Celebration of art in Athy next month
Alchemy of colour ink workshops
AN environmental-themed celebration of art, workshop and performance will take place in Athy shortly.
On 2 November, Blueway Art Studio will host the Future Ancestor Athy with support from Athy Library, a vibrant eco-celebration blending artistic installations, live performances, and eco-friendly workshops.
Central to the event is the mythical figure “Berba”, the Goddess of the River Barrow, symbolising the community of life, the preservation of water, and the importance of honouring the past while looking to the future. Berba is witness to all that has gone before and all to come, she is the constant and we would have no town without her.
With Berba as the spiritual guide, the program will encourage reflection and creative expression, offering an immersive experience for visitors of all ages.
This innovative program curated by Angelina Foster and Ciara O’Keeffe, will run from 1pm to 3.30pm, invites attendees to reflect on the past while imagining the future through creativity and environmental awareness. Future Ancestor Athy will be held in and around Athy Library, and is designed to connect the community with nature, heritage, and our shared responsibility to future generations.
The art installations are titled ‘Nature and Myth Intertwined’ and are the result of collaboration with groups and creatives locally including the Anchor Youth Club, There will be a rich program of performances will complement the art installations, bringing stories of nature, change, and community to life with traditional music by Comhaltas Athy, a drama piece by Griese Youth Theatre.
In the lead-up to the event, a narrated version of Berba’s Creation Story will be made available via social media and Blueway Arts website, providing a rich exploration of Berba’s origins and significance as Ireland’s 2nd longest river. It is narrated by Emily Rainsford, Judith O’Brien and Brid Brophy.
Finally, participants can get hands-on with a series of eco-focused workshops including making symbolic boats, screen prints inspired by Berba’s animal spirit, a Barrow Walk with Cliff Ried and botanical ink making.
Blueway Arts Studio have received a Kildare Co Climate Innovation Fund for the project.
The purpose of Future Ancestor Athy to change the mindset or behaviour of the wider community, to merge Athy’s sense of place through the folklore of the River Barrow with the Unesco Endorsed Earth Charter Values, and to instil responsibility for the greater community of life.
This is a pilot venture so local support would be appreciation.
Future Ancestor Athy will be followed by two repair cafes, in Narraghmore and Athy, traditionally the most wasteful times of the year.
For more information & the full program see https://bluewayartstudio.ie/future-ancestor-project/.ie.
