Selection of images from the overall project. To see our video click here.

• Background:

With a history that stretches back to the 1800’s St. Peter’s National School, Phibsborough - is indeed a very special place.  In 2008, the doors were finally opened to the new school, which cleverly incorporates the original school building dating from 1891.

To commemorate this new phase in the schools history we embarked on a Per cent for Art Project which created through a collaborative process with the artist, pupils (all classes from Jnr Infants to Sixth class) and staff a series of permanent ceramic wall murals and hand prints.

• Hand Print Phase:

Following a period of research in January and February 2009, we took an impression of the hand prints in clay of everyone in St. Peter’s.  This proved itself to be a fantastic and worthwhile experience for both artist and pupils alike.  In addition we  had a lot of fun,  click here to see the Photo Gallery from the hand print sessions see photos or check out our short video clip!  After firing and glazing, the hand prints were grouped together and installed on five different walls in the school. 

• Wall Mural Phase:

In May 2009 we completed the second phase of our collaboration, in this phase we were working on large-scale ceramic wall murals.  They are based around the themes of  The Woodland and The Solar System.  These murals, which were created entirely from clay are highly dramatic in both scale and effect.  St. Peter's Woodland mural (approx 2m x 2.5m) consists of drawings done by the children which we have scaled up for the mural.  St Peter's Solar System consists of a series of 9 hemi-spheres some with a diameter of 0.5m.  It is our own abstracted version of the solar system!  We also made a large-scale version of the school crest for the front of the building.  Again the collaboration was a wonderful experience for all concerned and everyone agrees the final results are stunning.

• What happened next?:

During the summer/autumn I completed work on the murals and handprints - they were dried, biscuit fire, glaze was applied and then they were glaze fired, before installling them in the school.  Installation was completed in December 2009.  The project preserves in a permanent way the vitality and enthusiasm of this school and forever remind us of the year 2009 when artist, teachers and children came together to create something very special.

Studio work after collaboration - Drying, Firing and Glazing the Hands.

• Thanks:

I would especially like to thank all the children in St. Peter's for their enthusiasm and hard work.  From Junior Infants to Sixth Class, over the last five months I have spent many hours in each of the eighteen classes and I cannot say enough about the amazing spirit that this school has.  Their dedication to the project has been remarkable.  I enjoyed every minute of our collaboration and I think together we have done something very special.  For all the smiling faces, the kind words, the laughter and the ideas - thanks so much.

A big big thank you to all the staff and teachers - thanks for your co-operation, energy and patience.  Thanks, also to Ann and Martin for putting up with my many comings and goings – you’re the best!  Finally, there would be no Art Project if it were not for Mrs. Joan Quinn, School Principal.  Mrs. Quinn is an extraordinary educator and under her leadership and guidance, St. Peter's embodies everything the primary school curriculum hopes to achieve.  Sincere thanks for giving me this opportunity to collaborate with your school and for your unfaltering commitment to the project.

• Funding:
  

This project is funded by The Department of Education and Science through the Per Cent for Art Scheme.  If you are interested in a similar project for your school please let me know.  Click here for details on St. Patrick's National School Hand Print Project 2006. 

OVERALL AIMS OF THIS ART PROJECT:

1.      To create an integrated series of dynamic ceramic wall murals / hand prints which flow through the whole school. 

2.      To incorporate aspects of the curriculum from SESE, SPHE, languages, Art etc.

3.      To give each child a sense of ownership for the project and allow them to make their own unique mark on the piece as a whole and inspire them to be at their best.

4.      To educate the children further about The Clay Story/Process and the life of a practicing Artist, thus feeding into and complimenting the Visual Arts Curriculum.

5.      To celebrate thorough the medium of clay the diversity, energy, ethos and dynamic nature of St. Peter’s.

6.      To engage in a collaborative process between the artist, students and staff in the creation of an original ceramic wall mural / sculpture, finished to a professional standard.

7.      To have fun!  The project will be a highly enjoyable process for all parties.

Here's our story...