Artists take a solar-powered expedition along the Shannon and the Erne to help spark some climate action through the arts
THE Eco Showboat Expedition 2022 was a four-month arts voyage from Limerick to Enniskillen aboard the Mayfly – the flagship of the Eco Showboat project – and the first solar electric boat to make this journey, as part of the brainchild project of artists Anne Cleary and Denis Connolly, aka School of Looking.
On Sunday, August 21, the Eco Showboat voyage came to its final destination in Carrybridge, Fermanagh, completing a total of 17 stops.
From 2.30pm, crowds gathered and events began to commence, with the showboat presented the world premiere of a newlycommissioned performative artwork, ‘The Science of Place’, with live interactive drawing by Diane Henshaw and a performance about fracking from the point of view of a businessman caricature, by Patrick Mceneaney of Exit does Theatre.
The work was accompanied by creative collaborator Michael Cummins (light/tech/ drawing), who brought with him his mysterious sets of goggles created using recycled materials.
This work warped onlookers’ perspective of the landscape as they looked through and the atmosphere became lively with Valerie Whitworth’s sound performance with the participating public.
This event concluded the Eco Showboat 2022 tour and the nature of the interactive event best represents the ethos and message of artists Anne Clearly and Denis Connolly’s project, that aimed to bring artists, scientists and communities together at each stop, producing artistic events aimed at developing a community of eco-conscious civilians around climate change action and ecological awareness all acrooss Ireland.
At Carrybridge, there was a great demonstration of debate among the audience and Patrick Mceneaney on the topic of fracking, in response to his performance.
The lively nature and dismantling of the sense of hierarchy between artist and audience – a juxtaposition similar to what we see frequently in contemporary gallery settings – was a refreshing experience in the open air.
All work was accompanied by science talks throughout the 17 stops, from eco farmer Tommy Early to Mayfly specialist Dr. Mary Kelly-quinn, with a wealth of knowledge about Ireland’s ecosystem shared.
Ethereal experience
In Carrybridge, audiences saw the artists explore their work in a pseudo-science way, whether it was the ethereal experience of taking part in Valerie Whitworth’s sound performance as she channeled energy through emotions and chakras, or as the crowd became temporary nephrologists (those who study clouds) as they drew the clouds with Diane Henshaw.
In this, the eco event saw the public’s participation become the actual artwork. To bystanders, it may have seemed like one large theatre performance along the stage of the Eco Showboat, but to the participants, it was a fun, educational, inspirational and motivating way to look at climate change in a performative, visual and verbal way.
The Eco Showboat will recommence in 2023, with a new series of artists, work, ecological messages and experiences that again should not be missed.