By Fergus McGrath

A novel and very interesting art exhibition took place on the grounds of Raheen College in Clonmel last Friday night, 23 June 2023.

The artists in question were learners from the Community Education section of Tipperary Education and Training Board (ETB) who had enrolled in a programme called ‘The Wellness Art Tunnel.’ After nine weeks of creativity, learning and fun this talented group proudly exhibited their work to invited guests in the idyllic setting of the school’s horticultural unit where they also received their certificates from Veronica Crowe, Community Education Facilitator with Tipperary ETB.

The work in question was multifaceted. To begin with, a polytunnel which was being used for horticultural purposes, was repurposed and transformed by the learners into an art gallery. The gallery consisted of exhibits that were made by creatively upcycling objects that were no longer being used for their original purposes in a way that artistically incorporated a variety of flowers, vegetables, and herbs.

The exhibits created had four interrelated components; firstly, they had a creative component, secondly, they had a horticultural component, thirdly, they had an upcycling component and fourthly, they had a wellbeing component.

The creative component in question consisted of the imaginative and decorative use of upcycled items ranging from used milk cartons to old wooden pallets. Horticulturally, organic methods were used to ensure that the seasonal flowers, vegetables, and herbs used were in full bloom at the time of the exhibition.

When it came to wellbeing, learners were introduced to the wellbeing benefits of the various vegetables, flowers and herbs that were used and also the wellbeing benefits of working with them creatively using upcycled materials.

Not only were learners informed about these benefits, they actually experienced the wellbeing benefits in practical terms in each class whether socially, physically, psychologically, emotionally, environmentally, or spiritually.

Over the duration of the course the participants were empowered to become independent learners. They were encouraged and supported to source items to be upcycled and to convert their concepts into tangible realities. The enthusiasm to do so, the creativity shown and the level of engagement with the project that the learners displayed were standout memories for course tutors, Cher Gleeson, Emmet Thornton and Fergus McGrath. In addition, of course, to the fun, the collegiality and friendship experienced by learners and tutors each time the group met.

The end result was some wonderful exhibits and some equally wonderful memories.

Further information about courses offered by Tipperary ETB is available at www.tipperaryetb.ie and fetchcourses.ie.

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