Workshop celebrates art commission at Innovation Quarter in former Mayo military barracks
MAYO County Council’s Public Art Programme and Moy Valley Resources IRD are delighted to mark the installation of artworks by visual artist Clare Henderson at the Innovation Quarter Ballina (former Military Barracks).
Clare was commissioned in February 2025 to research and develop site specific artworks for the co-working space at the Innovation Quarter. To celebrate this commission, Clare facilitated a drawing workshop on May 6 as part of Mayo Arts Service’s Bealtaine Programme. Participants visited the co-working space to view her artwork and Clare demonstrated charcoal drawing techniques.
During her time at the Innovation Quarter, Clare documented through drawing the views from various windows within the space.
She made charcoal and pigment chalk drawings of views from Block A over the course of the day, utilising the changing light, weather and passersby. She was particularly interested in people that were using the square of IQ as a meeting place, a place to take children, a spot to sit for a while and as a through-way to access French Lane and the main road beyond.
Clare reflects on the commission: “When I was working on the IQ public art project I aimed to represent the buildings but I became interested in also documenting the people using the area in their daily lives. Commuters taking the shortcut through French Lane, teenagers hanging around, dads with young children learning to walk, friends eating lunch on the steps, these moments that I felt created the personality of the IQ. So, my drawings hopefully ended up reflecting the life of the buildings as well as the buildings themselves.”
Jacqui Kinsella, manager of IQ Ballina, described the positive impact of the art on the IQ: “Clares art, now on display in Block C, has added another dimension to the space and has enriched the visual aspect of the co-working area, adding meaning and stimulation for those who interact with the space.”
This commission is part of Mayo County Council’s Public Art Programme, funded under the Per Cent for Art Scheme, Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. This funding enables Mayo County Council to commission high quality and ambitious contemporary art for the public to experience and enjoy in everyday settings throughout County Mayo.
Visit the new IQ Ballina website (www.iqballina.ie) for information about Innovation Quarter Ballina, including booking details for facilities and services at the innovation hub (flexi-desks, dedicated desks, private office space, conference room).