Tales from a promised land- community art in St Michael's Estate

dublin | arts and media | news report Sunday November 23, 2008 17:10 by Paula Geraghty mspgeraghty at yahoo dot ie

Tales from the promised land is about what do you do when the promised changes don't come.

McNamara's developers pulled out of a multimillion plan which would regenerate the community. Arts projects had been up and running engaging with change and the hopes and challenges that come along with that change. An arts project which would have been exhibited on the hoardings around the development are thus not going ahead but this exhibition allows the work which fed into this particular arts process which involved all ages groups and sections of the community is being shown in the window at McDowells pub on Emmet Road. Local bus shelters have images created by women in a project called No Ordinary lives comparing the lives of women from the 18th century and now. Another project grew out of this exploring the lives of women prisoners in Kilmainham Gaol with another exhibition on the windows of the listed Barracks building within St Michaels.

A true highlight is Pimp My Irish Banger, inspired by MTV, created by some teenage guys from 'spare' car parts, nuff said- just go and see it!

This site specific location was launched last Thursday and ends on Tuesday 25thNovember, sadly such a short period of time.

If you want to book a tour or find out more about what each project is and who and what is behind it ccontact www.comonground.ie or www.stmichaelsestate.ie

You can just wander around, but the stories on the tour are fantastic offering insights into the arts practises and processes and the terrible reality of what do you do when you're dreams are shattered.

images (c)

Pimp my Irish Banger Posse

Art at the bus stop Emmet Road

Guided tour around art filled St Michael's estate

Image still from exploring history of women prisoners in Kilmainham Gaol

Gathered for the launch

Part of design that young children created fo the hoarding around the development of St Michaels