URBAN EXPRESSION

All Types And Styles Of Urban Expression

dublin canvas

PAINT-A-BOX STREET ART [4 JULY 2021]

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PAINT-A-BOX STREET ART 4 JULY 2021

There are now many examples of what I refer to as “Paint-A-Box Street Art” that are not part of the Dublin Canvas programme.

Since about seven years ago Dublin’s traffic light control cabinets have undergone a bright and colourful transformation as a result of the City Council’s “Dublin Canvas” programme.

Dublin Canvas is an inclusive public art project. To date, we have had a collection of artists from all age groups – students to retirees, from all walks of life – barristers to baristas, a mixture of nationalities and a variety of art disciplines. Graphic designers, illustrators, stencil artists street artists and landscape artists to name but a few.

DUBLIN CANVAS

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DUBLIN CANVAS PAINT-A-BOX STREET ART 13 MARCH 2017

Dublin Canvas could be best described as a community art project sponsored by Dublin City Council. Back in 2013 I was involved as a member of a panel that reviewed and selected the first eleven proposals, from a variety of artists and non-artists, to be used in the initial trial in the North Side of the city. The trial was so successful that the current large programme began not long after the “beta programme” had been completed.

Initially I had intended to photograph and document every painted utility cabinet but I soon discovered that as there are so many it is impossible for me to do so. Also, there are many that are commercial or that are not part of the Dublin Canvas programme.

THIS IS COWTOWN BY JOSEPH O’CONNOR

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THIS IS COWTOWN BY JOSEPH O’CONNOR … PAINT-A-BOX STREET ART ON MANOR STREET PHOTOGRAPHED JANUARY 2021

The last time I photographed this was with an iPhone XR and I was not happy with the results as there was a lot of annoying lens flare. This time I used an iPhone 12 Pro Max and the result was much better.

I first heard the expression “cowtown” four or five years ago but I did not, at the time, appreciate its relationship with the area and it was only when I came across the Cowtown Cafe on Manor Street that the penny dropped.

Back in the 1950s the Dublin Cattle Market, located on Prussia Street in Stoneybatter (nicknamed ‘Cowtown’), was the largest weekly livestock sale in Europe. Some people have found memories of the cattle sales and associate activities.

My recollection is totally different, because of British cheap food policy prime cattle were shipped live to the UK where the profits were made by wealthy dealers and the treatment of livestock was terrible. Also as a result of the markets the area was plagued with rats … I know because I had friends who lived in the area.

THE SHEARES BROTHERS

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THE SHEARES BROTHERS A PAINT-A-BOX TRIBUTE BY HUGH MADDEN

The Sheares Brothers, Henry (1753–98), and John (1756–1798) were Irish lawyers and members of the Society of United Irishmen, who died in the 1798 rebellion.

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