Category: Sculpture - Reading the Signs

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The Suspense of The Lamb

16/8/2024

I received this photograph this morning from GMac who is on holiday in Valencia.

I have since learnt that this is the Postal Palace , Palacio de Comunicaciones; it is now longer the Post Office; and, that the five statues represent the five continents.

It took me a little while to even see him, but I have failed in my search for the answer to GMac’s query – ‘Wonder what the significance of the lamb is……..’

What is rare is beautiful…..

14/6/2023

Seamus Murphy headstones are beautiful examples of stone carving, to these eyes at least. An encounter with an uncatalogued Seamus Murphy headstone is even more so.

There is the anticipation as you spot the thickness and shape of the stone from a distance. The serrated grooves to the edge face and return raise expectation. Getting nearer, the lettering (particularly if red) will have you nearly convinced.

After standing back to admire, then the search for the letter cutter’s signature is the confirmation that life is good. It is time to stand back, enjoy and appreciate – and then, just like those two early evening pints with a long lost friend who you just bumped into on the way home, leave happier and in a better space.

I have seen a few headstones by Seamus Murphy not in the Crawford Art Gallery book of his work, so they do exist. It was just that last Sunday morning, taking some me time strolling around Douglas Cemetery, I was not expecting to see such a headstone.

Just like pints – the unplanned meetings with headstones can be the best.

Art In Progress

1/8/2022

A few weeks ago, I was driving through Baile Mhic Íre and spotted scaffolding and netting around the remains of a tree outside the school.

I have long been an admirer of chainsaw art on trees, so had to stop and record the work in progress.

Looking forward to seeing the completed installation

Nobody Listens Anymore

12/6/2020

This piece of sculpture was in place for 10 years before I realised it existed – unfortunately the time I had to enjoy it was very limited.

2018.08.19

In May 2016, Micko told of his encounter walking the dog one evening. Coming up the quays by Penrose House, and approaching the bridge, he heard someone talking but there was no one nearby. Some investigation revealed that the four stainless steel structures were responsible for the sound of voices – only two of them actually.

Today I spotted a retweet from the Crawford Art Gallery that reminded me of the chat, my subsequent visits to the Listening Posts, and my promise to self to write a short blog on art installations not just being for the unveiling ceremony and plaque unveiling – some art needs some maintenance, a little love and affection.

A few days after the chat with Micko, I went down to Penrose Quay. Two of the pieces were damaged and being used as litter receptacles. The other two were broadcasting lists relating to exports and passengers from the Port of Cork. I stopped and listened for a while – some nice chill out time. After this, I went a bit out of my way a few times to hear the messages – but then they were gone.

Urban Oasis & Urban Myth

18/5/2018

Twitter threw up a beauty last Tuesday.

I was reading down the twitter feed and spotted an open invitation by Alex Pentek to the National Sculpture Factory today to view his ferns which have been commissioned by Brisbane – my RSVP was nearly immediate.

Even in the horizontal position their height is so impressive. The horizontal definitely allowed greater appreciation of the fronds and especially the curves in every direction.

I thought they were brilliant.

They were calling out to be touched

I stood in admiration. In doing so, I overheard some conversations.

One advised that the fronds on the taller straight pieces are in two parts to facilitate transportation, which seemingly happens next week, via Rotterdam and Singapore.

There other brought to mind a similar situation in Cork, or so I thought.

Seemingly, the original intended location in Brisbane could not be used as the concrete base for the ferns could not be provided due to the extent of underground utility services. This immediately brought from the recesses of my mind a similar story – that of Christ the King church in Turner’s Cross, designed by Barry Byrne.

I spend a while this afternoon checking the internet and reading through some of my books on Cork to try and find where I had learned/dreamt that Barry Byrne had understood that the site was at a t-junction and so the church would be much more prominent as one approached the intersection – but to no avail.

Brisbane and Turner’s Cross may well be connected by Urban Myth.

Exquisite Pain

23/2/2018

Seán Ó Ríordáin b. 1916.12.03

3/12/2017

Today’s listing from Stair na hÉireann advised that on this day in 1916, Séan Ó Ríordáin was born.

This prompted a reminder to self to finish the grouping of the very many photographs and start uploading here. I have spent a while this afternoon putting together the different aspects relating to Seán Ó Ríordáin that I have encountered in the past few years – as well as a bit of a distraction on YouTube.

SEE ALL HERE

It has also provided a reminder to get back to the exercise of using the poems of Ó Ríordáin to increase my vocabulary.

Spot the Butterfly

28/1/2017

I went to secondary school in this building for six years.

As well as going to and from school, I would have passed the building regularly going into town as it was one of the available routes.

For the past nine years, I have passed nearly every day – at least once a day.

Yet it was only last November that I spotted this lovely detail.

It appears to be quite simple. Most things are when you know what you are doing. A symmetrical cut at the external corner of a stone provides a revelation – a lovely butterfly, even if it took me forty years to spot it.

Paris - just like Crosshaven

10/11/2016

Crosshaven

The first time I noted the name of an architect engraved on a headstone was in Crosshaven on the Bank Holiday Monday last week – that is the name engraved as the designer as opposed to the resident.

We went searching for the headstone designed by Seamus Murphy, the only one in St. Patrick’s graveyard in Crosshaven. It was made to mark the grave of former labour T.D., Dan Desmond, who died in 1964. His wife, Eileen, took up residence in 2005, thirty years after Seamus Murphy died.

I very much like the form and the shape of the memorial – appropriate to the proximity to the sea.

Patrick McSweeney was Cork County Architect from 1953 to 1975. I find it interesting to consider how the interaction between two designers may have operated – each having to yield some element of the complete design that they regularly hold in a project.

Paris

Crosshaven

Seamus Murphy 1907 – 1975

2/10/2016

This morning’s update from Stair na hÉireann advised that on this day in 1975, Seamus Murphy died.

His work has prompted quite a number of blogs here before.

I have yet to upload and create a separate section of the work that I have photographed on my travels.

For now and for today, a slideshow of a selection of his work.

Keeping Open a Beady Eye

21/9/2016

The frog was keeping an eye on me. I almost missed him completely.

The Henley family headstone is in St. Finbarr’s Cemetery. I liked the shape and detail and was taking some photographs. Only then did I spot the frog.

I think that this is a great detail. Not only will I now remember the Henley family, but I will remember with a smile.

Respect too to Wallis Monumental Sculptors in Midleton.

Remembering The Seanchaí

11/8/2016

2015

I have been to Gneeveguilla only once. Entering the village as the light was fading on a lazy Sunday evening, I never expected that it would inspire a streak of inquisitiveness that has led to very many dots of historical information that are now connected in my web of a brain. Neither did I expect that a year later, the visit would prompt a visit to the theatre for a very enjoyable performance.

Leaving my family behind on the Dingle Peninsula to enjoy a warm summer week, I returned to Cork to continue the struggle for the legal tender. I diverted to Gneeveguilla, a detour promted by a previous blog when I learned of a ‘Gneeve’.

The detour was profitable in feeding my hunt for grottos and postboxes before I arrived at the village where I was brought back to many evenings watching television in my youth. I grew up within 15 minute walk of Patrick St yet the stories of The Seanchaí were always watched and enjoyed.

A month later, visiting friends, I spotted The Apprentice on their bookshelf and it went on to my ‘To Find & Buy’ list – within months it was taken off that list, as were two other Éamon Kelly books.

2016

Within the last couple of months, the three books have been read and appreciated. There were not enough flysheets to accommodate the very many notes that I scrawled to remind me as to possible future (or past) connections to add to the web of knowledge. I prefer the flysheets to notes in the margin – time spent finding the page with the margin note has taught me that lesson.

There was quite a number of nuggets about people and places that I had blogged previously – Jerome Connor’s statue that he spotted in Washington; acting in the plays of T.C. Murray and adapted from Seumus O’Kelly; and, the tradition of telling the bees of family news to which Mikel Murfi first introduced me.

My interest in matters relating to Seamus Murphy was also stirred in that I learned that there was a one-man play adapted from his book Stone Mad and that Seamus Murphy believed that the lettering on Nelson’s Column was the best example in Ireland – I sense Donal Fallon’s book moving onto that list.

Gneeveguilla, Co. Kerry

Cork Arts Theatre

To Find Out More List

The three books have provided little bits of knowledge about so many things that I need to find out more (ever connecting).

I have enjoyed a pint in The Blue Bull in Sneem. It was Éamon Kelly who educated that The Blue Bull was a Synge Play.

I will need to return to Gneeveguilla to photograph the plaque to Mick Sullivan who was shot by Black & Tans while Éamon Kelly was in the adjacent school – the list of Civil War and War of Independence memorials ever growing.

There are many traditions that intrigued, sounded lovely or just demanded further exploring – families joined in butter; overnight fasting prior to receiving Holy Communion; family owning a church pew so those standing at back did not have funds to purchase and pay rent on pew; stopping the clock upon a death, as seen in Jean deFlorette; and the giving of a disease to another similar to leaving cloth on a rag tree at a Holy Well.

It also introduced words to me, many appear derived for Irish. These will keep me going for some time. The list is below but any education as to ‘gripe’; ‘hoult’; ‘fakah’;or, ‘roiseters’ would be welcome.

A Visit To The Theatre

This week I spotted that Jack Healy had a play based upon the stories of Éamon Kelly at The Cork Arts Theatre on Camden Quay.

Yesterday lunchtime was a magnificent hour spent listening, smiling, laughing and remembering.

More than halfway through the show, I was reminded as to one of my flysheet notes in The Journeyman. There had been quite a few different stories. Éamon Kelly in The Journeyman was writing of ‘In My Father’s Time’ – ‘We found that a number of stories told one after the other could sound episodic. There had to be a changing relationship between the pieces, and the links had to be carefully thought out to make seamless the fabric, which we hoped would be colourful and entertaining’.

My flysheet note was that the book, unlike The Apprentice which I found much more interesting, was failing to flow. Fair play to Jack Healy. With the benefit of reflection on my hour or so in the auditorium, the different aspects and stories flowed; and, the knitting of the stories was brilliant and of a manner that brought the occasion up to date.
I had heard or read of a few of the stories but the delivery, verbally and with actions, made them a new experience – I laughed even when I knew the punchline.

It is in the Cork Arts Theatre only until tomorrow night but is intended to travel later in the year.

I do recommend.

Concern for Patrick's Street Little Gem

28/6/2016

I look at the dog water trough every time I pass – always with a smile. The smile may be internal but it is still there.

I think it is a quirky aspect of the city, one that makes the city different from others.

I would have thought it warranted inclusion in the list of protected structures (listed buildings, as regularly known), but it does not appear to be.
I do not think it has been filled with water for many years but that does not diminish its attraction – to me anyway.

I spotted that a planning application has been submitted for a new shopfront. However, the drawings for application 1636914 do not show the trough in the exisiting or proposed elevations.

This could be interpreted in a number of different ways, depending upon your perspective. The innocent version would be that there is no intention to adjust the dog water trough and so no change is shown.

The not-so-innocent version is that, should planning permission be granted, there is no dog trough shown so it is not to be retained.

I hope that this possible interpretation is clarified and also that the sculpture is retained.

I am on a bit of a hunt for Seamus Murphy work at the moment. In Midleton recently, I went looking for Seamus Murphy piercaps but they are no longer on the one remaining pier. I also think a headstone was also removed when replaced with a different stone.

Seamus Murphy is so connected with Cork that it would be very sad day if the City Council, unintentionally or otherwise, allowed the removal of the water trough.

I would also reduce the time I spend smiling – and some may say that that is very short already.

Appreciating Demolition Dave

11/6/2016

I have long liked the idea of incorporating salvage material into new work.

Building materials from times past regularly were strong enough to last many lifetimes and had individual details that we do not get with current standardisation. I have managed to source one of the hoopers than I sought but I passed on the spiral stairs. The telephone box as a feature in the garden remains a dream.

A few weeks back, with the train departure a while away, I walked to Hueston and was very happy to spot this commemorative piece to Dave Conway.

Trying to find out about it did involve a few internet dead ends before I learned that Dave Conway was Demolition Manager involved in the LUAS project and the Railway Procurement Agency commissioned James Gannon to create a sculpted piece at Smithfield.

Does it not scream out to be caressed? Or is that just my sense of admiration?

The Lusitania Sank – 101 years ago today

7/5/2016

“Every Man’s Work Shall Be Made Manifest. For The Day Shall Declare It.”

This morning, I was reminded of this anniversary by Stair na hÉireann, Irish History Links and Don MacRaild .

An interesting tweet this morning included a photograph of notice offering a reward for discovery of a body of a Lusitania passenger, Robert Preston Prichard.

A few weeks back, I blogged about the statue of Robert Emmet in St. Stephen’s Green. This was made by Jerome Connor who also made the Lusitania Memorial in Cobh. This week, we were well impressed with the exhibition about the Lusitania at the Liverpool Maritime Museum.

As well as a poster from the White Star Line agent in Caherciveen – John Dennehy, the Museum had a map showing the addresses of those travelling on the Lusitania. William Lawrence was originally from Wales but his then address was Whitegate, Co. Cork – the only Cork address and one of only six from Ireland, Hugh Lane was not among them.

All of these connecting dots were prompt enough for me to put together the photographs from different places linking the Lusitania.