Newcastle West Community Council wish to commission a Public Art Sculpture that will honour the memory and literary legacy of the poet Michael Hartnett. The sculpture will be in bronze, stone or other media suitable for an exterior location in Newcastle West Co.Limerick.

Proposals are invited from Professional Sculptors to submit:

• Ideas, sketches, maquettes for the commissioned piece
• A budget breakdown inclusive of foundry quotations
• A detailed CV

Context for the commission

The commission will commemorate and celebrate the life and work of the poet Michael Hartnett. It is suggested that the finished piece show evidence of a reading and understanding of Michael Hartnett’s poetry, an awareness of his life and how that life influenced his unique poetic sensibility.

The sculptor should consider some important aspects of his life and work:

• the dualities that were the source of his poetry, in particular his familiarity and use of two linguistic traditions, Irish and English
• the form and structure of his work informed by, for example, the Irish Bardic tradition and Eastern mystic art forms and the traditional ballad
• his sense of place rooted in both the West Limerick rural landscape of Camas, Glendarragh, Templeglantine and the environments of Maiden Street Newcastle West and Inchicore Dublin
• his identification with his local community of Newcastle West, his lively sense of humour and the innate sense of isolation that is the condition of the poet.

The sculptor should seek to combine these disparate elements, to translate them into a sculptural piece that is accessible in interpretation but that allows for the sense of transcendence that permeates the poet’s work.

It is suggested that the final sculpture embodies the poet as witness and chronicler of his time and place and gives visual expression that reflects the depth and width of his poetic integrity. Michael Hartnett is not only one of the most influential Irish poets of the twentieth century but also, “the greatest translator of the Irish language poetry in the second half of the twentieth century.” ( ‘The double vision of Michael Hartnett.’ Declan Kiberd in ‘Remembering Michael Hartnett.’ John McDonagh & Stephen Newman Eds.,Four Courts Press 2006.) It is important therefore that the finished Public Art Sculpture reflect both his stature as a national poet and as a poet beloved by his local community.

In response to the invitation for submissions for this Public Art Commission the sculptor should present ideas, sketches, maquettes that display and combine an individual, sensitive handling of materials with an original, sympathetic interpretation of the poet’s life and work. The sculpture can be representational, abstract or a combination of these.

The Eigse Hartnett Festival, now in its eleventh year, is held annually in Newcastle West and has produced a number of arresting advertisement posters for the festival which effectively incorporate imagery from the poet’s work with a representational portrait of the poet. These may be of interest as part of the initial research into the subject of Michael Hartnett and are available from Limerick County Council Arts Office.

Budget

There is a guideline  budget of €30,000 for the commission inclusive of all artworks, artist’s fees, documentation costs, travel, materials, design, fabrication, insurance and all other costs associated with the creation, delivery and permanent installation of the artwork *Artists tendering for the commission must submit a full detailed budget proposal.

Artwork Specification

Consideration will be given to durability and maintenance of the proposed artwork.

Timescale

The work to be completed and installed within 6 months of the awarding of the contract.

Proposed Location

In front of the Desmond Banqueting Hall as one approaches Ned Lynch’ Pub in The Square, Newcastle West. If alternative sites are identified by artists, then these will be considered by the Community Council. The final decision however rests with the Community Council.

Eligibility

Sculptors must demonstrate a professional standard of art practice. Also a contract can only be awarded to an artist with an up to date tax clearance cert.

For your information this will be a two stage commission:

Stage 1

Open competition to submit preliminary drawings, sketches, maquettes

A detailed outline of budget, examples of previous work/commissions and demonstrate an ability to deliver on time and within budget.

Submissions by email will not be accepted.

*The commissioners reserve the right to offer a direct commission at this stage.

Stage 2

One or more submissions may be selected by the commissioners to develop their ideas, sketches, maquettes to a ‘to scale’ maquette/model. From this short listing a final selection may be made. The sculptor will be paid a fee of €500 to create this maquette/ model.

*The commissioners reserve the right to withhold commissioning.

Closing Date

4.00 pm Friday April 16th for stage 1 submissions

All applications should be marked ‘Michael Hartnett Public Art Sculpture’ and sent to :

Mr. Seamus Hunt,
Chairperson,
Newcastle West Community Council,
Community Centre,
Castle Demesne,
Newcastle West,
Co. Limerick

Selection Panel

Representatives of Newcastle West Community Council,  a representative from Newcastle West Historical Society, a representative of Newcastle West Arts Committee, an independent professional artist and a  representative of Limerick County Council Office Arts Office

Information References

Collected Poems. Michael Hartnett. Gallery Books 2001
Translations. Michael Hartnett. Gallery Books 2003

Notes from his Contemporaries

Self Published by Niall Hartnett (www.niallhartnett.com, 2009)
Remembering Michael Hartnett (John McDonagh & Stephen Newman Eds,
Four Courts Press, 2006)
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/michael_hartnett_(poet)
Official Web Site: www.michael-hartnett.com
Hartnett at Irish Writers on Line.
Limerick County Council Arts Ofice  www.lcc.ie/arts&culture

For Further Information on Brief

Mr. Pat Mc Loughlin
Vice – Chairperson,
Newcastle West Community Council
Tel: 069 61556