One rainy, cold day in Spring 2013, a few of us were sitting in the back office of Ranelagh Arts Centre, wrecking our heads trying to think of new projects to put forward for Ranelagh Arts Festival later that year.
Mountpleasant Mural Project was an idea we felt might work. It would involve collaborative Community Paintings, which would eventually be on display as outdoor art in a local area.
We proposed that we would create 4 -6 permanent outdoor 2D artpieces for the
enjoyment of local community for display in Mounpleasant Park in Ranelagh, Dublin...and that we would involve the the local RMDS Primary school, local community and park visitors in the creation of some of the
pieces.
At the end of it, we hoped to have a few outdoor permanent
paintings in the park for all to enjoy, and which would hopefully inspire community and other artists to the potential of
projects like these in the city/country.
We felt that this project might provide a much needed uplift for a
park which is not well developed.
We received some funding from Dublin City Council for materials following an application, - heartwarming in the depths of recessionary times in Ireland, and got to work.
I am inserting images of the project below, as a picture is worth a thousand words, - is that how you say it ??
Preparing for Mountpleasant Mural Project
The size of the marine ply was decided by the size of my Suzuki Liana hatchback, which has tons of room for a smallish car.
Drawings of a series of stone arches would act as potential "frames", and also to keep a cohesion to the project and of course the costs down.
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" View from Charlemont Bridge towards Leeson St Bridge on the Canal,"
Walking around Ranelagh started to include some photographs of local scenes.
" One of the classes of RMDS coming into the park."
A few local scenes were chosen, and the first painting was commenced during Ranelagh Arts Festival week by the children of Ranelagh Multidenominational School.
" Excited pupils lining up to paint"
Joan Whelan, the school Principal was very supportive of the project, and allocated a day on which every child in the school was to have an opportunity to put a brushstroke on the painting.
" Painting has started"
Not a drop of rain!
" The proud signatures of every pupil in the school"
Also, every little artist got to put their signature on the side of the painting - on the frame. This all took place in Mountpleasant Square Park, next to the school.
" Charlemont St. Bridge"
There were very few final touches neccessary!
" The Hill " area in Ranelagh, "
Lee Dunne, a local Dublin author wrote a book "Goodbye to the Hill", describing life in this area early in the last century.
And we're off! We set up at the gates of the park, with "The Hill" in view, and started painting around 12md on the first Saturday of the Festival
Lots of interest from passerbys.
Local artists Gerhardt Gallagher and Jean Doyle, putting their marks down.
Lovely colourful mess
I love this picture, it says it all. We managed to finish this painting on the day.
" Ranelagh Gardens"
We chose to paint this scene.
" Photo of Ranelagh Gardens"
Reminds me of Monet's water lilies.
" Painting Ranelagh Gardens"
We set up in Ranelagh Gardens on the second Saturday of the Festival to attempt a painting of the pond in the park.
It was a wonderful day, as there was lots of live music and dancing to entertain visitors from near and afar.
"Ranelagh Gardens painting"
The big event of the day was to be the launch of a hot air balloon from the park to commemorate a previous hot air balloon flight by Richard Crosbie in Ranelagh. This project was always very close to Terry Connaughton's heart. Ranelagh Arts Centre would definately not have survived over the past few years, were it not for his commitment to community and tenacity as Director of the Centre.
There are wonderful photographic records by Michael Foley of this great day on the Ranelagh Arts website, see www.ranelagharts.org
These are the Flickr pages, I'm sorry I can't link them , but they are well worth looking at
.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ranelagharts/sets/72157635990006204/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ranelagharts/9988336895/in/set-72157635990006204/
"Balloon launch"
One of the most remarkable moments in Ranelagh’s history remains Richard Crosbie’s balloon flight in 1785 from Ranelagh Gardens in Dublin, Ireland. His was the first flight by balloon in Ireland. In the closing event of the Ranelagh Arts Festival, balloonist Tom McCormack paid tribute to this figure in Irish aviation by recreating his legendary launch, only the second time a balloon was launched from these gardens.
A wonderful day in Ranelagh Gardens.
We have a completed fourth painting to complete our series of Mountpleasant Mural paintings.
It commemorates the balloon launch.
A very successful community project.