A giant outline of an astronaut has been created on the rooftop of an old mill in Newry, the home of the Sticky Fingers Arts Centre in Northern Ireland.
During August and September 2021, artist Brendan Jamison used 10,000 little white rocks to create ‘Astronaut of the Future’. The sculpture measures 15 metres long (50 feet) and features a floating spacesuit complete with helmet and oxygen tank. Jamison has used white marble and Cretaceous chalk rocks, offering a sparkling bright white for the figure’s outline. The artist enjoys cross-pollinating different disciplines when making sculptures, in this case combining art with geology and astronomy. The space theme also ties in with Jamison’s arthouse film-making project, Minus 10, with the trailer set for release in December 2021.
During October, Jamison added Planet Earth to the bottom left of the roof, created with blue and green paint and measuring 4 metres (13 ft) in diametre.
On Sunday, November 14, Pak Aerial Media sent a drone over the building to capture the astronaut and Planet Earth.
Mark Revels, Operations Manager at Sticky Fingers, said “we are delighted to have this giant artwork on the roof as we reopen to the public on 7th September after an 18 month break. The theme offers a beautiful link to the spaceship in The Imaginarium, our interactive multi-sensory play area. We have been super busy redesigning the arts centre over the past year. Now we can’t wait to reveal all the creativity as we welcome back visitors to enjoy the magic and get lost in a world of wonder.”
One of the highlights of this project is how it can be captured by technology up in the sky. The astronaut is visible as satellites pass over Northern Ireland and when Googlemaps do their next update, the artwork will get photographed and become part of the Newry cityscape.
Brendan Jamison states:
“2021 has welcomed the launch of several space tourism projects by billionaires Richard Branson (Virgin Galactic), Jeff Bezos (Blue Origin) and Elon Musk (SpaceX). This has reignited a global hunger to travel closer to the stars and gain a different perspective on Planet Earth. These space projects can help humanity expand our collective imagination, in turn pushing the boundaries of what we dream is possible, something akin to the ethos of the Sticky Fingers Arts Centre. It has a special focus on children, helping them reach their full potential by expanding their imagination through play and creativity. Hopefully ‘Astronaut of the Future’ can connect with the dreams, ambitions and enthusiasm of young people, with their youthful optimism for the future.”
Sticky Fingers Arts Centre, 10 Upper Edward Street, Newry, Co.Down, Northern Ireland, BT35 6AX
Brendan Jamison's Planet Earth, 2021, painted roof, 400 x 400 cm, Sticky Fingers Arts Centre, Newry, Northern Ireland
Photography © Jamison International Sculpture Studio
Brendan Jamison's Astronaut of the Future, 2021, created with 10,000 marble and chalk rocks and 5,000 slate fragments, 1500 x 650 cm, installed on the roof of the Sticky Fingers Arts Centre, Newry, Northern Ireland
Photography © Jamison International Sculpture Studio
Artist Brendan Jamison beginning the outline of the astronaut on the roof of Sticky Fingers Arts Centre, Newry
Photography © Jamison International Sculpture Studio
Artist Brendan Jamison finishing Astronaut of the Future, 2021, created with 10,000 marble and chalk rocks and 5,000 slate fragments, 1500 x 650 cm, installed on the roof of the Sticky Fingers Arts Centre, Newry, Northern Ireland
Photography © Jamison International Sculpture Studio
Artist Brendan Jamison beginning the outline of the astronaut on the roof of Sticky Fingers Arts Centre, Newry
Photography © Jamison International Sculpture Studio
Detail of Brendan Jamison's Astronaut of the Future, 2021, created with 10,000 marble and chalk rocks and 5,000 slate fragments, 1500 x 650 cm, installed on the roof of the Sticky Fingers Arts Centre, Newry, Northern Ireland
Photography © Jamison International Sculpture Studio
Mark Revels checking the progress of the astronaut on the roof of the Sticky Fingers Arts Centre, Newry
Photography © Jamison International Sculpture Studio
2nd last week of construction. Brendan Jamison (left) and Mark Revels (right) discussing the progress of the astronaut on the roof of the Sticky Fingers Arts Centre, Newry
Photography © Jamison International Sculpture Studio
Sticky Fingers Arts Centre on Upper Edward Street, Newry, Norhern Ireland
Photography © Jamison International Sculpture Studio
Sticky Fingers Arts Centre on Google Maps, as at 1 September 2021, before the astronaut appears on the 2022 update
Newry city on Google Maps |
