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ART SCULPTURE

Our art teacher Ms Burns applied through Creative the Atomic Bomb Dome, the only building which retained
Engagement for a grant to create a sculpture which will be its shape after the attack. People started to make origami
placed at the front of our school. We obtained the grant and cranes praying for Sadako and the 140,000 other victims of
also got financial help from the Parents Association, and the atomic bomb.
parents. We also enlisted the help of one of our talented I went to Hiroshima for a school trip last year and saw many
local artist, Joe Mallon who works with beautiful, artistic chic of the cranes dedicated to the statue around it. My year
ceramic pieces. We came up with various types of concepts made 1,000 cranes hoping for peace in the future as well.
at our workshop, which consisted of drawing, designing and Origami cranes always remind us the importance of peace.
researching our different ideas.
With the decision made, this would be our final piece as
When drawing we used different mediums such as chalk, there are copious cultures in our school and in producing
markers and more to enhance the distinct parts of our this sculpture we hope to unite these cultures.
designs and ideas. In addition to that we used particular Joe Mallon, our local artist showed us some of his ceramic
materials; cardboard, wire and coloured thread to produce a pieces. These pieces inspired us to create ceramic tiles which
small sculpture which corresponded to our earlier drawings. will be stuck on our steel cranes manufactured by Adrian
I, myself worked with cardboard at first to create the figure Nesbitt. We the core group and the rest of the TY students
of my design, then used silver wire to form the shape of the were shown how to shape the clay tiles, apply patterns,
globe which was held up by the cardboard figure. I then used textures and design. The first year students also helped in
coloured thread in the 3D model to bring it to life. The core the process of glazing the clear tile pieces.
group then decided, with Ms Burns which design we were
going to create. Together we chose the origami crane which Finally after the pieces were fired they will be placed on the
represented peace; Origami is known as famous Japanese steel crane structures hanging from the steel rods at the
culture but do you know what the origami crane means to front of our school.
Japanese people?
In doing this project we learned many skills; such as team
In 1945, an atomic bomb was dropped in Hiroshima, Japan. work and communication throughout the process. We also
Sadako was a girl who lived in Hiroshima and she suffered learnt to open our mind creatively and artistically, coming
from leukaemia as a result of the atomic bomb. In hospital up with multiple designs and ideas that led us to our final
she kept making origami cranes believing that she would piece which has a powerful meaning in both Japan and
be fine again when she had completed 1000 origami cranes. here in Cavan. The process of building this sculpture was
But before she reached 1000, she died. beneficial to us as it brought us all closer together, we have
not only become more aware of sculptures around our town
After her death, her story spread over Japan and the statue but also worldwide.
of Sadako holding a golden crane was built just beside

The Royal Times 2014-2015 61