Ever wonder what happened to the huge bird-type sculpture that sat next to the Anna Livia fountain on O'Connell Street? That colourful creature found a home in Herbert Park, in the playground, where by all accounts it is better appreciated. Dubliners are still rather iffy about public art, say Jack Gilligan and Derek McCauley of Dublin Corporation's Arts Office. They are among a gathering assembled for Wednesday's launch of Outdoor Images, a series of art events featuring projected images at Meeting House Square in Temple Bar.
It's a rainy evening, and people are sitting outside drinking beer. The awning and gas lamps of Eden restaurant keep them warm and dry while they wait for the slideshow to begin. Conceived as diversion for a winter evenings, Outdoor Images will run until March 2001 and feature work from film-maker and Today FM presenter Donal Dineen, and artist Laura Gannon, among others. Artists Peter Maybury and Marie Pierre Richard, whose work is part of the programme, are here to launch a book linked with the project.
Dorothy Walker is chatting to artist Mick Wilson. Brendan Barrington, who has recently finished the 18-month project editing of The Wartime Broadcasts of Francis Stuart drops in for a while. Liz and Denis Roche, choreographer and composer with Rex Levitate Dance company, are here. Film maker Malcolm MacClancy and Yoko Akino are interested to see how the outdoor film exhibitions will work. Eve-Anna Cullinan from Temple Bar Properties, Fergus Byrne and graphic designer Niall Sweeny are here too.