Sculpture Space

Caoimhghin O Fraithile

Luimneach, Ireland
Residency: March – April 2004

About the Artist
O Fraithile received his MFA from University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO and his BFA from Limerick College of Art and Design, Limerick, Ireland. He has had several artist residencies; Connamara Art Center, Dallas, Tx, Centrum Art Center, Port Townsend, WA, Institute of Celtic Culture, Dingle, Ireland. He has shown in numerous galleries in Ireland and the US.

Project Description
The artist’s intention with Long House is to commemorate those who have passed through this space over the years. In his own words, “I am using the shape of the long house to mirror the long vaulted ceiling of the railroad station,” he states, “and also to contrast the simplicity an materials of the piece with the grandeur of the architecture.”

“The reason that I have chosen to use white rags is because in many cultural traditions, including that of Ireland, my home, they represent the prayers and hopes of those who have tied them. Each piece of cloth represents the dreams and hopes of an individual who has passed through this area.”

“The long coiled hay forms represent the earth and that which feeds us all. The memory of the early settlers who depended on the land for their survival is our collective heritage.”

“I have painted the long house sky blue to symbolize the divine and that which is constant in our own ever-changing world.”