‘Wall of Art’ captures the imagination with creativity
The eye-catching attraction in Skibbereen has been given the thumbs up by locals and tourists.
Artists, local businesses, and community groups worked together over a four-week period to create the “Wall of Art” — a mix of 38 paintings on the site of the planned West Cork Arts Centre.
“It really is like an outdoor gallery,” said Susan Harrington, the centre’s publicity and exhibitions co-ordinator.
“We wanted it to show what the new centre will represent in the future — a new home of art.
“There have been plenty of curious onlookers. People driving into the town’s main car park are slowing down and stopping to look at the works.
“The project really captured the imagination of the Tidy Towns committee and all the local businesses who sponsored it.”
The large-scale project was the idea of West Cork artist and the centre’s technician Paul Cialis.
About 38 local artists transformed the town’s Masonic Hall into an art studio for almost a month before the “Wall of Art” launch.
“The hall had a fabulous atmosphere during the time the works were being painted,” said Ms Harrington.
“People were wandering in once they heard there was a large-scale art project in progress.
“They loved to see the artists at work, some of them up on ladders.”
The weather will pose no problem as priming and weatherproof varnishing was applied to the wall.
Meanwhile, the arts centre, currently in North Main St in Skibbereen, is developing a new building for the arts in West Cork at the site of the former Wolfe’s Bakery.
The Townshend St centre will offer a quality arts facility and a new social space for the community.
