Artist Cathal McCoy, of community art project Dublin Canvas (above) and Dublin Canvas artworks around Dublin
Harry Warren writes:
Ever wonder about the excellent street art to be seen painted on e.g. traffic light control boxes and other infrastructure, without the art, what would be grey lifeless street furniture?
I was walking towards town in Dublin and I came across Artist Cathal McCoy of Dublin Canvas, working hard on a wonderful new piece of street art outside of the old Meath Hospital at the corner of the Long Lane and Heytesbury Street.
Cathal’s concept of the art work is a pixelated map that when completed, will feature a red cross highlighting how the old Meath Hospital spread healthcare into Europe during the 1800’s. In the 19th century it was the site of the Dublin School of Medicine when two of its physicians, Robert Graves and William Stokes, brought bedside teaching to the English-speaking world.
Dublin Canvas is an excellent initiate, “a community art project intended to bring flashes of colour and creativity to everyday objects in the greater County Dublin area. Less grey, more play. The project takes previously unused public space and transforms it into canvases to help brighten up each area. Making Dublin a more beautiful place to live, work and visit.”
Long may it continue.
Great use of the boxes but I don’t recall seeing them in other cities I’ve visited. Where possible we’d do well to hide those utilities away altogether, especially Damehenge.
I’ve noticed the Luas stop in Stephens Green has a large underground hatch, why is it too much effort to do that elsewhere?
muddy waters invented electricity!
top drawer.
The Luke Kelly one in Rush is a fave of mine
I often wondered about the artists painting these boxes, fair play to them, Cathal and his friends are doing a great job!
This has been a great project, excellent standard of artistry and accomplishes to bring thought provoking ideas to all who see them. The old drab grey and green boxes look terrible, these new ones are bright and colourful, a win-win. Roll it out across the country. Some excellent mural installations around Dublin too, the skills of many of these artists should be highlighted and acknowledged.
Lovely to see Thom McGinty (The Diceman) remembered:
Many’s the smile he raised around Grafton St back in the day.
These have been great fun, public art done right …
https://www.broadsheet.ie/2012/06/13/story/
… unlike that other crowd who keep making excuses and pretending their murals are anything other than advertising.
It is a bit sad to see them vandalized or otherwise in disrepair but they’re fun while they last
https://imgur.com/bKbIxzP
Love these! A great project for the city.
I pass this one in Finglas on my way to work and it always cheers me up
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DizJqMjXsAMhVr9.jpg
You did that on purpose, didn’t you? God almighty I love Bowie.
Of course, you have Impeccable taste in all things x