Sweet Arch Opened In Stranmillis

As part of the Belfast City Council's 'Brighter Belfast' initiative, a new arch that links communities has been unveiled to represent an important part of south Belfast.

The artwork, called 'Sweet Water Arch' - its name derives from the Irish for the area 'An Srúthan Milís' or 'sweet stream' - has been placed near the Stranmillis roundabout.

The four-metre high sculpture is formed by a stainless steel arch, which frames the view across the Lagan to the Annadale Embankment, linking both sides of the river.

The Lord Mayor Naomi Long - who was a civil engineer for 10 years - officially unveiled the monument.

Pictured here with Rudi Graham, of Stranmillis Primary School, and Aoibhin Bailie, from Holy Rosary, she said that what she loves about it was that it really captured the essence of Stranmillis "from theatrical connections with the Lyric, to Charles Lanyon's impressive architecture of Stranmillis College, to the flow of the river itself and the trowel which represents the once famous Annadale brickworks".

In order engineer this success, the artist Denis O'Connor - selected after a UK-wide call for proposals- developed workshops with three centers: Stranmillis Primary School, Forge Integrated Primary School and Holy Rosary Primary School in Stranmillis College's Art and Design Department.

Art and design students from the latter, local historians Dr Eamon Phoenix and Dr Julian Greenwood and local residents also collaborated.

Schoolchildren also met other artists, like Bernie Rutter of Sculptureworks, Angela Pressley and ceramic artist Eleanor Wheeler.

All together they explored the industries and past uses of the river to translate these into ideas for the sculpture.

Wheeler appreciated the children's enthusiasm and said that their collaboration provided an opportunity to create an interesting piece of public art, which both local people and visitors will enjoy.

The 'Brighter Belfast' campaign promotes relations between artists and the local community to create public art pieces for five key locations across the city.

All the pieces are designed to celebrate the rich heritage of each neighborhood with the overall theme 'Belfast and Beyond', as a celebration of the industry, social or cultural activities with which the local people have been associated, influencing the rest of the world.

Two more sculptures have recently been unveiled in the city: one at Falls Park and other at the Oldpark Road. Two more pieces are being completed shortly at Peter's Hill and at the city end of the Newtownards Road in east Belfast. 



(CL/BMcc)