OUR PLACE at Merlin Woods, a theatre, music, performance, and visual art spectacle, takes place this Saturday and Sunday, from 2pm to 5pm, and features a variety of works by Galway and Scottish artists.
The public is invited to wander the woods, discover poetry in the trees, stories in the undergrowth, hear songs and music, see sculptures created from coppiced woods, take fairy walks, watch circus skills, and enjoy theatre performances, food, and local craft stalls.
Theatre-maker Féilim Ó hAoláin, presents Forest Audio Reflections, a collection of soundscapes and stories from, among others, the Polish School Galway, Foróige Sound Surfers, and the Resource Centre Doughiska, in various ‘reflective zones’ in the woods.
Galway actor/writer Catherine Denning will highlighting the conservation of the woods, through the theatrical Lady Violet Bleakly’s Slimy Realm, about a character residing in the polluted former waterfall at Merlin Woods.
A sculpture by Debbie Reilly, created from coppicing hazel - an ancient form of woodland management involving cutting branches near to ground level to encourage new shoots to grow - will seek to serve as a focal meeting point in the woods. Glasgow artist Maria McCavana's My Eyes Are Open, showcases stories from local residents.
The event is part of Galway 2020’s flagship legacy project An Artist in Every Place, curated by Neil Butler, artistic director of UZ Arts, Glasgow, and project managed by the TULCA Festival of Visual Arts.
Admission is free and the event is suitable for children. Parking is limited. Those coming are encouraged to use public transport. For more information visit www.galway2020.ie
