Light Up - Draíocht's Building Projection Commissions 2021 returned with a brand new work created by Orla Kelly, a visual artist who works to create interactive work for very young children and their families. These drawings are a visual gift especially for them.
"It is understood that we have been on a very unusual journey for some time and for some children born in the past three years, who may not have been exposed to the creative experiences for young children that Draíocht has been known for, this building may seem unfamiliar and perhaps just another building. This drawing of a hello from a big friendly character set in a dream world, one who brings stories and magic to all, seeks to draw attention to and from children and their precious imagination. It takes inspiration from the first marks and scribbles of children when they try to capture and share what is important from the world around them in their early years as they begin their journey in the world.
These drawings also marked a welcome Draíocht's New Season in 2021. In the drawing there are missing spaces or undrawn elements. These spaces, one outlined as a heart, are left blank for those who have been missing from this place. It stands as an invitation to all viewers to become part of this space again, to take their place in this dream picture as the welcoming hand is offered to share in the story of magic." Orla Kelly
Biog
Órla Kelly is a visual artist, creative educationalist and arts manager with a specific practice that focuses on working with and for early years children, aiming to stimulate and support the naturally creative, poetic, philosophical and curious intelligences of the young child exploring a naturally intelligent and free imagination.
She is the founder and director of Early Childhood Creativity, an initiative that promotes creative thinking and activity in early years children and their parents, and supports artists and educationalists to develop specific and creative ways of working with early years children (0-6 years). She has worked with young children for over twenty years creating work in Ireland and Europe, with and without a common spoken tongue, using creative understanding to collaboratively create.