Three options for Athlone town centre sculpture on display

Time is running out for the public to have their say on three possible choices for a new art piece in the centre of Athlone.

The three diverse sculptures have been short-listed as part of the Church Street regeneration scheme and have gone on display in Athlone Civic Centre.

The sculpture, with a budget of €60,000, is intended to be located close to the old Dillon's Shoes premises in front of the Genoa Cafe.
Scale models of the sculptures will be on display in atrium of Athlone Civic Centre until January 28. Comments are welcome from the public and will be fed back to the selection panel who will make the final decision shortly afterwards.

The three options pictured are:

 

This sculpture (above) is a large spherical structure, around which there are three looped rings. Each represent the three veins central to the historical and geographic location (the vein of the river, the vein of the Greenway and the east/west links provided by roads and bridges. Reflective colours and striking materials (mosaic and steel) work with a lighting design to maximise the sculpture's impact.

 

The Mask of the Shannon (above) is an 180 degree bronze mask, depicting an adaptation of Edward Smyth's Shannon keystone on the Custom House. Fierce and proud, this mask-icon of the River Shannon is laden with fruits of the river's basin. The back of the sculpture presents a modern circuitry effect, indicative of Athlone's key location, point of crossing and centrality.

Crossing Place/Bealach Trasnaithe (above) presents a tall, slim semi-abstract gateway sculpture conveying Athlone's relationship to the Shannon. Two interlocking bronze panels sandwich the wording of the poem 'Crossing Place'. The texture of this piece evokes water flowing with additional elements set into the paving.

Names of each sculptor are not being released at this time, according to the council. Members of the public are invited to come and view models of the sculptures, one of which will be chosen to adorn Church Street, in Athlone Civic Centre until January 28. Comments are welcome, and will be considered by the selection panel who will picking the winning artwork in due course.