A sculpture gifted by the people of Chicago is to be unveiled tomorrow – but will be just one tenth the size of its original incarnation following a three year transatlantic row.
The Umbrella for Peace sculpture by Irish-American artist Matt Lamb was designed to stand almost 30 foot high and dominate the streetscape of a location as prominent as Eyre Square, costing in the region of $80,000.
It came in the wake of a gift four years ago of a six foot bronze sculpture given on behalf of the people of Galway to Chicago. Gráinne, by Maurice Harron, which won the tender following an open competition, is located in the Heritage Green Park near St Patrick’s Old Church, considered a mainly Irish neighbourhood.
In response, the American side of the Galway-Chicago Sister City committee sent a three foot maquette or scale model of their gift.
However it was rejected by the Galway committee for a variety of reasons including location, logistics and health and safety issues.
Following criticism of the committee’s decision to reject the piece, the offer was reexamined by the City Council’s public art committee.
They decided to instead erect the maquette in front of City Hall, placing it on a three-foot high limestone pedestal, bringing the work of art to six foot in total. It carries the inscription, Peace, Love Hope, on the umbrella.
The Chicago committee has also made a significant contribution to the Circle of Life Garden in the Quincentennial Park between the Salthill Hotel and the Galway Bay Hotel. This project, the brainchild of Dennis and Martina Goggin, who lost their only child Eamonn in a traffic accident, is to commemorate organ donors from across the country. It incorporates a series of stones from iconic sites to represent all the counties of Ireland and looks across to the Burren.
A delegation of 21 from the Chicago committee arrived in Galway on Sunday for a week’s visit. They will unveil the sculpture at City Hall tomorrow (Wednesday) and will attend the opening ceremony of the Circle of Life National Commemorative Garden today (Tuesday) at 2pm.
Read more in today’s Connacht Sentinel.
