Community Arts Project making wishes come true in Reenascreena

Written by Calvin Jones

Tuesday, 13 June 2006

Press release sent to the local media on 13/06/2006

Artist Marie Brett discussing the Wishing Tree project with RCAG secretary Ted Coakley

At 7pm on Wednesday 21st June a Cork County Council sponsored Community Arts Project will be unveiled in the village of Reenascreena in west Cork. Based on the concept of "Wishing Trees", the project is being coordinated by Reenascreena Community Action Group and west cork based visual artist Marie Brett, and will draw on Reenascreena's vibrant folklore and heritage.

"The artworks reference the practice of leaving ‘tokens’ at holy wells and will take the form of ‘wishing trees’," said Marie, who worked with children and adults from the Reenascreena community in a series of workshops earlier this month. "These sculptural artworks will look both back in time, through the history and folklore of the area, as well as forward in time through the hopes and aspirations of the community for the future," she said.

The project also celebrates the natural landscape, the creativity of individuals and enhances a sense of community by exploring how that individual creativity can feed in to working together as collaborative team. "Once the artworks are created, and people pass by, we hope they will take a moment in quiet contemplation to reflect on their own personal wishes, hopes or prayers for the future" said Marie.

The Wishing Tree project forms the focal point for this year's Reenascreena Crossroads Arts Festival -- an annual summer festival that celebrates the rich cultural heritage of the area. This year's festival will take place between Wednesday 21 June and Sun 25 June and includes a full programme of art, music, song, dance, drama and verse -- as well as the always popular "Reenascreena Duck Derby" on the village stream.

Festival events are open to all and are free of charge -- you'll find a full festival programme listed on the Reenascreena Community Online website, www.reenascreena.com, and on flyers posted around the area -- so why not head for Reenascreena, make a wish under the wishing trees and enjoy a fun-filled festival weekend?

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