Sculpture Dublin commissions artist for Kildonan Park sculpture

Dublin City Council and Sculpture Dublin has commissioned Belfast-born artist Sara Cunningham-Bell to design and construct a sculpture for Kildonan Park, Finglas.

The commission for the work was a two-stage open competition with main criteria being that the sculpture “be designed to reflect present day Finglas”.

No technical brief was outlined by Sculpture Dublin with the initiative saying that this “presented a unique opportunity for artists to develop a concept, informed by both the site in which the sculpture will be located and engagement with the local community.

“For stage one, artists were invited to submit proposals demonstrating experience of creating public art through public consultation and engagement-based processes.

“For stage two, three short-listed artists were invited to propose a concept for the artwork, based on their consultations to date with the local community, and an approach to further consultation with the community to develop the final sculpture,” it said.

The organisers say that Cunningham Bell responded to stage two with “initial plans for a dynamic, large-scale, high-impact sculpture that will act as an inclusive landmark for Kildonan Park.

“Inspired by ideas of movement, energy and growth, the artwork aims to represent a wide range of local voices and interests and speak to the hopes and dreams of the people of West Finglas.”

Sculpture Dublin says that Cunningham Bell “has been actively engaging with local groups,” and public consultations over the coming works.

“Her consultation process will include questionnaires, and online and in-person meetings and will be supported by Sculpture Dublin and Dublin City Council’s North West Local Area Office.”

Commissioned artist Sara Cunningham-Bell said: “I am delighted and deeply honoured to be selected to create a sculpture for Kildonan Park.

“The idea for the artwork has been informed by listening to and learning from the people of Finglas.

“It is driven by a desire to produce a significant sculptural form, that can be interacted with, and enjoyed as a feature of the park, which represents a positive and uplifting presence in the locality.”

The commissioning of the sculpture has caused controversy in Finglas with a group, the Kevin Barry Memorial Committee (KBMC) campaigning for the erection of a Kevin Barry statue in the park.

A petition distributed by the group garnered nearly 1,000 signatures from local residents but their idea was quashed in stage one by the organisers.

Sculpture Ireland said it did not comment on individual submissions and as to why the group’s proposal was dismissed.

In a letter sent to Dublin City Council chief executive Owen Keegan in February, KBMC said that: “Sculpture Dublin has refused to acknowledge this proposal from the people of this area.

“Sculpture Dublin has refused KBMC to participate in their selection panel.

“Sculpture Dublin nominated community representatives who both refused to represent the signed consent given by 98.8% of local community who engaged with the canvass.

In a comment to Northside People, Cunningham-Bell said that she “did meet with the members of the KBMC, along with the other short-listed artists, in a meeting organised by Sculpture Dublin,” and that she was fully aware of their proposal.

Cunningham-Bell also said that she has met “with other members of the local community, fantastic bunches of people, between November last year and February this year.

“My initial ideas for the artwork have been informed by all these energetic and heart felt conversations.

From my consultation to date (and that of Sculpture Dublin based on its online survey), a number of points have come up repeatedly, which is reassuring.

“Namely the need for representation or acknowledgement of women’s contribution to the life of the area and the city; a desire for the artwork to be a landmark – large-in-scale, dynamic, positive and up-lifting; and for the artwork to reflect and celebrate the multi-faceted character and identity of the area,” she said.

“I am planning further community consultation over the weeks and months ahead to help shape and refine sculpture ideas and to ensure that as many people as possible have the opportunity to feed into the process.”