|
|
Irish Memorial Page 1 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)To commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Great Hunger, a committee of prominent Philadelphians from business, government, and the arts have commissioned a monument to the Irish who perished and to those who survived-immeasurably enriching the history and culture of the United States. This monument is called the Irish Memorial.
The Great Hunger was a tragedy that led to the single greatest loss of life in Europe between the Napoleonic Wars and World War I. The Irish potato famine began in 1845 and affected other European countries. But in Ireland, the crisis took place in an economic, political, and social framework that was oppressive and unjust. Ireland and her people endured a disproportionate share of suffering. When the blight struck, 75 percent of Ireland's tillable land was devoted to growing grains, such as barley, corn, oats, and wheat, almost all of which was exported. Likewise, the cattle, pigs, and sheep were not eaten by the Irish but sent to Great Britain. All of this food was sufficient to feed the Irish people several times over. Because of the mandatory exporting, as well as 1847 British legislation that facilitated eviction of Irish tenants by their landlords, a million Irish starved to death, and another million were forced to flee Ireland. This amounted to the loss of almost a quarter of that country's population.
In a 1997 international competition, Santa Fe artist Glenna Goodacre was unanimously selected as the winning sculptor for the Irish Memorial. On March 13, 2000, the Irish Memorial Committee held a ceremonial contract signing for the monument's commission. This event, which took place at the Plough and the Stars Restaurant in Philadelphia, marked the official beginning of the project, and Goodacre received the first installment of her payment. She embarked upon sculpting the Irish Memorial, which was a two year project. The casting took an additional fourteen months. Projected date of installation is Summer 2003.
This major monument will stand in downtown Philadelphia at Front and Chestnut streets. (MAP) The l 3/4-acre national site is a public park that overlooks the Delaware River at historic Penn's Landing, a fitting location because many of the Irish disembarked along those shores. When completed, the massive bronze will be Goodacre's most ambitious public sculpture-with 25 life-size figures. The silicon bronze that will be used is particularly resilient and will have a dark patina with a touch of green, which will grow deeper over the years. A majestic landscaped garden will surround the sculpture.
The monumental bronze is designed as a dynamic arc filled with movement. Approximately 12 feet high, 30 feet long, and 12 feet wide, the sculpture will rest on a concrete plinth 2 feet high and will have the basic profile of a large wedge. The monument's flow will depict the famine in Ireland, the people embarking for America, and then the immigrants stepping onto American shores. The east end, suggesting a landscape, will portray the misery of the Irish Starvation. In contrast, the higher end, suggesting a ship, will face west as anxious immigrants dock in America and a number of figures rush forward in hope and anticipation. For this sculpture in the round, all of the figures will be in period dress but will be loosely modeled and impressionistic. From more than 100 artists, Goodacre was chosen to sculpt the Irish Memorial not only because of her dynamic design but also because she best expressed the mission and objective of the memorial.
An academician of the National Academy of Design since 1994 and a fellow of the National Sculpture Society since 1981, she has won many awards at their exhibitions in New York. Much earlier in her career, she studied in New York at the Art Students League. More recently, she received honorary doctorates from Colorado College, her alma mater, and Texas Tech University in her hometown of Lubbock.
As part of an initiative in the Philadelphia school district, as well as in other school districts throughout the country, the Irish potato famine has been recently added to the history curriculum. Philadelphia's "IRISH MEMORIAL" will give a stirring visual presentation, coupled with substantial historical data, to complement the school curriculum. The memorial will truly be an educational experience. Click on images above and at right for larger view. Contact Galleria Silecchia for complete information on the works of Glenna Goodacre.
© Galleria Silecchia 2000-15 Sarasota, Florida. All rights reserved.  |
Irish Memorial 2 » "DEPARTURE FROM DUBLIN" Bronze Edition of 40 20"H x 18"W x 18"D with revolving wood base $8000  "DEPARTURE FROM DUBLIN" Alternate View  "FAMINE" Edition of 25 14"H x 10"W x 14"D $4,500  "TINY MADONNA" Edition of 200 5"H x 1 1/2"W x 1 1/2"D $750
Irish Memorial 2 »
Irish Memorial 2 » |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
