Blog written 23rd June, 10am
Woke up late, probably something to do with the wine and the good craic last night. Strangely I feel very rested. After clearing up the evenings debris I have decided to walk the south side of the island and search for the Holy Well that is mentioned in Tim Robinson's book 'Connemara, Listen to the Wind'.
"It can be found on the south side flagstone rocks that project out to sea in a shoulder shape. Look for a small hole approx 6 inches in diameter and a couple of feet deep. The Well appears to have been truncated since the top layer of rock has sheared off into the waves, making it shallower than in the past"
The author has dedicated an entire chapter to Inishlacken and the arts project – he speaks of "painters hunkered down amongst the rocky outcrops sheltering from the wind". I like the term hunkered – it is so descriptive and very exocative of the need to get into a sheltered position to protect oneself from the elements when on the island.
The book includes very useful information about the history of the island. It was owned by two families – the Boughtons and the Macreadys – of these two, there are now only Boughtons left – no longer in Ireland but in America.
The book details many geographical features, much of them named after someone or something. Other features have names that have grown out of folklore or legend.
Today the slow-burn ideas for work are gathering pace. Memorial is a word that is recurring in my thoughts, there has to be some way to visibly mark the islanders. I am thinking about survival and what the essentials are for a community to thrive. Food, warmth/shelter, an active economy, a sense of community, the ability to pursue ones beliefs. This is the beginning of a list in my sketchbook which will no doubt grow. The thriving community of Inishlacken numbered almost 200 in its heyday. I may make some work looking at the demise of the community, either a hommage to or a mark of the past. I think the conditions for survival of a community will bring another layer to anything I make.
Blog written 22nd June, 9pm
I have realised I have not updated the blog about my work, so from slow beginnings, my thoughts are beginning to move forward. Here they are..
I am beginning at last to fill my sketchbook with some ideas and information that might have potential. I am intrigued that the island has no burial ground and no church has ever stood here. Regular church worship was dictated by the skill of the boatmen fighting the elements to cross the water. The dead were taken by boat for burial on the mainland. I have been reading a book by Tim Robinson that details the life, traditions and geography of Connemara and this has thrown up useful facts. Rosie has patiently answered my questions about the islanders – I am becoming fascinated by the life they lived and what led to the demise of their community. I think all this information might lead into a piece of work, but I am not sure yet what form this might take.
Blog written on 22nd June at 8pm.
I have now spent almost two days on the island and am getting used to the routine that nature has imposed upon everyone. We are bound by the hours of light and the rhythm of the sea. Our choice of clothes is inextricably linked to the elements – there are few places to shelter if you are walking the island. Its good when rain falls since this means we can use the rainwater to boil and wash dishes or even wash ourselves. Wind direction and tides dictates whether the boat can moor in the harbour or near the beach. The sea affects our diet – Big Pat has just brought forty mackerel caught in his nets on his way to Inishlacken from the mainland. Surprisingly all networks on our mobile phones seem to have a signal, so until my battery runs down I still feel connected to family and the world outside the island.
There are artists from many disciplines here – a photographer, composer, writer, several painters, two printmakers, sculpture and installation artists and myself, performance and lens based work. Holland, Germany, Australia, England and Ireland are represented and there is much discussion and comparison of the different arts systems in each country.
