Microforest VII - Spring 2024
In the Spring 2024 students of Blakestown Community School were introduced to two new artists in the Microforest, Nessa Darcy (illustrator, and Creative Entomologist), who led a Metamorphosis-themed workshop and Thomas Duffy who focused on working with bindweed in his series The Ties that Bind.
The session began with Gareth and Rayne Booth (Director & Curator at Superprojects) introducing Nessa Darcy, who presented her work and its focus on invertebrates’ roles in ecosystems and human well-being. Students selected and discussed images relating to topics such as pollination, decomposition, medicinal leeches, maggots, and initiatives like Bees for Peace and the Rye Hill prison garden project.
Moving outdoors, students took part in a drama activity based on the Irish folktale A Tale of Two Beetles, exploring themes of judgment and fear of insects. Acting out the story in the landscape helped prompt discussion on how insects support human life and how our perceptions of them are formed. Next, students played the ‘rock, paper, scissors, metamorphosis’ game and learned about parasitoid and gall wasps, connecting the lesson to the Mbuti song Ama Ibu O Iye from the Congo. They spent time observing an invertebrate or species of interest and reflected on what could be learned from it, sharing insights in a circle while drinking ribwort plantain tea.
The group participated in an insect ID challenge using charts and guides, and learned insect sampling techniques including sweep netting, butterfly transects, and soil sieving. Together, they compiled a list of identified species for submission to the National Biodiversity Data Centre (NBDC). The day ended with a short demonstration on how to upload biodiversity records to the NBDC site, followed by a closing circle where students shared questions and reflections on the workshop experience. The last day of the cycle focused on working with bindweed with a workshop series led by Thomas Duffy, entitled The Ties that Bind.
The Seanchaí Microforest, located at Blakestown Community School, was created by artist Gareth Kennedy in collaboration with the Transition Year art class and their teacher, Mary Quinn. It offers students immersive, hands-on experiences in nature, encouraging learning around sustainability and climate action. The project aims to inspire young people to develop their own environmentally conscious initiatives. It is led by Kennedy in partnership with Fingal County Council Arts Office, Blakestown Community School, and The Arts Council of Ireland.
Gareth Kennedy is a visual artist whose work explores the social role of the handmade in contemporary culture. Using anthropological approaches, he creates site-specific, community-based projects rooted in experimental material practices. He co-represented Ireland at the 2009 Venice Biennale with Sarah Browne as Kennedy Browne and was longlisted for the 2015 VISIBLE Award. Kennedy teaches Sculpture and Expanded Practice at NCAD, Dublin, where he leads the Studio+ FIELD module focused on experiential learning in a nearby brownfield site.
Nessa Darcy is a Dublin-based Creative Entomologist whose work blends art, ecology, and education to reconnect people with the natural world. Through bug-focused learning, visual art, and ecological surveys, she explores the relationship between humans and other species. She works with diverse groups, including students, refugees, activists, and those in correctional facilities. This year, she is expanding her practice by studying nature therapy. A singer and workshop facilitator with Discovery Gospel Choir, Nessa brings a compassionate, creative energy to her work, fostering deeper connections between people, their environments, and each other.
Thomas Duffy is a Kilkenny-based artist, musician, and educator with a background in stone sculpture, bronze casting, drawing, and Afro-Brazilian music. A graduate of NCAD, he has over 25 years of experience performing and teaching Afro-Brazilian culture internationally. His work blends visual art, music, and community engagement. He directs Maracatu Ilha Brilhante and several samba groups, and teaches with KilkennyCarlow ETB. Thomas has led major public art projects, including A Fallen Bouquet and Iora Nua, and was awarded by Business2Arts in 2014. He is a member of Visual Artists Ireland, ANCAD, and the Teaching Council of Ireland.
