ARTstronomy

School Workshops: October - December 2009
Exhibition: 14 Dec 2009-14 Jan 2010, First Floor Gallery, Draiocht

ARTstronomy was the name of Draíocht’s primary school art and science project celebrating 2009 as the international year of astronomy, which took place over a 6 week period with 5th and 6th class students from 3 local Dublin 15 schools; St. Francis Xavier Senior National School (Ms. Corrigan’s 6th Class), Scoil Bhríde Cailíní (Ms. Moran’s 5th Class) and Scoil Oilibhéir (Iníon Ní Dubghaill’s 6th Class). In all 87 students and their teachers took part in the project, exploring both the universe and various art forms.

The project started in Draíocht where students took part in a ‘Deadly Moons Workshop’, created and presented by artist and astronomer Deirdre Kellegan. This workshop is presented in conjunction with UNAWE (Universe Awareness for Young Children), an international outreach programme which is a cornerstone of the international year of astronomy.

Then the students went to visit Dunsink Observatory during science week (8-15 November 2009) and had the opportunity to see the historic Grubb Telescope, located in the South Dome of the Observatory, as well as receive an illustrated astronomy lecture.

Finally, it was back to the classroom for a series of visual arts workshops with artist Anne Kelly, where students created their own lunar landscape, complete with deadly moons made from chalk, and life-size clay space men.

Draíocht was delighted to recreate this beautiful lunar landscape in our First Floor Gallery for all to enjoy from 14 December 2009 to 14 January 2010.

Check out a selection of images from our Gallery Launch.

A taste of the children’s comments about the project are below, and these were displayed alongside the work: