation in St.John’s N.S.
The term art installation refers to a deliberate arrangement of objects within a space – usually an interior. The installation invites the viewer to step inside the space and experience it as an environment. It can be a bit like a theatre without performance. Many possible ways were considered in developing a visually interesting art installation reflecting our ethos. The artist Kevin Flood was commissioned to work with the Board of Management to guide the project.
Focusing on the age group of the children and aiming to ignite their interest in the natural environment, we decided to explore the theme of “The Salmon of Knowledge”.
The elements of the design
The story of Fionn Mac Cumhaill and “The Salmon of Knowledge” is revealed in the pages of the books that we see on the wall. Each book has a different shape that links to the next. One family of colours dominates each panel as they move from predominantly cool colours on the left, to warm colours on the other side of the installation.
There is a variety of woods used in the project. The trees are hazel, the seats are made from very old pieces of elm which are resting on an old oak root and a piece of cypress. The hazel trees seem to emerge from the paintings becoming reality through the sensitive skilful woodwork of Paul Moore. The swooping bird by the seat is carved from ash. The woodcarving of the salmon which emerges from the river of mosaic tiles was carved by Kevin Flood from a piece of lime wood supplied and cut by Para Havatitye.
The mosaic design is based on the full sized painting by Kevin Flood. It reflects both the colours of the paintings on the wall and the movement of the water of the River Boyne as it flows through the installation. Tom Kilroe- a master of mosaic work – worked on this piece for almost a year to interpret the colours and movement of the painted design using tesserae tiles. This ancient art form has been used since at least the fourth millennium BC, when the walls of the world’s first city were decorated using a style of mosaic.
The elements of the design
The story of Fionn Mac Cumhaill and “The Salmon of Knowledge” is revealed in the pages of the books that we see on the wall. Each book has a different shape that links to the next. One family of colours dominates each panel as they move from predominantly cool colours on the left, to warm colours on the other side of the installation.
There is a variety of woods used in the project. The trees are hazel, the seats are made from very old pieces of elm which are resting on an old oak root and a piece of cypress. The hazel trees seem to emerge from the paintings becoming reality through the sensitive skilful woodwork of Paul Moore. The swooping bird by the seat is carved from ash. The woodcarving of the salmon which emerges from the river of mosaic tiles was carved by Kevin Flood from a piece of lime wood supplied and cut by Para Havatitye.
The mosaic design is based on the full sized painting by Kevin Flood. It reflects both the colours of the paintings on the wall and the movement of the water of the River Boyne as it flows through the installation. Tom Kilroe- a master of mosaic work – worked on this piece for almost a year to interpret the colours and movement of the painted design using tesserae tiles. This ancient art form has been used since at least the fourth millennium BC, when the walls of the world’s first city were decorated using a style of mosaic.
THE ARTISTS/CRAFT PEOPLE PROFILES
Kevin Flood Artist/Designer
Kevin graduated from the National College of Art in 1981. Although Kevin works in a wide range of both two dimensional and three dimensional mediums, he is best known for his work in oils. His work has been exhibited in many major galleries throughout Ireland. In recent years his work is mainly represented by Treasures Irish Art, based in Athlone.
He has been commissioned to produce work for many public collections including Fingal County Council and Westmeath County Council, as well as corporate and private collections throughout Ireland and abroad.
During the course of his career Kevin has taken a very active role in art education at all levels. Since 2009 Kevin and his wife Ita have been involved with the Midlands Art Education programme under LWETB, through which they offered a wide range of art education programmes for adults, secondary schools and national schools in the midland region.
For further information contact:
Mobile: 086 0361169
Email: kevinfloodartist@gmail.com
Paul Moore, Furniture Designer and Manufacturer
Paul initially trained as an architect and then specialised in woodwork and furniture making, spending many years working on art pieces for churches all over Ireland. Paul’s specialist woodwork is used to create magical effects in buildings, not only in Ireland, but in many other parts of the world. While working on the pieces for St. John’s N.S., Paul was also involved in a major project for a hotel in Florida, as well as some woodwork for a building in Dubai and a well-known hotel in Dublin. For many years Paul’s furniture making business, producing bespoke designs, employed many highly skilled craftspeople. Their work has been exhibited at major events all over Ireland including the Annual Craft Fair in the RDS. His work is collected by many of Ireland’s best known personalities.
In recent years, however, Paul has decided to concentrate on his own personal work from his studio in Ballybrittas, just outside Portarlington. He has opted to concentrate on the type of woodworking projects that bring him most personal satisfaction. He has a vast knowledge and understanding of our native woodlands and explores the innate beauty of each piece of wood with which he works. Paul’s lifelong interest and passion for Celtic mythology informed many aspects of our art project in St. John’s N.S.
Contact:
Call (057) 862 6546
info@paulmoore.ie
www.paulmoore.ie
@paulmoorefurniture
Paul initially trained as an architect and then specialised in woodwork and furniture making, spending many years working on art pieces for churches all over Ireland. Paul’s specialist woodwork is used to create magical effects in buildings, not only in Ireland, but in many other parts of the world. While working on the pieces for St. John’s N.S., Paul was also involved in a major project for a hotel in Florida, as well as some woodwork for a building in Dubai and a well-known hotel in Dublin. For many years Paul’s furniture making business, producing bespoke designs, employed many highly skilled craftspeople. Their work has been exhibited at major events all over Ireland including the Annual Craft Fair in the RDS. His work is collected by many of Ireland’s best known personalities.
In recent years, however, Paul has decided to concentrate on his own personal work from his studio in Ballybrittas, just outside Portarlington. He has opted to concentrate on the type of woodworking projects that bring him most personal satisfaction. He has a vast knowledge and understanding of our native woodlands and explores the innate beauty of each piece of wood with which he works. Paul’s lifelong interest and passion for Celtic mythology informed many aspects of our art project in St. John’s N.S.
Contact:
Call (057) 862 6546
info@paulmoore.ie
www.paulmoore.ie
@paulmoorefurniture
Tom Kilroe, Mosaic Artist
Tom began his training as a mosaic artist back in the early 1960s when the Italian master craftsmen came to Roscommon to establish the Irish Mosaic factory. Tom moved to Italy for a number of years to study in the academy of mosaics studying all aspects of mosaic work from design to assembly and installation.
Tom has worked on mosaics for Churches, Cathedrals and many corporate and private clients both in Ireland and abroad. In recent years he worked extensively on the mosaics in Newry Cathedral and also in Maynooth College. His mosaic work can be seen in the Chester Beatty Library and the National Museum of Ireland.
Throughout his very distinguished career Tom has collaborated with many well known Irish artists, including Louis le Brocquy, to interpret their designs through the specialist medium of mosaic.
Tom and his son Michael are based in Roscommon. For further information contact:
Mobile: 087 1339774, Landline: 09066 28835
Email: irishmosaics@gmail.com
Website: www.irishmosaics.ie