HEADLESS URBAN EXPRESSION

BY THE URBAN CARTOGRAPHER

Paint-The-Box

PAINT-A-BOX STREET ART BY BLU HERON DESIGN ON LOWER KIMMAGE ROAD D6

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PHOTOGRAPHED 28 DECEMBER 2024

Artist – Shauna Heron

This piece features a cat relaxing and surveying its kingdom from the comfort of its flower bed. The area in which the artwork is located is a thriving Dublin suburb with people (and pets) from all walks of life, and the artist wanted to create a pleasing piece that would appeal to as many people as possible. Cat owners will instantly recognise the attitude of their four-legged family members, while the daffodil flowers create something bright, colourful, and comforting to look at as people go about their day in suburbia.

Kimmage Road Lower, located in Dublin 6W (and partially D6), Ireland, is a long, primarily residential road that stretches roughly from the KCR (Kimmage Cross Roads) down towards Harold’s Cross and the Grand Canal. It’s a well-established area with a mix of housing, businesses, and community facilities

SAFE HOME OR SLAN ABHAILE IF YOU ARE SPEAKING IRISH

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PAINT-A-BOX AT THE OVAL IN PALMERSTOWN

Artist: Andrew McCarthy
Artwork Title: ‘Safe Home’
Location: ‘The Oval’, Palmerstown, Dublin 14
Year: 2018
Council: South Dublin County Council

McCarthy aimed to create a piece deeply connected to the local area. As a former pupil of a nearby primary school, his memories of walking home in his old snorkel jacket and carrying a heavy schoolbag inspired him. The simplicity of those days comes through in the artwork. Now an adult living in the area, McCarthy also observes that the track can become heavily congested as it sits before the final set of lights leading to the N4 motorway. This element is also captured in the work.

The boy depicted in the piece walks in the direction of the track, and the ‘Slain Abhaile’ symbolises a wish for a safe journey home for everyone.

Biography:
Andrew McCarthy works as a Graphic Designer for Freeney’s Graphics. His specialisation lies in vehicle and wall graphics, a profession he greatly enjoys. Many of his designs can be seen on vehicles throughout Dublin. With a lifelong passion for drawing and painting, McCarthy is presently working on a collection of original pieces. He anticipates launching his own website by the end of the summer.

The Oval at Palmerstown is a crèche and Montessori school located at 2 Palmerstown Avenue, Dublin 20. It is committed to the best interests of children, respecting their rights, needs, and interests.

The Oval Crèche and Montessori School offers a variety of programs including a Toddler Room, Pre-Montessori, Montessori, and After-School programs. They also participate in the ECCE Government Preschool Scheme, which applies to children aged between 3 years 2 months and 4 years 6 months on 1st September in any given year.

The school’s ethos is centred around happy children, friendly caring staff, happy parents, and positive interactions. They aim to support the learning and development of each individual child by providing an integrated, balanced, broad, and stimulating curriculum.

The Oval Crèche and Montessori School is based in Palmerstown, Dublin, and is easily accessible for local residents. It provides a safe, secure, and stimulating environment that embraces all children and values their race, gender, age, disability, culture, class, and religion.

A SPORTING CHANCE BY AIDAN BUTLER

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PAINT-A-BOX AT MARINO CASINO

This vibrant artwork by Dublin artist Aidan Butler adorns a Traffic Box near Marino Casino, drawing inspiration from the rich sporting and gaming heritage of the surrounding area. Butler cleverly incorporates motifs associated with Gaelic games (GAA) from nearby St. Vincent’s and Parnell Park, the historic Marino Casino, and Clontarf Golf Club. His design features a dynamic scrolling pattern with repeated colours and shapes, perfectly complementing the unique structure of the Traffic Box. A silhouette of the Dublin city skyline and the elegant Casino itself are also woven into the composition.

It’s important to note: While the artwork references gaming motifs, the Marino Casino was never used as a gambling establishment.

About the Artist:

Aidan Butler is a self-taught professional artist who has lived and worked in Dublin 9 for many years. His impressive portfolio includes state commissions, and his work is held in numerous corporate and private collections. Butler is also a skilled designer, creating posters, book covers, and logos.

The Marino Casino:

Often mistaken for a folly, the Casino at Marino is a delightful 18th-century summer house nestled within the grounds of Marino House in Dublin, Ireland. Designed by renowned Scottish architect William Chambers for James Caulfeild, 1st Earl of Charlemont, this exquisite building is a prime example of Neo-Classical architecture. Construction began in the late 1750s and was completed around 1775. Interestingly, despite his pride in the design, Chambers was never able to visit the finished Casino due to his commitments in England.

The name “Casino” derives from the Italian word “Casa,” meaning “house,” and its diminutive form signifies “little house.” It’s crucial to understand that this term predates the modern association with gambling. Lord Charlemont, captivated by Italian culture after his nine-year Grand Tour, chose the name for this charming addition to his estate, which he had named after the town of Marino in Lazio, Italy.

WHAT A HOOT PAINT-A-BOX STREET ART BY ALAN MAC ARTHUR

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PHOTOGRAPHED 22 OCTOBER 2024

This striking paint-a-box mural, located on Malahide Road near Griffith Avenue, features a captivating long-eared owl, a native Irish species. Artist Alan McArthur cleverly uses geometric patterns to evoke the owl’s feathers, capturing the essence of its silent nocturnal flight.

A Dublin-based graphic designer, McArthur honed his distinctive geometric style through his work as deputy creative director at Ashville Media and various freelance projects. He graduated from the National College of Art and Design (NCAD) in 2004 with a degree in Visual Communications.

TWO FOR JOY BY EMER MAGUIRE

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PAINT-A-BOX STREET ART ON LOWER RATHMINES ROAD

A few weeks ago I captured a delightful piece of street art! “Two for Joy” by Emer Maguire and it a colourful addition to Lower Rathmines Road.

Emer Maguire and “Two for Joy”

Emer Maguire is a self-taught artist who enjoys painting and creating art as a hobby. Her “Two for Joy” piece was created as part of the Dublin Canvas programme in 2023. It features two stylised magpies set against a vibrant yellow sky, designed to mimic a stained glass window. The inspiration came from the nearby Church of Mary Immaculate Refuge of Sinners. The black railings behind the birds helps the artwork blend seamlessly with its surroundings.  

Dublin Canvas

Dublin Canvas is a fantastic initiative that transforms traffic signal boxes into vibrant works of art. It’s a brilliant way to brighten up the streetscape and support local artistic talent. Since its inception, Dublin Canvas has brought colour and creativity to over 200 traffic signal boxes across the city. This programme has certainly made paint-a-box street art a common and much-loved sight in Dublin. It not only enhances the urban environment but also provides a platform for artists to showcase their work.  

Magpie Rhymes and Superstitions

The magpie rhyme referenced by the artwork is a well-known piece of folklore, particularly in the UK and Ireland:

One for sorrow,
Two for joy,
Three for a girl,
Four for a boy,
Five for silver,  
Six for gold,  
Seven for a secret, never to be told.  

This rhyme, and the superstitions around magpies, are deeply rooted in British and Irish culture. While variations of the rhyme exist, the core theme of magpies as omens of good or bad luck remains consistent.  

Global Magpie Folklore

Interestingly, magpie folklore isn’t confined to the Anglo world. Similar beliefs and superstitions around magpies can be found in various cultures across Europe and Asia.

In Korea, magpies are considered birds of good omen, symbolising happiness, good news, and fidelity.  
In China, magpies are associated with joy, good fortune, and marital bliss. They are often depicted in art and literature as symbols of happiness.  
In Sweden, a magpie seen chattering near the house is said to foretell a visitor.
While the specific interpretations and rhymes may differ, the widespread association of magpies with fortune, luck, and omens suggests a deeper connection between humans and these intelligent birds across various cultures.

AN EXAMPLE OF PAINT-A-BOX STREET ART BY TRACEY DALTON

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GRIFFITH AVENUE 14 OCTOBER 2024

In September 2023, I returned to capture Tracey Dalton’s vibrant “Paint-A-Box” street art on Griffith Avenue, this time with a different approach. My previous attempt, using a Sony FX30, was hampered by its electronic shutter. While I appreciate the FX30’s discreetness (especially compared to my attention-grabbing Sony A7RIV with grip), the slightest movement within the frame rendered images unusable.

Determined to do justice to the artwork, I opted for my A7RIV with the Sigma 24-105mm F4 lens. This combination, while bulkier, delivers exceptional image quality. However, the trade-off was the inevitable curious glances from passers-by.

Dalton’s artwork beautifully encapsulates the spirit of Griffith Avenue, renowned for being one of the longest tree-lined avenues in Europe. Stretching through the neighbourhoods of Drumcondra and Marino, the avenue’s canopy transforms with the seasons, offering a picturesque backdrop for leisurely strolls. In autumn, Dublin’s Griffith Avenue is particularly enchanting, with leaves turning shades of gold, russet, and crimson, creating a captivating spectacle of colour.

Tracey Dalton, a design lecturer and researcher at the School of Creative Arts, TU Dublin, brings her extensive experience in interior design to her street art. With a career spanning 25 years, her artistic flair and keen eye for detail are evident in this striking piece.

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