Iora Nua - Squirrels Reimagined

The Project: 2019 - Ongoing

Photograph Courtesy of Lalin Swaris — 3 Squirrels - Longford Town May 2022 . Photo Courtesy of Lalin Swaris

This is an ongoing project initiated in 2019 is a creative partnership between the artist & Mide Street Arts - Longford, Ireland

Beginning with a large scale rendering of a squirrel placed in the public domain the intention of these works are to reframe a negative cultural association (The invasive Grey Squirrel) into a symbol for publicly shared creative expression. The seed idea will be expanded to include a strong engagement by residence of a variety of establashed and emergent communities from throughout County Longford. The initial Squirrel was temporarily sited in Longford County offices in February 2021. The project launch was postponed due to Covid restrictions.

Officially launched in February 2022 this engagement will lead to a series of artworks that resonate with the cultural reference points relevent to those communities expressed through the skill of artist facilitators.
With Thomas acting as lead artist to develop the visual identity and repeatable modular units, the longer term plan is for other artists to engage with specific communities around the county. He will also assist other artists with the facilitation process, the ethos of the project and technical aspects of the works’ production and siting.

Resin Mould Making on Wax Surface finish

Completed Surface decoration of 1st Squirrel