SCHOOLHOUSE MAKING VILLAGE AN ARTS HUB
THERE’S an artistic revolution currently taking place in Enniskerry which compounds the view that the village is fast becoming an arts tourism hub in County Wicklow.
Much of the activities are based out of the Schoolhouse For Art where a lot of hard work over the last five years is beginning to pay off.
Such is the satisfaction of those involved with the facility at how everything is developing that the schoolhouse director, Neil Condron, feels the ‘stars are aligning’ at the moment.‘A number of things are happening and it’s like the stars are aligning,’ he said.
The aim of those involved with the schoolhouse project is to develop a centre of excellence in art education for amateur and professional practicing artists.
A significant aspect of its clientele is that they are composed of very committed, relatively local artists along with national groups.
‘They are now tapping into the international art tourist market,’ said Mr Condron. ‘This is a great thing for local businesses [and] the multiplier effect is essential for the feel good factor,’ he added.
Similar to adventure or cultural tourism, art tourism is based around people who travel to specific areas with the aim of participating in their favourite pastime or hobby while there.
At the beginning of the summer Schoolhouse for Art received confirmation of supplementary funding under the Leader Programme 2014-2020 in support of its plan to develop and market Enniskerry as an Art Tourism hub - with the schoolhouse at its core.
A wide range of actions are planned over the coming months including developing weekend workshops, residential packages, and retreats.
As part of the overall plan to develop the arts potential of the village an emphasis will be placed on ensuring that the planned actions are sustainable and cost-effective while ensuring the objective of making the village an art tourism destination is maintained.
Mr Condron said a number of exciting workshops are also due to take place with very reputable artists including Gareth Reid, Alan McGowan and Rob Zeller. ‘This is a wonderful line up and is really a great opportunity for amateur practicing and professional artists,’ he said.
In addition to the schoolhouse an artists’ collaborative project called the Corner Studio has also opened in the village at 1 Main Street.
The artists and groups involved in that project include Augenta Jewellery, headed by Dylan Evans; David Glynn, a Bray based sculptor who creates bronze pieces using innovative and unique approaches, and botanical artist,Holly Somerville.
Her work is highly detailed and her pieces, which she creates in the Wicklow uplands, are among those showcased in the Corner Studio.
The Schoolhouse Sculpture Garden is another artistic gem in the village and is located within the shadow of the 200-year-old town clock.
An added aesthetic quality has been added to the garden through the Shadowcast and Naturespace collaborative work between artists Paul Flynn, from Bray, and Con Gent, from Glencullen.
The Shadowcast piece is a monolith- ic sculpture carved from single pieces of macrocarpa, commonly known as Monterey cypress, which was felled to make way for a new development in Carrickmines, Co. Dublin. The piece was exhibited at the National Botanic Gardens before being relocated to the Schoolhouse Sculpture Garden.
‘Naturespace’ is a multi-sensory artwork carved from a large single piece of cedar which was sourced from the edge of the Powerscourt Estate.
The piece measures 2.4m in height by 1.1m in width.
The Nature’s Space aspect of the garden is designed to provide a meditative area where people can take time out and relax in the company of their own thoughts.
The garden will also soon welcome a new additional piece in the form of Paul Flynn’s Harmonium, which is an award-winning piece that was carved from a 140-year-old piece of cedar taken from the nearby Charleville Estate.