Image: Flying Rowan, Michael Fortune, 2019
Launch of Michael Fortune’s The Plants, Flowers and Trees of Our People
Marking the opening of Michael Fortune’s TULCA commission supported by Creative Ireland Galway County Council Bursary 2019.
Thursday 31 October - 13.00
Tuam Library / County Council Building
The Plants, Flowers and Trees of Our People, 2019
For Tulca 2019 artist/folklorist Michael Fortune has produced a new body of work which explores the flowers, plants and trees found within the gardens, farms and homes of people around Skehana and the memories and histories associated with them.
Working in conjunction with Skehana Heritage Group and pupils/staff of Garbally National School, he has encountered people from the area who have plants and trees that hold deep memories and associations. The culture of sharing plants within families and communities developed naturally over millennia in rural Ireland and the concept of buying plants was completely foreign for most people, so the natural thing was to take slips and cuttings from family and neighbours. As a result of this localised sharing and planting, patterns and styles developed which you will still spot to this day around the country.
Alongside this film, he has also produced another work based on a young mountain ash/rowan tree which he encountered in July this year. This ‘flying rowan’ was spotted in the remote townsland of Ballycrystal under Mount Leinster in Co. Wexford after it took root in an old pole which was being used a gate post. The mountain ash/rowan is a revered tree in Irish folklore and although this probably grew from bird droppings, these ‘flying rowans’ are attributed as having magic powers as they never touched the ground.
Michael Fortune
Michael Fortune has cut many a furrow with his work over the past twenty years and his pioneering practice has widened the conversations regarding the intersection of traditional and contemporary cultures especially in the area of folklore, belief, story and song.
Working predominantly in film and photography, much of his practice revolves around the collection of material – material which he generates out of the relationships and experiences he develops with the people he encounters. His works connects with many audiences and on many levels, and he is as comfortable presenting work in a village hall in Wexford as he is at an international film festival or academic conference. In recent years much of his work is presented on social media where he connects directly with new audiences while he also contributes for features for various newspapers and journals, as well presenting on RTÉ/BBC radio and television.