Swan Park Public
Art
05.02.25
ARTLINK is proud to
announce the successful revival of the Swan Park Ceramic
Trail in Buncrana, a community-focused project that celebrates the
fusion of art, nature, and local engagement. Originally
initiated by Aileen Barr in 1994, the trail marked Artlink's first public art project. The
revitalization of this cherished installation was
spearheaded by Aileen, who has worked closely with
local artists and community members to breathe new life
into the park through the creation of ceramic artworks.
The project highlights Artlink's enduring commitment to
community-based public art and its ongoing role in
fostering local creativity.
The original Ceramic Trail was developed in
collaboration with a local FAS scheme in the 1990s,
where Aileen, one of Artlink’s founding members,
worked to create ceramic tiles for a seating area and an
environmental tile trail within Swan Park. The artwork
quickly became a local landmark, contributing to the
park’s cultural and social identity. Following the
destruction of parts of Swan Park during the 2017
floods, Artlink recognized the importance of revisiting
this project, which had deep meaning for the community.
With the park's regeneration underway, the Swan Park
Ceramic Trail revival was conceived as a way to honour
the past while introducing new artistic elements. |
In 2023, Aileen Barr, who
had relocated to San Francisco in 2002, returned to
Artlink to oversee the revitalization of the Swan Park
Ceramic Trail. She worked alongside local artists to
develop new designs that would form the centre piece of
the project: a new ceramic seating area. Barr also
organized and led a series of presentations and ceramic
workshops, engaging local community groups in the
process of creating tiles for the new seat. These
workshops fostered public participation, allowing
residents to become directly involved in the artistic
transformation of their shared space.
In parallel, local artist Matthew Porter collaborated
with the community to develop a new ceramic trail within
the park, focusing on the biodiversity of Swan Park. His
work brought attention to the park's rich flora and
fauna, incorporating the ecological theme into the
overall artistic vision for the park.
One of the most iconic elements of the original Swan
Park Ceramic Trail was the circular ceramic mosaic seat,
which featured the theme of the Life Cycle of the
Salmon. This mosaic was carefully recreated by Aileen
Barr in collaboration with the community. As a focal
point within the park, the mosaic continues to serve as
a symbolic representation of the natural world and the
deep connections between art, community, and the
environment.
A hallmark of the revival
project was the active involvement of local groups and
artists. Aileen was joined in this endeavour by two
of the original Art in the Park participants, Sinead
Craig and Geraldine Timlin, as well as Sue Goodwin, an
artist-in-residence at Artlink in its early years. Local
artist Julie Magee also contributed to the project,
alongside numerous community groups such as iCare, the
North West Home Education Group, the Sliabh Sneacht Day
Centre, Gaelscoil Bhun Cranncha and The Exchange
Intercultural Cafe.
The collaborative spirit of the project ensured that it
was deeply rooted in the local community, with
participants of all ages and backgrounds contributing to
the ceramic pieces.
The Swan Park Ceramic Trail revival project has not only
re-imagined a significant community artwork but has also
deepened the connection between art, nature, and the
local community. Through the efforts of Aileen,
Matthew and a wide array of local artists and
community groups, the project has revitalized Swan Park
as both a public space and an artistic landmark. This
project stands as a testament to the power of public art
to bring people together, honour the past, and inspire
future generations to engage with their surroundings in
creative and meaningful ways. |
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