Joanna Hopkins

In 1991, Claggan Island, Oileann Cloigeann, Belmullet, Co Mayo, was awarded Island status. Marram grass –also known as Bent grass - was planted along the Claggan coast to help slow dune erosion and re-enforce the islands access route. Using the Marram Grass planting that resulted as a direct consequence of this as a starting point, Joanna Hopkins set out to create a socially engaged project using the Marram grass as a focus for discussion, interaction and exploration with the local people of Claggan. A handmade paper was created using the local Marram Grass, made with members of the public and local people. Public Marram grass planting events were organized, to help replenish the Marram grass cut for the paper making, and to re enforce sand dunes. The handmade paper will be incorporated into a sculptural sand fence installation on the dunes leading to Claggan, which acts as a small scale demonstration of slowing dune erosion on the Islands main access route onto the island, and to highlight how limited access is an ongoing problem for each of the ten people currently living on the island. This video documents the process of this project, with narration by the local people discussing daily life and their restricted access into and out of the Island. With sincere thanks to the inhabitants of Claggan Island for their kindness, assistance and generosity throughout this residency: Sarah Ginley, Laurence Howard Snr, Patricia Ginley, Laurence Howard Jnr, Maura Howard, Cian, Oran and Dara Howard, John Ginley, Mary Lavelle and Dom Dalton. Note: The area leading into Claggan Island and Shrah Beach is an SAC, a Special Area of Conservation, and comes under the protection of the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Special consent was sought and granted by the Park Ranger for Belmullet, Irene O’Brien, for each aspect of this project. Special thanks to John, Eva and Kevin from Belmullet Tidy Towns, and Oliva Jones form Clean Coasts Ireland in their assistance in the Marram grass planting, and Brendan Henry. This project was created as part of the Tir Saile Residency 2017, and was funded by Mayo County Council Public Art Office, in association with Aras Inis Glauire Belmullet.

Joanna Hopkins – Marram Meitheal

 

Aithníodh Oileán Chloigeann go hoifigiúil mar oileán sa bhliain 1991. Cuireadh muiríneach feadh chósta Oileán Chloigeann chun creimeadh na ndumhcha a mhaolú agus an bealach isteach ar an oileán a chaomhnú agus a threisiú. Ag baint leasa as an muiríneach a cuireadh in éadan an phróisis seo, chuir Hopkins roimpi tionscadal rannpháirteach a chruthú leis an muiríneach mar ábhar cainte, cumarsáide agus cíortha le muintir Oileán Chloigeann.

Rinneadh páipéar de láimh den mhuiríneach áitiúil le cúnamh ón bpobal agus daoine de bhunadh an cheantair. Eagraíodh imeachtaí poiblí chun muiríneach a chur, mar chúiteamh ar an muiríneach a baineadh chun an páipéar a dhéanamh agus chun na dumhcha a threisiú. Snaidhmeadh an páipéar láimhe isteach i bhfál gainimh a tógadh ar na dumhcha ar an mbealach isteach ar Oileán Chloigeann, rud a léiríonn ar mhionscála na hiarrachtaí atá á ndéanamh chun creimeadh na ndumhcha ar an bpríomhbhealach isteach ar an oileán a mhaolú, agus a tharraingíonn aird ar na fadhbanna leanúnacha rochtana atá ina gcrá croí ag an deichniúr atá ag cur fúthu ar an oileán faoi láthair. Tá físeán ag gabháil leis an tionscadal freisin a leanann ón tús é agus ina gcloistear tráchtaireacht ó dhaoine áitiúla ag plé shaol an oileáin agus na fadhbanna taistil a bhíonn acu isteach agus amach ón oileán.

Joanna Hopkins Is amharcealaíontóir í Joanna a chruthaíonn físeanna, ealaín idirghníomhach, taispeantáin agus líníochtaí. Tá raidhse cónaitheachta curtha i gcrích aici in Éirinn, sa Ríocht Aontaithe, sa Fhrainc agus san Ostair, agus bhí taispeántais dá cuid le feiceáil in Éirinn, sa Ríocht Aontaithe, sna Stáit Aontaithe agus san Áise. I measc na ngradam atá gnóthaithe aici tá an Arts Council of Ireland Visual Artist Bursary Award (2016), Burren College of Art Emerging Irish Artists Award (2015) agus Visual Artists of Ireland DAS Residency Award (2013). Tá ailt scríofa aici do Visual Artist Ireland Newsheet agus fuair sí maoiniú ó Údarás Craolacháin na hÉireann chun clár faisnéise don raidió, “Public Art for the People”, a scríobh agus a léiriú.  Is í Cónaitheacht Thír Sáile, 2017, an dara Coimisiún Ealaíne Poiblí atá faighte ag Joanna ó Chomhairle Contae Mhaigh Eo. Tá MA Céadonóracha aici i gCleachtas Sóisialta agus an Timpeallacht Chruthaitheach, mar aon le BA sa Mhínealaín ó Scoil Ealaíne agus Deartha Luimnigh.

www.joannahopkins.com

Buíochas, Joanna Hopkins

 

Is Limistéar faoi Chaomhnú Speisialta é Thrá Sraigh, atá faoi chúram an tSeirbhís Páirceanna Náisiúnta agus Fiadhúlra. Bhí toiliú speisialta tugtha ag an Mhaoirseoir Fiadhúlra Beal an Mhuirthead, Irene O’Brien, do ghach aon gné den togra seo.

 

Buíochas ó chroí do mhuintir Oileán Chloigeann as an chinealtas, cúnamh agus cairdeas le linn an togra: Sarah Ginley, Laurence Howard Snr, Patricia Ginley, Laurence Howard Jnr, Maura Howard, Cian, Oran and Dara Howard, John Ginley, Mary Lavelle and Dom Dalton. 

 

Míle buíochas le John, Eve agus Kevin ó Baile Slachtmhar Bhéal an Mhuirthead agus le Olivia Jones, An Taisce, agus leis an tsiúinéir Brendan Henry.