volunteers painting wall at new street gardens
A range of events will run over the three-day event, 21st – 23rd August. In addition to creating murals, artists will be running workshops for all ages, while food and music trails will create a festival weekend atmosphere.
Manager Edel Tobin has been involved in revitalising a number of underused and derelict sites in Waterford, the most recent being New Street Gardens.
“The idea for Waterford Walls Project came from how to reuse our derelict building and thus brighten and regenerate these forlorn spaces. The idea started with New Street Gardens, to build a garden on a derelict site in the middle of the city. Waterford Walls is more ambitious in that we are using 20 derelict spaces across the city to create an outdoor gallery. International, national and local artists are invited in to paint beautiful artwork on these walls, thus transforming our city with a splash of colour.”
Amongst the exhibiting artists will be Joe Caslin, who recently gained international acclaim for his mural on a seven-storey building in Dublin’s South Great Georges Street of two men embracing, installed to promote a Yes vote in the marriage referendum. Waterford will also be treated to the work of KEMP, a Dublin-based artist who specialises in layered stencil art and James Earley, who recently gave Blooms Hotel in Temple Bar a remarkable Joycean makeover and Londoner Louis Masai, who is known for revealing his environmental activism in his work – as in his Save the Bees project to raise awareness about the vital role of bees to life on earth. Local artists Lisa Murphy and Caoilfhionn Hanton, both of whom have already painted murals in the New Street Gardens, are also involved.
“We have secured permission to date to use 20 walls. These include the iconic R& H Hall on the North Quays, walls of empty buildings on Michael St, Barronstrand St, O’Connell St, Ballybricken, Stephen St, New St and Manor St”, Edel continued. “The artists are coming in to paint the walls from 21st to 23rd August and during that weekend we’ll also have holding exhibitions, demos, talks, music and food trails.
“We’ve also recently finished painting with six local primary schools, the Presentation, Waterford Educate Together, the Ursuline, Mount Sion, Stephen St De La Salle and St Declan’s. Lisa Murphy painted the murals with the schoolchildren, whose work will then be exhibited on Stephen St as part of the festival.”
Waterford Walls curator is Louise Flynn, who has curated many mural projects and artwork for festivals and exhibitions and was recently invited to create a mural for Wynwood Walls street art festival in Miami. Louise will be working with teenagers in conjunction with the Waterford Youth Arts in July on a number of murals for Waterford Walls, while visiting artist Anna Doran will be working with adults with specials needs.
However volunteers are needed to help make Waterford Walls a success, Edel says.
“If you would like to get involved in this exciting new project don’t be shy. We are seeking enthusiastic, fun-loving and highly committed volunteers to join our team. People from all walks of life with a huge range of skillsets are needed. If people don’t mind getting their hands dirty, we are looking for painting assistants. But we also need people to help out with general admin, event organisers and promotional assistants. Volunteers must be over 16 and available to lend a hand from now until the end of August.”
The organisers of Waterford Walls are currently seeking sponsors to help pay for artists’ expenses and materials, such as paint, scaffolding, cherry-pickers etc. There are also opportunities for businesses and individuals to ‘sponsor a wall’.
“Artists will be painting murals of different sizes and the cost to sponsor an entire wall range from €200 – €1,500. There is also an option to donate a smaller amount through our crowdfunding site Kickstarter. All support is hugely appreciated and if you would like more information about sponsorship contact the team on waterfordwalls@gmail.com.”
