Mosaic Tallaght

Post Project Journal

Post Workshop
Sunday November 7th, 2004
A day of Down time..
Written by Shylene and Jonathan Schlackl

As Jonathan and I were to take a day off, our mind kept working around the week's activities and all that we had experienced.

We were both a buzz with new ideas and thoughts for both Mosaic the City and for the projects in Ireland.

As we sat around in our hotel room, we tried to quickly write the ideas down before they took over our day.
So we took out a day timer and got writing. What started out as a quick little poem, turned into an 18-stanza limerick?? Funny. We spent most of the day in our pajamas, in the bed with our laptop on our legs, writing and laughing. Seriously laughing.

Inspired by our Irish hosts and all the week's adventures:
A Can-Irish Community Unity Story

It began with an email from Deborah,

Who found my ideas quite Splenda.

Wrote this Goat a note,

Plane, Train, Bus and Boat.

For Community Unity with Tallaght.

 

Seems the wind and the rain are blown',

Everywhere we are goin'.

We're chauffeured around,

Seeing some of the town.

But mostly to get where we're goin'.

 

We arrived at the Abberley Court,

Saying "Ya, that was short?"

Checked into our room,

Then left again soon.

To gather with friends over Porte.

 

Dublin has Temple Bar and Graftin,

The Guinness, the barkeeps kept-a-tappin'.

We saw a clever play,

Then called it a day.

Tomorrow the project starts happenin'.

 

This week joins Catherine to Sarah,

John, Ruth, Steve and Catriona

So many to name,

Our goal was the same.

Community Art all could claima.

 

Partnerships are where we must start

Collecting networks is oh so smart

From centers to groups,

Creating the loop

Aiming for the bull like a dart

 

T.C.A.C. was first to enlist

The general idea still hovered with mist

They started to gather

And build up their roster,

This project begins with this twist.

 

Mosaic the City means Community Unity

It's really as simple as this.

Gather your group

Start planning - toot-toot

Let get making some new history.

 

Hospital the heart of the community,

Was center for building Global Unity.

When we all give a little,

We all gain allot.

Whilst creating mosaic beauty.

 

Mosaic construction's our task,

Using tile, but certainly not glass.

Safety's the key,

But fun, he he he.

Learning to use what we have.

 

Four mosaics we were to create,

For surely we could not assemble eight.

We used tile and glue,

With words, me and you.

It seemed all a matter of fate.

 

Group one had an arduous task,

The Hospital had lots to ask.

The center a heart,

The Luas to start.

And a stethoscope from one of the staff.

 

The spiral was used by team two,

It's community and art when you do.

It symbolizes junction,

Between form and function.

We all have our place in the queue.

 

Canadian totems from big Maple trees,

With Shamrocks, this pair for three.

They mixed old and new,

Like a good Irish Stew.

To go home with Mosaic the City.

 

South African triangle in four,

Communication has got to be more.

With growth all around,

And bridges that bound.

Great craic for all was in store.

 

A work week all will remember,

By weeks end all were in splender.

The very next dee,

They were hung at Glencree.

Lovely setting some time they will tender.

 

As the year quickly hurries by,

We'll see how time can really fly.

Let's get in a row,

Through rain, sleet or snow,

So our mosaics can continue next July.

 

Mosaic the City has a goal,

To build Community Unity on the whole.

With old friends and new,

For a path which is true

It's simple when it comes from the soul.

 

By Shannon Shylene and Jonathan Schlackl November 8, 2004