Town becomes a canvass for Wallcandy

SOME of Ennis’s buildings and walls are causing people to take a second look since they have become the canvass for an interesting art project.
The Wallcandy project has drawn together artists with various skills and training to create pieces of art on walls and buildings around the town.  Among the artists working on the project are a graphic designer, fashion designer, art teachers, a tattoo artist and a ceramicist.
Shane O’Neill of the Art and Craft Company in Chapel Lane, who initiated the project with graphic designer Emma Hogan, explained that all of the sites chosen have interesting or unusual features. “Although some of the sites are a little run down or have deteriorated due to damage or neglect, they have been given an artistic twist that totally changes the way you see it,” he said.
He added that the aim of the project is to give artists the opportunity and freedom to conceive and create a piece of art that uses their particular site in an interesting and quirky way.  “It also allows the artists the freedom to think outside their normal everyday work.  The resulting artworks aim to engage, surprise and entertain viewers of all ages,” Shane commented.
Wallcandy collaborated with Ennis business and property owners, Ennis Town Council, The County Arts Officer, Clare Youth Service and 17 local artists, all of whom gave their time for free, in order to create the finished Wallcandies.
From this weekend, a map of Ennis highlighting all 17 Wallcandies will be available from the tourist office, the Ennis Chamber office and several shops and hotels around the town.
Some of the artworks are already completed, including a bollard, which has been transformed into a Russian Doll in Westby’s Lane, by Barrack Street, a spectacular work beside Knox’s Pub in Shank’s Lane, two on the Clare Museum building, one in Arthur’s Row between the Friary and the County Museum and another on O’Sullivan’s Pharmacy.
“This is about brightening up Ennis, about making art public and presenting sites in a different way. It is also something interesting for people to look at. The artwork is of very good quality,” Shane said.
The Wallcandy is unique in Ireland. “As far as we know, nowhere else in Ireland has done this kind of structured approach to a public art project,” he added.
It will be reviewed in three months time to determine where the project goes from here. “It can be developed further, or it can be removed altogether, based on what the feedback we get about it is,” Shane remarked.