Stradbally Library and Arthouse Percent for Art Commission

The Library and Arthouse Studios, Stradbally

Per Cent for Art Commission selected:

 “Growth” 2011,  by artist James Hayes

 Laser cut 3mm thick stainless steel, approx. 6.5m x 2.75m, float mounted 0.5cm on courtyard wall.

This artwork presents a large, eye-catching contemporary sculpture for the garden space of the Arthouse Artists Studios. Of primary concern is that the artwork will be a source of daily inspiration to the artists using the studios. With this in mind I created an artwork which acts like a Rorschach inkblot. The positive and negative shapes of the artwork, the changing light and colours on the polished metallic surfaces will allow the artists and other visitors to free their imaginations and to see what they will in the artwork.

Taking the idea of growth for inspiration, this artwork began as a series of swirling natural forms, like vines on a wall. The repeating forms create patterns and reflections, to show motion, to suggest the process of life. Taking this theme further, a composition was developed which flows into an organic growth, a curling pattern that is self-similar and is based on a classic "Dragon" fractal, a swirling form in contrast with the linear structures of the architecture of the building, yet still very mathematical itself. This brings natural forms into the modern structure, which will be complimented by the action of people movin

The large-scale artwork reflects the changing light during the day, brightening shadowy spaces and further extending the 'abstract' pattern of this design. With the evening indoor lights reflecting onto the artwork, it will continue to shine at night and during the winter months.

James Hayes

b. USA, 1965, raised in Ottawa & Toronto, Canada.

Fine Art Diploma, Central Technical School 1989.

Fine Art Degree at Dun Laoghaire Institute in 2002.

Master of Science Degree in Multimedia Systems at Trinity College Dublin in 2004.

In his artistic career James Hayes has exhibited solo ('98 & '99, in Dundalk & Bray) as well as in prestigious group exhibitions and events both nationally and internationally. James participated in the Emo Court Artists Symposium 2005, the 1997 Temple Bar Street Art Symposium, the 1996 Kilkenny Arts Week, the "Home" show at the Project Arts Centre in 1995, and in the 1994 "Proof(1)" exhibition at Gallery 44 Centre for Contemporary Photography, Toronto, Canada. James has also organised five experimental bronze casting symposia (Umha Aois '03, '02, '01, '99 & '97), and continues to participate in the semi-annual Umha Aois projects.

James has created truly large-scale work. At the "Emo Court Artsts Symposium 2005" James created an image of his fingerprint measuring 120 metres by 80 meters by burning the image into a harvested field. This image can be viewed on Google Maps & Google Earth. At the 2006 "Sculpture in Context" exhibition at the National Botanic Gardens Dublin, James created another large scale image of a slice of his fingerprint, using decorative white gravel on dark soil, along a riverbank measuring 35 meters by 5 meters.

James Hayes has created private & public art commissions in Ireland and the USA, and is represented in corporate and private collections in Canada, USA, UK and Ireland.

Laois County Council most recent Per Cent for Art Commission was provided through the The Library and Arthouse Studios Capital Project.

Permanent Public Outdoor Visual Arts Relief Piece.

Total Budget €11,000

This commission was awarded by an open competition with a one-stage selection procedure.