Efflorescence
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| Artist Name(s) | Martina Coyle |
| Artwork title | Efflorescence |
| Context/Background | Martina Coyle's commission for Fingal County Council centred on the Smyth & Co textile factory in Balbriggan. This industry was central to the Balbriggan economy for almost 250 years, famous for its silk stockings which were exported all over the world and counted royalty as a client. In later years the factory made a variety of cotton goods and special knitwear to a very high standard using traditional craftsmanship. The factory is no longer in use and has since been transformed for commercial retail use. Martina and Public Art Co-ordinator Caroline Cowley discussed a variety of sites before focusing on this site. They felt that thematically this textile factory and its former activities reflected concerns in Martina’s own practice. The factory closed in the 1980s and its buildings have since been converted for a variety of commercial uses. Following a long period of research Martina met with former factory workers who all had memories and photographs of the factory. She was particularly interested in the old bridge which linked the two buildings. Martina wanted to reflect aspects of the buildings former presence in the town by recreating this bridge using materials and manufacturing techniques associated with the factory to create a temporary sculptural installation. |
| Description | A site specific bridge was constructed in steel and silk, representative in design and an accurate scale of a bridge which was there until 1996. The silk was hand sewn in collaboration with Frances Hammond and Rishie Peroo, who both currently work in a small sewing factory which is also in one of the Smyth & Co units. The bridge included beadwork, the beadwork replicate the sumptuous patterns which were found on the world famous silk stockings made at the factory.the piece had a day presence and was lit a night by U.V light to reveal the internal steel structure in a neon blue light. |
| Mediation | A catalogue is being produced as part of the project An essay about the project was written by Gemma Tipton and is available for download here |
| Biographies | Martina Coyle, currently based in Westmeath, was born in Dublin in1966. She is a multi-disciplinary artist whose practice is made up of two inter-related strands; studio based artwork / site specific installation and public artwork. Her public artwork, which ranges from permanent to ephemeral, includes collaborative and residential public projects in various locations around Ireland. Her work covers many different mediums and modes of fabrication including installation, sculpture, drawing, video and sound. Martina has worked extensively with groups and individuals on projects including In Your Own Words, ephemeral rural installation, Wexford, Children’s art workshops, La Forge, Paris, Intergenerational workshops, Maugherow Project, Sligo, Forthill Men’s Group, Sligo. In My Head and Family Workshops, The Museum of Modern Art, Dublin. |
| Commission Type | Local Authority |
| Commissioner Name | Fingal County Council |
| Commissioning process | Martina was selected as part of Fingal's Public Art Panel.The formation of the panel was an open process and artists are invited to work with the council on their chosen brief |
| Project commission dates | March 31, 2007 - March 9, 2010 |
| Public Presentation dates | March 7, 2010 - March 9, 2010 |
| Artform | Architecture,Visual Arts |
| Funded By | Fingal County Council |
| Percent for art | Yes |
| Budget Range | 35000 - 70000 euro |
| Project commission start date | 31/03/2007 |
| Project commission end date | 09/03/2010 |
| County | Dublin |
| Town | Balbriggan |
| Street Address | Railway Street |
| Google Map Insert | View this projects location |
| Content contributor(s) | Caroline Cowley |
| Relationship to project | Mediator/ Curator/ Organiser |
| Public engagement | Former factory workers, local business, historians, shop owners |
| Associated professionals / Specialists involved | Public Arts Co-ordinator, engineer, sewing experts, technicians, traffic management |
