Callan ++500 – the future is now!

What does the future hold in store for human beings? What will the town of the future look like?

Since last autumn, the collective talents of KCAT and Colaiste Eamann Ris Callan have been probing these questions. The fabulously experienced artists of KCAT Studio, well known now through the recent Living Colour documentary on RTE, have been inspiring and supporting the students of Transition Year in the CBS to develop a vision of Callan 500 years from now, and to bring that vision to life in sculpture.

Next weekend, the Callan ++500 exhibition will present the work to the people of Callan and the general public. Taking place in the school itself, the show will feature the work not only of the TYP group, but of nearly a hundred other students: “The Transition Year Boys have acted as ambassadors for this project through the whole school, leading the other groups, from 1st to 5th years, in developing a coherent picture of the human being, the car, the home and the town of the future.” Said Jeffrey Gormly, who was enabled to co-ordinate this project through an Arts Council Artist-in-the-Community Scheme, administered by CREATE.

“And artists such as Andrew Pike, Sinead Fahey, Karl Fitzgerald and Declan Byrne have provided the creative mentorship to pull a big project like this together into a unique installation in the school. This project has been about cooperation, collaboration, and the unique environment of KCAT which allows for personal, social and community development through the medium of artistic activity.”

The exhibition opens in Colaiste Eamann Ris next Saturday at 6.30pm, followed by a Social Club. Anyone who remembers the TRASNA Festival Social Club that took place in the school back in 2007, described as ‘one of the best things to ever happen in Callan’ will not want to miss this.