The following are some examples of the wonderful projects created by students of primary and secondary schools in Clare working with the support of Artists in Schools facilitators participating on the Artists in Schools Programme 2023-2024.
Artist Ciara Molone and the students in Rineen NS worked on a music video written, performed and filmed by the kids. In the process they learned about CGI, acting and film techniques and using green screens.
Artist Ana Colomer and the children from 3rd class in Barefield NS learned about stop motion animation, creating 9 short animated films. Part of the process was learning about visual narrative and storytelling.
The children in Colaiste Muire learnt the skills of free motion embroidery (drawing with a sewing machine), photo image transfer onto fabric, applique, hand sewing, fabric painting and bonding fabrics together by Artist Lynn Kenny. The project involved researching the art Nouveau period looking specifically at Alphonse Mucha and Harry Clarke. The students developed their own work, creating a self portrait, bringing in style and elements from the art nouveau movement.
St. Finnachta’s NS and artist Ruth Marshall learned about story telling, poetry with the project ‘Giving Voice – in Poetry & Story”. Nathalie El Baba and the students in Kilnamona NS designed and created a mosaic of some local land features, Shallee Castle and Shallee River. Artist Evelyn Sorohan worked with students in Liscannor NS on a STEAM Arts based programme looking to create a sustainable Liscannor for the future. Ana Colomer and Ennis NS did an Art History project, focusing on five periods of Art, Cave Art, Egypt, Rome, Mona Lisa, Impressionism. Shona MacGillivray and the students from two classes in Dromindoora NS created individual sculptures of children at play, attached to a large base to form a collaborative project between both classes.
Murals were very popular this year with artist Marcus O’Connor AKA west murals working with the students in Scoil Iosef Naofa to create a beautiful fox. Nathalie El Baba and the students in Ogonnelloe NS created a mural, under the idea of Vamp the Ramp, as the school has a wheelchair user but also for all the children.For this they learned about brainstorming and research sessions, design and colour theory, underpainting, Drawing on to the wall, painting the mural, cleaning up and reflection. Students at Knockerra NS, designed and painted a mural, turning a clinical space into a new Wellbeing Room within the school with artist Leigh O’Connell. They developed themes from a visit to a local museum and history research on the local area. Discovering a legend of “The Giant of Knockerra” and incorporating patterns from the former Kilrush Ceramic Company, the students developed six separately themed murals on Legends, The local area, The weather, Local Wildlife, Abstract Space and sports.
Leigh also worked with Ennistymon Community school to design and create a mosaic installation which was installed in the newly opened community school on the internal walls outside the art room. Joan McNamara and the students in Knockanean NS explored the theme of “Earth Voice”. This was a study in exploring lyrics, short repetetive melody lines, creating a soundscape of natural sounds and presenting these on a background of visually provocative images of the beauty of our natural environment. Josie O’Connor and the students at Furglan NS explored the theme ‘Putting Furglan on the Map’ through monoprinting, linoprinting, map drawing and leaf printing. They looked at landmarks around Furglan of local importance.
