The Future of Ice
New Sites, New Fields, Leitrim Sculpture Centre, Northwest Ireland, 2008
The distinctive U-shaped glaciated valley of Glenade, Co. Leitrim became the back drop for the launch of a large cast ice form onto the lake. This public event was envisaged as an interstice between the valley's formation during the last ice age, 15,000 years ago, and the contemporary retreat of glaciers and ice sheets due to a warming climate.
1000 litres of lake water was pumped from Glenade lake into a cubic metre container. It was then transported to K.E.R. Electrical Refrigeration Services in Killybegs, Co. Donegal. Here the water was frozen at -27C until it was a solid block of ice. The ice was then transported back to the lake where a timber launch pad was installed in advance of the launch.
An improvised lament was performed by vocalist Dorothy Murphy to lend this event a poetic quality and complement the valley’s incredible acoustics. Some 80 or more people from the valley and beyond came to witness the launch.
This work was created through New Sites, New Fields, run through Leitrim Sculpture Centre, Manorhamilton. With thanks to Eugene McBrearty of K.E.R., Dara Kennedy of Decapod Marine and Ciaran Clancy, Padraig Rooney and David Rooney and the people of Glenade.
