Events

Shekina Garden Exhibition, Co Wicklow opened by President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins

Date Released: Friday, June 16, 2017

The Shekina Exhibition was opened by President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins on June 9th. This exhibition celebrates twenty years of the ownership of Shekina Sculpture Garden by the original Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht. The Garden is now in the care of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, part of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

The one acre garden is situated in the townland of Kirikee, the gateway to the wild Glenmalure Valley in Co Wicklow. The garden contains a collection of eighteen sculptures by modern Irish artists working in varying mediums. Over time the sculptures have “grown into” the garden, just as the garden has embraced each sculpture. There is a recent addition to Shekina for the exhibition in the form of a sculpture by the late Fred Conlon, which is placed on the roadside nearby. The idea is to extend the exhibition out into the local community for its benefit, as well as for the many drivers, cyclists, runners and walkers that use this route.

Shekina Garden, created by Catherine McCann is an art form in itself and Catherine’s most recent role as curator is formalized in relation to this exhibition.Shekina Garden and its setting is a place of great beauty; it is also a reflective as well as a celebratory space, the latter being the theme of its opening day.

As Minister Heather Humphreys and Minister of State Micheal Ring say in the foreword to the exhibition’s Catalogue: ‘Shekina…. is expressive of the essence of Ireland, coalescing worlds of nature and artist, land and soul, spirit and enterprise and as a tangible reminder of the indomitable will that conceived it.”

Shekina Exhibition extends over June, July, August with opening times 11a.m. to 5p.m.  Picnics are welcome. For more information call 0404 46128. The journey from Dublin South is one hour and the scenic route via Roundwood, Laragh and Glenmalure is strongly recommended. Please review the Shekina Sculpture Garden website for further information.

Photographs by Con Brogan.