New sculpture for refurbished street
NEW BRONZE ARTWORK BY DROGHEDA ARTIST UNVEILED IN ST NICHOLAS QUARTER
ROGHEDA artist, Breda Marron has created a new public bronze sculpture, titled ‘Heart Space’.
Commissioned by Louth County Council, the piece was this week installed in Dundalk’s St. Nicholas Quarter, as part of a major rejuvenation of this historic part of town.
Speaking this week Breda explained ‘When the concept was first conceived in 2018, no one could have predicted the times we now find ourselves in. Yet it seems serendipitous that the inspiration for the piece, came from the concept of two beings, showing true love, by holding space for each other, without touching.’
The sculpture is part of the EU funded, Town Rejuvenation Project for Dundalk Town Centre.
The sculpture is located in the pedestrian area between St Nicholas’s Roman Catholic Church and St Nicholas’s Church of Ireland, it links to the sense of place, a place where people from all communities, have gathered over the years to celebrate births, marriages and the passing of loved ones, a place where community gathered, celebrated and held space for each other, through life’s up and downs.
Breda continues ‘Heart Space’ depicts two abstract swan figures, which from a distance seem to d ance as one, yet when you come closer you realise, they are separate individuals, simply in rhythm with each other.’
The essence of the sculpture also links back to the Celtic concept of an ‘ Anam Cara’, the Irish phrase for a ‘Soul Friend’. One who sees and accepts you for who you are and acts like a reflective mirror, reflecting the best of your inner light back to you.
‘When I first began working on the inspiration for this sculpture, I focused on what I felt the space needed and for me that was a deeper sense of love. The morning after my initial site visit, I woke up with an image in my mind and I had to painted it straight away. At that early stage, the image consisted of two separate wings, with the space between forming a heart. The wings were a green bronze with a polished bronze forming the edge of the heart. As the ideas evolved, the swan imagery became stronger and new connections to the area were formed, but the essence of the original vision remained,” said the artist.
St Nicholas’s Quarter has a strong link to Scotland’s National Poet, Robert Burns, as his sister Agnes is buried in St. Nicholas’s Church of Ireland and her home is now part of the nature park at Stephenstown pond, close to Dundalk. This connection to the Scottish bard led to the artist exploring the heritage of the Celtic bards and druids of ancient Ireland.
In ancient Ireland, the bards were very highly esteemed in society, people looked to them for guidance and inspiration. The bards would wear a special ceremonial cloak, made of songbird and swan feathers. They believed this cloak connected them to the transformational power of the swan acted as a source of inspiration and creativity, as they tapped into their inner wisdom and strength, to rise to higher levels of consciousness and a deeper awareness.
‘Heart Space’ captures the essence of the cloak of wisdom wrapped around two pure beings of light and love. Each swan sculpture has a deep green bronze patina on the outer layer, emphasising that each swan being wrapped in a cloak of love and protection. An inner section of polished gold captures the sunlight and links to the heart of gold and positive energy shared between the two swans.
St Nicholas’s Quarter has a vibrant community of local businesses, artists and craftspeople, which all contribute to the unique experience of connecting and supporting local community and reinforcing a sense of pride and belonging back into the heart of the town.