Dogs’ Tales – the Park Kiosk Project

November – December 2014

My first visitor the time keeping Casper.
My first visitor, the time-keeping Casper.

Following an open submission competition through Limerick City of Culture, my project Dogs’ Tales was selected as the first project to inhabit the Kiosk in Peoples’ Park, Pery Square, Limerick. A key aspect was to interact with the Park and it’s users, and having observed first hand the many dog walkers all year around, I wanted to create an additional link between them, while also introducing an element of humour to the proceedings.

The Kiosk was more drawing than building after a while!
The Kiosk was more drawing than building after a while!

From 12-4pm  Monday – Friday, November 17th – December 5th I was  resident in the Kiosk and the park environs. From there I invited the many dog walkers who use the park facilities to drop in for a chat and a cuppa with their canine friend, and relate stories about them. At that stage I took some photographs/drawings of the dog, and then we retired to the park to take a portrait of the dog.

A Bridal Party dropped in to us one Dog Day afternoon.
A Bridal Party dropped in to us one Dog Day afternoon.

I had a great time and many good, sincere chats with a very diverse group of people. The dogs themselves ranged from chihuahuas, to French Mastiffs to mongrels, shy to extrovert, sedate to extremely hectic (!). As the project progressed I photographed the dogs around different areas of the park, culminating for the presentation day only, in a 360 degree portrait of the park itself in it’s Autumnal glory.

At the end of the project I collated all the information and presented it to the public and the participants on Saturday December 15th. Similar to my other projects, each participant received a memento of the project in gratitude for their time, in this case an unique A3 print.

An installation shot of the collected prints.
An installation shot of some of the 38 collected prints.
Fonsie's owner receives her print.
Fonsie’s owner receives her print.

Below is a taster of the completed works, which were available from the Culture House for collection the following week, along with a personalised letter of thanks to the dog(s) and owner.

Hopefully (fingers crossed!) we’ll publish a book later this year with the stories and illustrations to the fore, of which all the participants will receive a complimentary copy.

(Super) Brann, a handsome greyhound who protects his Cat friends.
(Super) Brann, a handsome Greyhound who protects his Cat friends.

 

 

 

 

Sailor, a young Collie who breezed in one day of his own accord.
Sailor, a young Collie who breezed in one day of his own accord.
Ada and Bláithín, two rogues who tested my organisational/photo skills to the limit!
Ada and Bláithín, two rogues who tested my organisational/ photo skills to the limit!