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PCC Transition Year
Tá daltaí na hidirbhliana, 2004 – 2005, i bPobailscoil Chloich Cheann Fhaola ag ullmhú don taispeántas seo ó mhí Mheán Fómhair 2003. Bhí na daltaí rannpháirteach i ngach gné den phróiseas tionscadail, ó théama an taispeántais agus an coincheap ealaíne suas go dtí an ócáid oscailte don phobal. Is í an aidhm a bhí ar a chúl ná tionscadal praiticiúil a éascú sa dóigh go mbeifí i ndán an teibíocht a thuigbheáil go soiléir. Dá bhrí sin, chuir an tionscadal ar chumas na ndaltaí taithí a fháil ar cad é i ndáiríre atá i gceist le slí bheatha ghairmiiúil sna healaíona. Fuair daltaí a raibh spéis acu sna healaíona cheana féin an deis le hiniúchadh a dhéanamh ar fhéidearthachaí éagsúla, diomaite den phéintéireacht, dá slite beatha sa todhchaí. Maidir leis na daltaí nach ndearna staidéar riamh roimhe sin ar ealaín, d'oscail an tionscadal seo fuinneag daofa ar dhomhan na n-ealaíon agus, b'fhéidir, ar a luachmhaireacht.
Baineann an saothar atá curtha i gcrích acu lena saol féin; tá cuid mhór de na hábhair dírithe ar an fhreagracht a bhaineann leis na 'roghanna' atá le déanamh acu san am i láthair. Cé go ndéanann dornán de na píosaí scrúdú ar 'coimhlint' agus 'mearbhall’, tá soiléireacht sa saothar deiridh agus láidreacht dá bharr. Tá na daltaí seo i dtiúin leis an saol atá thart orthu; tá siad tuisceanach agus eolach ar cad é atá lucht a gcomhchéime ag dréim leis, eolach ar shúilíocht tráchtála agus eolach ar na gaistí agus na contúirtí atá i gceist leo siúd. Os a choinne sin, tá píosaí eile sa taispeántas atá éadromaigeanta, iad ag ceiliúradh indibhidiúlacht agus cearta an duine aonair. Go deimhin, rinne PCC cinneadh críonna, fiúntach agus torthúil nuair a bheartaigh siad dul i gceann an tionscadal seo.
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PCC Transition Year
The Transition year class of 2004 – 2005 of Phobailscoil Chloich Cheann Fhaola have been working towards this exhibition since September 2003. The students have been involved in all aspects of the project process from exhibition theme and artwork concept right through to the public opening. Ultimately the intention was to facilitate a genuinely hands on project that made the abstract tangible. This project therefore allowed the students the opportunity to experience the actuality of a professional artistic career. Students who had already an interest in the arts came into contact with the variety of possible future job options other than simply the artist. For those students who had never studied art previously this project opened a window into the world of art and, perhaps, its validity.
The work they produced has relevance to their lives; many subjects center around the responsibility of the ‘choices’ they are engaged in currently. Even though a number of pieces of work explore ‘conflict’ and ‘confusion’ the final works have clarity and therefore strength. These students are ‘tuned in’ and ‘turned on’; they are aware and informed about commercial and peer expectation and the pitfalls therein. On the other hand other works take a lighter note and celebrate the right to individuality and self. The decision by PCC to embark on this project was indeed a wise, worthy and fruitful one.