Context Background:
In 2005, South Dublin County Council made an award for the provision of artworks for parks in West Tallaght through the Integrated Area Plan. The council ran an open competition which invited artists through an to create an artwork that relates directly to the physical, social or cultural environment of the area. One of the criteria for the commission was that the chosen artist would initiate a participatory element to the project. A number of artists responded for this and other similar projects in the county. This was funded by the West Tallaght Integrated Area Plan.
Following a site visit to Killinarden and the submission of detailed proposals at the end of 2005, Tom Dalton was selected for the commission. A number of sites in Killinarden were considered for the location of the sculptural work , but the Sacred Heart School, which is adjacent to Killinarden Park and its community of children and parents offered the most suitable location for public interaction with the sculpture. This was collaborative project between the Arts Office and the Parks and Landscapes Department in South Dublin County Council.
Description:
In May 2006 Sacred Heart School, Killinarden, as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations, unveiled the Moon Bench and Stools sculpture by artist Tom Dalton. It was installed in the school garden and grounds and is made up of a number of pieces: a centre piece, the Moon Bench and smaller mosaic stools located in the garden. The bench is made of beaten and layered stainless steel sheets and the stools were designed and inlaid by a number of pupils from the school, over a series of workshops held at Killinarden Community Centre.
The piece is based on the idea of seeds and their potential for growth. The large centre piece represents the fully realised potential inherent in human nature, and the smaller stools bursting forth through the earth, all uniquely individual shapes emphasise the early stages of this growth. The highly polished surfaces are very reflective, creating a play of light in the space.
Artist Biography:
Tom Dalton trained and worked in farm machinery construction in Carlow before he moved into furniture design and later into public art. As a furniture designer he created bespoke pieces for clients such as Eddie Jordan, and Carlton Hotel Group and exported work to England, Spain, and the West Indies. His furniture designs always tended towards the sculptural and transcended the purely functional aspects of furniture design.
Through this interest in sculpture he became involved in public art and his usage of the National Sculpture Factory in Cork for his furniture making, provided the perfect place to make a move into this new practice. He has since completed 5 commissions, including a work for the entrance to the Department of Agriculture buildings in Clonakility, Leaves (2002) which brought his practice back full circle to things agricultural. He has also completed a commission Immortality for Cork County Council in 2005 and in 2003 Illusions for Amersham Health Pharmeceutical, Cork. He is based in Cork and is currently working on his sixth public art commission.
Commissioner Type:
Dept. Environment, Heritage and Local Government
Commissioner:
South Dublin County Council SDCC
Programme:
Other
PerCent for Art:
yes
Commissioning Process:
Open competition
Funding:
Dept. of Environment Heritage and Local Government
Budget Range:
30,000 - 70,000
Project Start Date:
01/12/2005
Public Engagement:
A series of workshops was held at Killinarden Community Centre where the stools were designed and inlaid by a number of pupils from the school.