In an attempt to find the right words…
Artist(s): James Luke Hayes
Location: Aras Inis Gluaire, Belmullet Arts Centre
Title: In an attempt to find the right words...
Medium: sculptural installation
Date: launched September 2010
Materials: cast bronze.
The is artwork consists of over 2000 Bronze cast pencils which appear to have been launched (dart-like) onto the wall. The tip of the pencil touches the white wall as a pencil would ordinarily touch paper. Hayes uses sculpture to communicate ideas concerning drawing/ writing. Among the 2,000 cast pencils are a number of donated pencils.
The public were invited to submit significant pencils to be cast and included in the project by the artist. Many of the written stories behind the donated pencils are poignant, the objects donated are remnants of past experiences, remembered for their significance. The cast pencils become relics and mementos. This also adds to their ghostly quality.
The work brings together various expressions of creativity, including ideas, written memories and aspirations from a number of participants. Hayes also conducted drawing workshops that utilised digital technology with young people in the Belmullet area.
The participants were invited to leave a mark on the pencil they used and these were also cast and included in the final work.
Áras Inis Gluaire in Belmullet houses the arts centre, with theatre and exhibition spaces and also the town’s library and court services. The elegant and modern building along with the large open internal space offered a rare opportunity to create a substantial permanent internal artwork.