Sculpture in the Parklands
Encyclopedia
The Sculpture in the Parklands is a 50 acres (202,343 m²) land and environmental sculpture
park located in Lough Boora, Co. Offaly, Ireland
. The park is open to the public 365 days of the year and admission is free. Wheelchair access and disabled parking are available at the sculpture park. The Offaly Ways passes through the park and bikes are available for rent. Sculpture in the Parklands was founded by sculptor Kevin O'Dwyer (silversmith)
in partnership with Bord na Mona, Lough Boora Parklands Group, Offaly County Council and the Arts Council in the development of this unique sculpture park.
sculptures created during the symposium form the nucleus of the project. Currently there are 20 site specific sculptures in the parklands.
of the cut away bogland and to build awareness of the arts within the community through public participation and interaction. In addition to permanent sculpture and time-based work, the project has a commitment to commissioning video artists, composers, choreographers, and performance artists to interpret and document this unique landscape, folklore
and industrial history
.
and the Irish
midlands.
From Tullamore
: Leave Tullamore on N52 for Birr. At Blueball turn right onto R357 for Cloghan
/ Shannonbridge
. The Parklands commence within 7 km of Blueball.
From Birr
: Take N52 towards Tullamore, exit for N62 to Athlone. Continue to Cloghan, turning right off roundabout onto R357. The Parklands commence within 2 km.
Environmental sculpture
The term environmental sculpture is variously defined. A development of the art of the 20th century, environmental sculpture usually creates or alters the environment for the viewer, as opposed to presenting itself figurally or monumentally before the viewer...
park located in Lough Boora, Co. Offaly, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The park is open to the public 365 days of the year and admission is free. Wheelchair access and disabled parking are available at the sculpture park. The Offaly Ways passes through the park and bikes are available for rent. Sculpture in the Parklands was founded by sculptor Kevin O'Dwyer (silversmith)
Kevin O'Dwyer (silversmith)
Kevin O' Dwyer is an internationally exhibited artist whose works embrace the fields of design, metalworking and sculpture. He creates primarily in silver and his creations have been noted for their restrained and formal proportions, both functional and decorative...
in partnership with Bord na Mona, Lough Boora Parklands Group, Offaly County Council and the Arts Council in the development of this unique sculpture park.
Site
In the wetlands and wildlife wilderness of Lough Boora, inspired by the rich natural and industrial legacy of the boglands, the artists have created a series of large-scale sculptures that are now part of the Parklands permanent collection. Sculpture in the Parklands began as an international sculpture symposium in 2002 when seven Irish and international artist created works of art over a three week residency. The success of the symposium led to the formation of Sculpture in the Parklands and eight site-specificSite-specific
Site-specific is used in a range of contexts:In art Site-specific artIn molecular biology Site-specific recombination...
sculptures created during the symposium form the nucleus of the project. Currently there are 20 site specific sculptures in the parklands.
Mission
Inviting artists to create significant site-specific works of art during the artist in residency programme each year, the mission of Sculpture in the Parklands is to inspire artists to create artworks in response to the unique landscape and industrial heritageIndustrial heritage
Industrial heritage is an aspect of cultural heritage dealing specifically with the buildings and artifacts of industry which are inherited from past generations, maintained in the present and bestowed for the benefit of future generations, often forming a significant attraction for tourism.The...
of the cut away bogland and to build awareness of the arts within the community through public participation and interaction. In addition to permanent sculpture and time-based work, the project has a commitment to commissioning video artists, composers, choreographers, and performance artists to interpret and document this unique landscape, folklore
Folklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
and industrial history
Industrial history
Industry in the sense of professional manufacturing has existed for millennia, since the first cities rose.-Cottage industry:A cottage industry is an industry – primarily manufacturing – which includes many producers, working from their homes, typically part time...
.
Directions
Lough Boora Parklands is centrally located to all the main attractions of County OffalyCounty Offaly
County Offaly is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Uí Failghe and was formerly known as King's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. Offaly County Council is...
and the Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
midlands.
From Tullamore
Tullamore
Tullamore is a town in County Offaly, in the midlands of Ireland. It is Offaly's county town and the centre of the district.Tullamore is an important commercial and industrial centre in the region. Major international employers in the town include 'Tyco Healthcare' and 'Boston Scientific'. In...
: Leave Tullamore on N52 for Birr. At Blueball turn right onto R357 for Cloghan
Cloghan
Cloghan is a town in County Offaly, Ireland, located at the intersection of the N62 National secondary road and the R356 and R357 regional roads. It is one of the few places in the world in which a traffic roundabout is called "The Square"...
/ Shannonbridge
Shannonbridge
Shannonbridge is a village located on the River Shannon, at the junction of the R444 and R357 regional roads in County Offaly, Ireland. It lies within the townland of Raghra , at the borders of counties Offaly, Galway and Roscommon, with the majority of the population living east of the bridge in...
. The Parklands commence within 7 km of Blueball.
From Birr
Birr
Birr is a town in County Offaly, Ireland. Once called Parsonstown, after the Parsons family who were local landowners and hereditary Earls of Rosse. It is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe....
: Take N52 towards Tullamore, exit for N62 to Athlone. Continue to Cloghan, turning right off roundabout onto R357. The Parklands commence within 2 km.