In 2023 Radhildur Ingadottir was invited to Ireland by Artlink to undertake an artist residency. During this time she was developing her work Contemplation on Gravity-Waves. After spending some time here, delivering a Projective Geometry workshop and talking with the local people she proposed to take this course that she has devised with Simon Charter, to Ireland.
The course, which was supported by Loal Authorities Water Project funding, was based at Buncrana Anglers Centra at Swan Park in Buncrana County Donegal. The park is situated on the Crana River giving the town its name. The centre was chosen form its hospitality, accesibilty and practical resources.
There was a mix of activities including water experiments, projective geometry, clay modelling, and a guided walk along the Crana River with Inishowen Rivers Trust.
What was the course?
We wanted people to be inspired by the natural movement of water in this hands-on workshop led by passionate and knowledgeable facilitators. Together participants delved into the intricate formations shaped by water in nature, studying its rhythmic patterns and vortices. They discovered how these formations reflect the structures of shells, conchs, and other organisms; how these beautiful forms may be vital for maintaining ecological balance. From gentle stream swirls to grand galactic motions, such vortices are not only present in water, but are in fact the basic motion of the entire universe, as seen for example in the shapes of galaxies, weather systems, plant growth, in the world around us.
Who attended?
The course was designed to awaken our awareness of the value of water. It was of interest to those who walk by the river, swim, fish, walk in the rain, take long baths, to those with an interest in mathematics, science, the cosmos, drawing, painting, working with clay and to those with a curiosity for the amazing natural world all around us. In the first weekend a select group of individuals with a passion for water spent and instensive three days exploring water through experiments and creative actions including working with clay and drawing. Addionally the North West Home Education Group spend a day with the facilitators and for the second weekend a drop-in session was hosted where members of the public were invited to join in the action. Many families took part and made experiments observation and created images.
