by: The Pupils of Callystown N.S. and Martina Galvin, artist

In the early months of 2005, Callystown N.S. was approached by Vincent O Shea, Community Arts Co-ordinator, to take part in a public art project. The project involved an artist working with the pupils of the school to produce a piece of public art. The final completed piece would go on public display in the school. The funding for the project was to come from Louth County Council, under their 'Percent For Art' scheme.

The school was delighted to take apart in the project and in early summer, artist, Martina Galvin, was given the commission.

Martina Galvin’s description of the project

The finished panels are on clear perspex, (1ft x 1ft). Each panel is painted and layered with a series and combination of peat, twigs, leaves, seeds, paint and varnishes. Only one side of the perspex is worked on, leaving the clean side as the front.

The initial work is created by the children in the workshops and the work concluded with further layers in the artist’s studio.

The workshops are centred on individual themes, using photographic images of the bog landscape as visual aids. The themes were light, texture, pattern, colour, colour mixing, line, peat, fields, flora, fauna (note butterflies and hares in the work) and views from the air.

The overall theme and inspiration was bog landscapes. The idea was that the individual works together, created a unique landscape by the children.

The layering process allowed for more than one to work on an individual panel. The work is then a collaboration of all the children involved in the workshops – that is from first class to sixth class.

Martina Galvin

The Workshops

The following classes were involved in the workshops.

Miss Burke’s 1^st Class

Miss Holland’s 1^st and 2^nd Class

Mrs. Lally’s 2^nd and 3^rd Class

Mr. Barnes’ 3^rd and 4^th Class

Miss O Connell’s 5^th Class

Miss Deery’s 6th Class.

These workshops took place on Wednesdays throughout the Months of September and October 2005. Martina spent the day working with the boys and girls from first to sixth class.

Stained Glass Windows

The pupils of first, second and third classes worked with different coloured cellophane to explore the effects of light on colour.

These stained glass windows were displayed in the hall for the duration of the project and cast some very amazing effects on the floor and walls of the hall.

Peat, Twigs, Leaves and Seeds Creations

The pupils created their own individual pictures using materials from the bog landscapes. This material included peat, seeds, twigs and leaves. The children used the theme of nature to inspire their work. The children then used “pva” glue to secure their pictures. This was the first layer of the finished pieces.

Mixing Colour

The pupils from fourth, fifth and sixth classes explored colour and mixing of colours. They experimented with different colour combinations and achieved some magnificent results. These colours were kept and would be the colours used on the final pieces. Martina continually kept taking samples of the colours used so that she would be able to use them when the pieces went back to her Dublin studio.

Layering on the Colour

With the new paint colours the pupils painted onto the panels. Each child painted onto a number of panels at each workshop. When the paint from each panel had dried a new child layered the same panel with new colours at the next workshop. By the end of this process the panels each had been worked on by at least four different pupils.

Panels before leaving the school

At the end of the eight workshops the pupils had completed over one hundred and fifty panels. A hundred and forty pupils from first to sixth class had worked on the project and were very proud of their work. Martina took away the panels along with the paints that had been used to her studio in Dublin.

Martina’s Dublin Studio

When the panels arrived at Martina’s studio, Martina had the difficult job of classifying and selecting the panels that would make up the final piece. When she had chosen the panels she set about layering more colour onto the pieces to intensify the effect. On top of the painted pieces she varnished the panels to a smooth finish. Martina then organised and arranged the panels that complimented each other onto four final display pieces. Two of the final pieces had 4x5 panels while the other two final pieces had 3x4 panels and 3x3 panels.

The Finished Product

During the February mid term break of 2006, Martina returned with the finished work. The panels had been stuck onto prepared boards and hung in the main corridor of the school and in the Principal’s office. When the children and staff returned after the mid term break the “oohs” and “aahs” were audible from all who saw the finished work for the first time. Everyone was delighted with his or her efforts and the final works of art were truly beautiful.

The official unveiling of the work took place on Thursday, March 28^th. Brian Harten, Arts Officer with Louth County Council, Vincent O Shea, Arts Council Co-ordinator, Oliver Tully and Jackie Mc Conville, County Councillors, members of the Board Of Management and Parent’s Council of Callystown National School and pupils and staff of the school attended.

The project was a fantastic experience for all involved and it has left a piece of art that will bring great enjoyment to all who walk the corridors of Callystown National School.

The school would like to thank Louth County Council Art’s Office for choosing the school for this project. It would also like to record its appreciation to Martina Galvin for sharing her wonderful gift with the community of Callystown N.S. and to the pupils and teachers, who participated so enthusiastically in the work, míle buíochas.

ŠScoil Náisiúnta Baile na gCailleach, Ceann Chlochair, Co. Lú.