‘DA Horse Outside’ rolled out to the public to its new stable at The Hunt Museum on Saturday 2. All 8’ of vivid splendour connected to items in The Hunt Collection, The Rubberbandits showed up to paint-stamp their approval on its generous rump. “It’s a great honour to be invited by the children of Limerick to put our hands on ‘Da Horse’s arse’,” The Rubberbandits told us before being chased off for their cheek by the Outreach kids.
Tom Shortt as deputy mayor filled this breach of peace ideally as art teacher and dedicated community pioneer for youth projects.
This all-weather monument to young creativity, mentored by the LEDP project. “This is what community spirit is all about” noted co-ordinator Angela Connolly. It has pride of place outdoors at the museum until Autumn prior to its likely sale, funding future Corridor Art works with city children.
‘Da Horse Outside’ could also be read as an impish reference to legendary Da Vinci bronze horse held controversially by The Hunt until proven bogus by experts two years ago. Naturally, Hunt boss Dr Hugh Maguire is thrilled with the stunning artwork which supports his concept of “a museum without walls, which is what he wants The Hunt to be,” says Hunt education curator, Dr Dominique Bouchard. All children working on ‘Da Horse Outside’ are from Southill Outreach and Rosbrien’s School Completion Programme. At leasat 50 have been involved in Corridor Art work overall, of which this event is one.
“What this has done for their confidence and their self esteem, their skills, cannot be said enough,” says Outreach worker Samantha Kiiely. “Plus, it’s a great social outlet for them”. 13yr old Leeann Quinn told Arts page: “We did a lot on the history of The Hunt Museum which is really interesting. We learnt about the costumes, the old clothes of years gone by and had great craic with all the participants. Angela really helped us a lot”.
In a short speech outside DuCartes Restaurant on the river banks where this excitement was generated, Chelsea Ryan (15) from Catherine McCauley School backed her up: “We had great fun in the past couple of months and hope to take part in another one soon”.
Onwards on forwards so for such programmes that harness the innate brilliance of Limerick children, their learning of collaborative art skills and history, and supportive agents such as The Hunt Museum and LEDP in Roxboro.
