'Tools of the Trade' Fossil Freaks 2024
This multidisciplinary workshop series was designed and delivered by artists Susie Walsh and Leah Murphy in collaboration with palaeontologist Prof. Maria McNamara and Dr Jess Franklin from the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences at UCC.
Beginning with an interactive introductory talk by palaeontologists from UCC, the artists introduced the idea of the paleo-artist, who uses a combination of fossil evidence, evolution and imagination to reconstruct prehistoric animals, plants and other strange creatures. The children were shown images of enigmatic fossils that lived during various times in Earth’s history, from the Ediacaran Period 600 million years ago, through to the Jurassic Period, 220 million years ago. Through a series of creative workshops, using a range of art materials and techniques, the pupils imagined and brought to life these mysterious creatures that existed hundreds of millions of years before humans.
The Fossil Freaks Art workshop series and exhibition form part of a broader series of collaborative initiatives between science and the creative arts, delivered as part of the Ireland’s Fossil Heritage project. This project is a major national initiative to increase public understanding of palaeontology and public awareness of Irish fossils, led by UCC palaeontologists and funded by Research Ireland (formerly Science Foundation Ireland). Project scientists Prof. McNamara and Dr Franklin said, “Palaeontology is a fantastic gateway to science and is accessible to people of all ages and from all walks of life. It is a science that naturally stimulates our curiosity and creativity. Working with fossils allows you to blend scientific facts – evidence of ancient creatures such as bones – with a creative interpretation of what that fossil looked like as a living organism millions of years ago.”
A collection of artworks created by 5th class pupils at Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers and North Presentation Primary School and by 4th class pupils at South Lee Education Together and Bunscoil Críost Rí. Exhibited in the Gluxman Gallery UCC
