As part of our Bealtaine Exhibition 2025, we are delighted to present a series of information panels showcasing some of the incredible public artworks made through Arts for Health this year.
Two new panels feature projects by participants at Skibbereen Day Care Centre and Bantry General Hospital, St. Joseph’s Unit, created alongside visual artist Michael Greenlaw. The panels offer a glimpse into the wonderful, large-scale art projects that take place in healthcare settings across West Cork.
Summer Wildflowers
The Monday and Thursday groups at Skibbereen Day Care Centre created a beautiful fused glass project last year.
Inspired by summer wildflowers, the project began with Michael picking fresh flowers and bringing them into the day care centre one Monday morning. The groups started working with the flowers using different techniques including painting, printing, stencilling, and collage.
After a few weeks of experimenting, the group began to focus on creating a collaborative fused glass piece. As a group, they decided what flowers would work best for the artworks. With some discussion, they decided on a foxglove and a bluebell. The following week, Michael brought a design featuring a foxglove to the day care centre. Participants immediately began to share stories about collecting the flowers as children. They spoke about how they were often called ‘fairy thimbles’. Each person worked on a smaller panel, arranging pieces of coloured glass. When the design was finalised, each piece was put in the kiln where the glass fused together. Later, the groups applied grey grout to give a ‘leaded’ appearance. Michael framed and backlit the pieces in his studio. He installed the two works in the day care centre in October 2024.
The Sun Setting Over Bantry Bay
Arts for Health participants at Bantry General Hospital, St. Joseph’s Unit, spent last summer working with Michael to create a new mural for the hospital wall.
The group worked together to decide what the mural would look like. They spoke about undersea images; the colours of water, jellyfish, and sea urchins. Conversation continued around the range of colours that can be found in ditches and in evening skies. Life on land and at sea came together under Bantry Bay’s beautiful setting sun. After a few weeks of discussion, it was time to put paint to wall!
As the painting began, residents gathered around the wall to watch Michael work, and to discuss the project as it progressed. The mural content sparked conversations between Michael and the residents. The mural is a defining feature of the corridor. Each element came from conversations with St. Joseph’s residents, and brings together people’s stories and experiences.
These two projects join panels outlining public artworks from the previous 12 months; Through the Window, Beara Map Mural, and The Dunmanway Mosaic.
The Bealtaine Exhibition is running from 3 to 31 May at Uillinn West Cork Arts Centre. Call in to have a look at some of the incredible Arts for Health and Arts for an Active Mind work that’s on display!
Images by Catherine Weld and Michael Greenlaw.