There are two items and both combined are my favourite installation at Sculpture In Context 2023.
Icarus ignored Daedalus’s instructions not to fly too close to the sun, causing the beeswax in his wings to melt. Icarus fell from the sky, plunged into the sea, and drowned. The myth gave rise to the idiom, “fly too close to the sun.”
Catherine E Greene is an established figurative sculptor working in bronze and mixed media. Her versatile output ranges from large scale civic, to private commission and large exhibition pieces to smaller sculptures which explore the figure in the context of the sensual and often surreal world which they inhabit. Major commissions include the equestrian memorial of the patriot Thomas Francis Meagher in Waterford, the Memorial to the much loved comedian Dermot Morgan, Merrion Square Dublin; and the central Alterpiece sculpture of the crucified Christ in the new basilica Fatima Portugal.
Wicklow artist Alan Clarke has become the only Irish person to be accepted as a member of the internationally acclaimed Society of Portrait Sculptors.
The Office of Public Works (OPW) is host to Sculpture in Context at the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin. Showcasing sculpture for over 35 years, this annual event is the longest-running, largest and most important sculpture exhibition in the country, attracting a large public and critical audience. This cultural highlight in the National Botanic Gardens’ calendar runs from 7 September until 13 October, is free of charge and open daily.
The artworks in this year’s exhibition receive a spectacular presentation throughout the 50 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, allowing visitors to discover sculpture in the most unexpected and surprising places. Smaller sculptures will be exhibited throughout the glasshouses and in the Gallery upstairs in the Visitor Centre.
Bringing together the work of more than 140 artists – including Alan Clarke, Eileen MacDonagh, Róisín de Buitléar, Shane Holland and Sara Cunningham-Bell – using an incredible range of media, these works of art represent the richly diverse character of Irish and international contemporary sculpture.
Artists have been inspired by themes such as wildlife, ecology, climate change and homelessness. From the smallest, most intricate ceramic works to stone sculptures of a monumental scale, visitors to the exhibition will be enriched by the experience of viewing such inspiring works in one location. The artistic integrity and technical skill involved in creating the works is evident throughout and highlights the breadth and depth of artistic talent and skill in Ireland today.
This year’s programme will include a suite of lectures on Saturday, the 9th and Sunday, the 10th of September from 3-4:30pm, by artists Eileen MacDonagh and Conall O’Caoimh and renowned plantsman, Jimi Blake, as well as guided tours of the outdoor sculptures on Saturdays at 11am.
Michael Charles Keane is a Dublin based, self-taught sculptor. Michael works mostly with Bronze and he is very much at home with representational work ie Figurative and Animal sculpture.
He is based in Dublin Ireland and for the most part of his Sculptural Career he works alone however Michael has collaborated with other like minded sculptors on many large scale projects over the years with great success.
With a Certificate in Fine Art and an Advanced Diploma in Fine Art Sculpture from DIT Dublin Michael has also accumulated vast experience in Bronze Casting, Ceramics, Portraiture and Mould Making.
Influenced by the Classical Sculptors and more modern Sculptors such as Rodin, Alberto Giacometti and Animal Sculptor Anna Hyatt-Huntington, Michael is always evolving his art form.
The works on display have yet to be identified and that will not happen until Thursday.
Sculpture in Context is the largest sculpture exhibition in Ireland. It is an annual event organised by Sculpture in Context, an artist-led organisation, in association with the Office of Public Works and the National Botanic Gardens. The exhibition showcases the work of over 120 artists using a wide range of media, from the smallest, most intricate ceramic works to stone sculptures of monumental scale. The sculptures are displayed throughout the 50 acres of beautifully-landscaped grounds of the National Botanic Gardens, creating a unique and inspiring experience for visitors.
The 2023 exhibition will run from September 7 to October 13. The opening hours are from 10am to 6pm, seven days a week. Admission is free.
Madden’s Buildings consists of a number of single-storey redbrick buildings arranged in terraces, with each terrace having a gable end facing Watercourse Road at one end and or Great William O’Brien street at the other end. The Bull and Drover sculpture is located on the gable end of one of one of the terraces.
The Bull and Drover is a bronze sculpture by Kevin Holland, located on the gable end of Madden’s Buildings in Blackpool, Cork, Ireland. The sculpture depicts a bull being led by a drover, and is a reminder of the cattle market that once operated on this site.
The sculpture was commissioned by the Cork Corporation in 1986, to commemorate the centenary of the construction of Madden’s Buildings. It was created by Kevin Holland, a sculptor who is based in Cork. Holland is known for his work in bronze, and his sculptures often depict animals.
The Bull and Drover is a realistic depiction of a bull and a drover. The bull is a large, powerful animal, with a muscular body and a fierce expression. The drover is a smaller, more human figure, but he is also strong and determined. The two figures are facing each other, and the bull is following the drover’s lead.
The sculpture is mounted on a bronze plaque, which is inscribed with the words “The Bull and Drover” and the dates “1886-1986”.
In addition to the Bull and Drover, Kevin Holland has created a number of other sculptures in Cork, including the Draftsman on the Grand Parade. His work can also be found in other cities in Ireland, as well as in the United States and the United Kingdom.
I tried to locate the Draftsman on the Grand Parade and having failed I tried to find a photograph only to discover that there are no known photographs of the Draftsman. The sculpture was created in 1986, and it was destroyed in a fire in 1996. According to one source the blank wall where the Draftsman on the Grand Parade once stood is located at 14-16 Grand Parade, Cork, Ireland. The address is also listed as 2 Patrick Street, Cork, Ireland. The wall is located on the corner of Grand Parade and Patrick Street, in the heart of Cork city. It is a blank wall, with no markings or signage. The only indication that the Draftsman on the Grand Parade once stood there is a small plaque that is embedded in the wall. The plaque reads: “This was the site of the Draftsman on the Grand Parade, a sculpture by Kevin Holland, which was destroyed in a fire in 1996.”
“Draftsman Sculpture Destroyed in Fire” (The Irish Examiner, February 17, 1996) “Cork City Mourns Loss of Draftsman Sculpture” (The Echo, February 18, 1996) “Artist Pays Tribute to Lost Draftsman” (The Irish Times, February 19, 1996)
While researching the artist I came across the following story: A sculpture by artist Kevin Holland and similar to the Bull and Drover sculpture on nearby Madden’s Buildings was installed on the northern wall between Watercourse Road and Blackpool bypass. It was commissioned by the developer and installed on the wall at their expense, with the agreement of the city council, to commemorate the heritage and history of the area. In July 2012 it was removed by workmen. The worrying aspect to the story is that a liquidator was appointed earlier to the company which developed the site and fears had been raised that the sculpture may have been removed as part of the liquidation process. It was estimated that the metal used in the piece could be worth €50,000.
Below I have included information that was provided by a single source which is not reliable: Dray Horses sculpture was removed in 2016 due to concerns about its structural integrity. The sculpture was made of bronze, and it was mounted on a steel frame. Over time, the steel frame had corroded, and the sculpture was in danger of falling. The sculpture was removed to a workshop, where it was restored. The steel frame was replaced, and the sculpture was repainted. The sculpture was then returned to its original location in 2017. The source does reference the following:
“Dray Horses Sculpture Removed for Restoration” (The Irish Examiner, February 2016) “Dray Horses Sculpture Returns to Blackpool” (The Irish Examiner, June 2017) “Cork City Council Spends €30,000 on Dray Horses Restoration” (The Echo, June 2017)
“Artist Pays Tribute to Lost Draftsman” (The Irish Times, February 19, 1996): Kevin Holland, the artist who created the Draftsman sculpture, has paid tribute to his lost work. Holland said that he was “devastated” by the fire, and that he “still can’t believe it”.He said that the Draftsman sculpture was “a very personal piece” for him, and that he was “very proud” of it. Holland said that he would like to see the sculpture rebuilt, but he said that he knows that it will be “very difficult”.