Scoil Mhuire Clane

It was late August 2010 on a sunny afternoon when my friend John arrived in the garden clutching the green Clane Adult Education Course catalogue, John said he had enjoyed creative writing and painting courses, (to name but a few) in Scoil Mhuire community school, he asked me would I like to have a look, one glance told it was “kettle’ time, as I put on the glasses and perused the little green book, that was full of opportunities in so many areas, my eyes fixed on “Introduction to Sculpture” – NEW – was printed beside this course title, perhaps I should mention at this point that I am an Artist, and perhaps I shouldn't mention how long it is since I was at Art School in Dunlaoghaire, suffice to say a very long time, I always enjoyed 3D Art while there but had not continued in that area, but the thought of learning about new materials and working on sculpture again was exciting. John and I enrolled unfortunately the quota wasn’t filled so we transferred to the Stained Glass course which was brilliant, and, my first introduction to night class with other adults of all ages. Everyone created beautiful and different windows.

This September ’11. I went looking for the little green book and “YES”!- there it was again “Introduction to Sculpture” I immediately booked and this time it was a definite runner. A class of nine people turned up on the 26th September, and we got straight into making casts of our hands with Alginate and Herculine plaster, then we progressed to making an armature for clay modelling with Nuclay. The banter and fun and nine clay heads coming together is fantastic, everyone’s piece is different even though we are copying from a sculpture of Packie Bonners' head, (our heads are christened Aras!)

Paul our teacher told us to wrap the sculptures in wet T- shirts when we got home to keep the clay moist for next week, “a bust in a wet T shirt- great!” - muttered from the back of the room followed by loud laughter as we packed up after what seemed like 10 minutes. When I got the head safely home I just added a bit more of the clay before wrapping it up which I did at 4am ! I don't think I need say anymore, except thank you to the Staff at Clane thank you to our teacher Paul and of course thank you to my friend John for introducing me to this inspirational School, its never too late to learn something new and to meet new friends. Clodagh Gale