Sunday 21 March 2010

SCULPTURE IN THE PARKLANDS LAUNCHES INNOVATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMME

Sculpture in the Parklands has recently received Heritage Council funding for an innovative education programme that explores the boundaries between art, science and technology. Internationally renowned artist and scientist Brandon Ballengee will deliver an education programme over a two-week period from July 19th to July 30th that will focus on the rich biodiversity of the Lough Boora Parklands. The programme will include a week-long education programme for primary school age children, one-day workshops for all ages and a series of lectures and night walks to discover the rich nocturnal biodiversity of the Boora bogs.
Since 1996, Ballengee has collaborated with scientists to create hybrid environmental art/ecological research projects. He is directly involved with field study research and uses the visual impact of science to engage the public in a discussion of broader environmental issues.
During Brandon’s residency he will install a large canvas screen into the sculpture park entitled Love Motel for Insects. The installation will use ultra violet lights on the enormous blank canvas to attract insects and this will create an opportunity for public interaction with nocturnal arthropods, which are not often seen. This is an ongoing project that has been installed across the world from tropical rain forests, inner city bus stops, Brownfield sites, Scottish Highlands, German city centres and Venetian boats as part of the Venice Biennial. At each site the insects arrive onto the canvas to reproduce and create pheromone paintings! Members of the public will be invited to participate in night walks to the Love Motel installation and Brandon will talk about our nocturnal insect friends as well as document the rich insect biodiversity in t! he landscape. The last weekend of the residency will culminate with an Insect Festival, which will exhibit the artwork and insect documentation over the two preceding two weeks.

Sculpture in the Parklands will host a free public lecture: Of Audacious Insects and Cryptic Amphibians: Experiencing the Biodiversity of the Bogs by Brandon Ballengee at 7.30pm on April 29th in Teach Lea community hall. For further information keep an eye on the website
W: www.sculptureintheparklands.com

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