Images by Eddie Mulligan
In the open - Faoin Speir is a large scale over-street artwork and accompanying soundtrack which will be launched this evening at Michael Street and the Apple Market. The installation has been developed by Spraoi, in association with Waterford Council and Garter Lane Arts Centre.
A team of Spraoi artists have been working throughout July to create a series of large scale rings using a pallet of fabrics, steel and other materials. These were hung over Michael Street and the Apple Market and on adjacent buildings. A writer, actors and musicians working at Garter Lane created two accompanying soundtracks.
The artwork offers audiences visual, musical and spoken-word experiences. The work references transformation of urban landscapes and signals post-COVID-19 adaptation of Irish town and cities. The goal is to encourage public conversations about re-invigorating our towns and cities while at the same time enhancing audiences' daily experiences of their everyday urban surroundings. The completed installation will impact audiences by day and night, with lighting adding an additional after dark dimension to encourage evening audiences.
Accompanying soundtracks can be accessed via a QR code on Spraoi and Garter Lane social platforms and they are widely available online and in local press and on WLR. Two soundtracks, with daytime and evening themes, capture a sense of the extended Apple Market area’s atmosphere and social history.
In The Open – Faoin Spéir is an Arts Council initiative to create new outdoor arts experiences for audiences in COVID-19 times and conditions
