Visual artist Kathryn Maguire, the current studio 468 artist developed FESTA over the last eight months. FESTA is an "artistic nuisance" created by visual artist Kathryn Maguire to celebrate the impact and influence the Grand Canal has had on labour and leisure in Rialto and other areas through which it flows. Kathryn has produced floating artworks 'US' Again (a floating mirrored shed) and The Exchange (a floating vegetable garden created by the men’s Gardening Group based in St Andrew's Community Centre using the iconic Dolphin’s Barn bricks).
FESTA is a central part of Inland Waterway's Dublin Rally on the Grand Canal on May 11th and 12th 2013. FESTA also includes a series of events including public talks - the Festa Dialogues - on a barge docked at Suir Bridge on Saturday May 11 from 2pm, featuring experts in the field of ecology, the built environment and the Grand Canal. Free ticketed boat rides and a nature trail will also take place. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
FESTA culminates on Sunday May 12 at 4pm with a spectacle in Grand Canal Dock, when hundreds of origami boats, made by young people from the Canal Communities, will be launched around the floating artworks. Children (aged 10+) are invited to a free workshop at 2.30pm at the Waterways Ireland Visitor Centre in Grand Canal Dock to make the final origami boats to be included in this spectacular launch, all accompanied by jazz musician Nick Roth's 'Water Project'.
For more information & to register for FESTA dialogues and the nature trail please email: [email protected]
