Artist in Residence at Children’s Health Ireland.
‘Off-the-Wall’ with artist Alan Dunne.
CHI Connolly Blanchardstown Paediatric Outpatient & Urgent Care Centre.
I was invited by Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) to participate in an artist in residence at CHI Connolly, Blanchardstown, Dublin. The Off-the-Wall mural artwork series was themed on Irish nature and wildlife, and inspired by artwork created by children, their families and staff at CHI Connolly. The work was created with The residency, which took place during the Covid-19 pandemic and was produced remotely.
Alan Dunne Artist
Mary Grehan Arts in Health Curator, Children’s Health Ireland (CHI)
Juley-Ann Collins Assistant Arts in Health Curator, Children’s Health Ireland (CHI)
Paul Harding Manager CHI at Connolly (ADON) Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) at Connolly
Jacqueline Lyons CNM2 Outpatients Dept. Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) at Connolly
David Murphy Sign Installations & Applications
Site visit to the four rooms. I noted the various activities carried out in the rooms, the general experience of the patient.
Art worksheets were devised that had prompts for the children to draw images using a set of coloured pencils that was provided to them.
Children’s drawings and colour schemes from the Art Worksheets directly inspired the development of the final artworks.
“… I discovered how art could help shape a healthcare experience for a child in a positive and meaningful way.”
The artist residency at CHI Connolly in Blanchardstown Paediatric Outpatient and Urgent Care Centre was the first time I worked in a Health Care setting. Hospitals and clinics can often be scary places for children. I found the project so rewarding as I discovered how art could help shape a healthcare experience for a child in a positive and meaningful way.
Working as an artist in a healthcare setting led me to explore how art could interact outside the gallery or other traditional media platforms. Despite the residency taking place during the challenging backdrop of the COVID-19 lockdowns, it was an opportunity to try remotely done patient and staff engagement exercises, to be inspired by the artwork created by CHI staff and children, to respond to valuable feedback from CHI staff about the spaces, and the procedures carried out there.
It was a rewarding art project, and I hope that patients and staff will enjoy my artworks for many years to come.
Many thanks to all involved at Children's Health Ireland.
Day and Night.
The Plastering Room can be a noisy space - the artwork reflects the various sounds and sensations.
Measuring Room. "All Shapes and Sizes". A bird-themed room. Children can see the birds fly overhead on the ceiling tile artwork.
Measuring Room. "All Creatures Great and Small". As children are being measured they can ponder the idea that all creatures are special no matter their size.
Procedure Room. The artwork incorporates the busy machinery in the room and the space becomes a more playful "Air Traffic Control" themed space.
“… children smile, their eyes light up and become engaged and focus on the artwork … Children no longer freeze at the door but instead going running into the room looking for different objects. This leaves them more in control and distracts them from the scary procedures that may be happening around them giving them a more positive hospital experience.”
Lorraine Smith, Play Specialist at CHI Connolly.
