New perspectives on nature, history and geography of N4
ON A SUNNY Sunday in June, five people walked the 16kms of then unfinished, unopened new section of the N4 (Sligo-Dublin) road from Castlebaldwin to Toberbride in Collooney.
Their only job that day was just to be there. To listen, see, touch and smell – to get a taste of this stretch of green countryside now licked with a new coat of tarmac.
From that experience came original music, visual art, a brand new map, poetry and wonderful audio essays on the flora and fauna surrounding this previously unseen landscape.
On the week the new N4 extension is opened, you are invited to come to a unique exhibition in the foyer of Sligo City Hall.
Instead of accelerating to 100k and flashing along the latest, new road, take a breath and dive in to new perspectives on its nature, history and geography.
‘Are We There Yet’ is a collaboration curated by Hawk’s Well Theatre Artistin-Residence Eithne Hand.
The creatives are John Joe Kelly (music), Kari Cahill (visual art), Nigel Gallagher (photography and map making), Anya Murray (audio essays on flora and fauna) and Eithne Hand (poetry).
Curator Eithne Hand said: “There was something magical in the experience of seeing the mountains and surrounding countryside from a new perspective when we walked the road. The loudest sound was our own footsteps and that will never happen again. “In organising this arts response, I wanted to respect the new landscape, let people know a little more about where they are passing through. Yes, we will all whiz along it soon, but this exhibition puts the brakes on, allows us to see more of the road while it is still less travelled.”
The exhibition will take place in the foyer space at Sligo City Hall, Quay Street. Attendance is free and you are invited to visit the exhibition between 10am to 4pm weekdays from Monday, September 20 until Friday, September 30. For further information please visit www.hawkswell.com.