When the hand was lifted from the clay...

"When the hand was lifted from the clay we were all equals."

In 2006 I was commissioned to facilitate a large collaborative public art project for St. Patrick's National School, Diswellstown to commemorate the opening of their new school.  The project comprised of the hand prints in clay of almost 450 students, teachers, staff and volunteers and was installed in the the foyer of their new school building.  

This project was very close to my heart.  From the very first meeting with the staff I was really impressed by their energy and enthusiasm.  Their commitment to the project never wavered.  While the project from start to finish took many months, over the space of a few days we actually took the handprints of everyone involved.  During this process one thought kept running through my head.  No matter who you were - big or small; teacher or child; parent or principal - when the hand was lifted from the clay we were all equals.

It is wonderful to think of the current pupils returning to the school in 20 or 30 years time, perhaps with their own children and searching out their handprint.

Child places their hand on the slipped clay.	The hand is lifted leaving the un ique hand print in clay.	A student shows off  their hand covered in slip.
Each hand print was inscribed with the child's name.	Here I am helping a student finish their piece.	A group of hands drying before firing.
Tiina, Saija and myself installing the hand prints.	The finished project exhibited over two walls. (Dimensions - 4m x 0.8m)	The finished project exhibited over two walls. (Dimensions - 7m x 1.3m)

My thanks to all the staff, students and parents at St. Pats - especially to Padriac, Mary, Emer, Claire, Helen, Rosemary and all the volunteer helpers.