Title of artwork: Core Principles 1–4
Artists: Mark Ryan and Maree Hensey
Year: 2019
Commissioner: Midleton Educate Together National School
Funder: Per Cent for Arts Scheme
Location: Midleton Educate Together National School, Cork
Every child who walks through the gates of Midleton Educate Together National School is stepping into a space of creativity, inclusivity and energy. These principles are not just embedded in the primary school’s ethos—they are captured in Core Principles 1–4, a dynamic sculpture that symbolises the school’s core values of equality, diversity, child-centered education and democracy.
The piece, funded under the Per Cent for Arts Scheme, is made of painted steel with fret-cut designs and bronze castings. A visible landmark, it was positioned by the artists so that it can be seen from the road, the school and the surrounding community. It reflects the school’s vibrancy and commitment to creativity, authenticity, diversity and inclusiveness.
Inspiration
Designed to visually express the ethos of an Educate Together National School (ETNS), Core Principles 1–4 is the result of an artist-led residency that brought artist Maree Hensey and sculptor Mark Ryan into the heart of the school community. Over a week of workshops, the artists worked with students from junior infants to sixth class (as well as staff and families) to explore themes of creativity, authenticity and inclusiveness.
In commissioning a piece of public art, Midleton ETNS wanted a permanent sculpture that was inspired by the school’s principles of being equality-based, co-educational, child-centered and democratically managed. Each arc of Core Principles 1–4 embodies one of these principles, while the different colours represent the school’s diversity. As Ryan and Hensey note, their collaborative work was conceived to reflect the concept of “no child an outsider,” offering a sense of inclusion and belonging.
Process
The artists formulated the final designs for this project only after a process of in-depth consultation with the school community. During a week-long artists’ residency, Hensey and Ryan explored the principles of Educate Together with the students through drawing, storytelling and imaginative exercises. These activities informed the design, including the fret-cut metal and textured bronze elements, which feature patterns and motifs directly inspired by the students’ ideas.
Over the course of the residency, Hensey documented her insights into the creative process: “Mark and myself really felt our week in the school was a very positive, engaging and a meaningful experience. We came back to the studio having dwelled on the conversations, the artworks and the experience of working with the school. With this in mind, we have developed the secondary sculpture based on feedback from our week’s residency. We have also finalised the fret-cut elements of the sculpture. These need to be very simple in composition to allow cutting into the 20mm steel plate.”
The physical construction of Core Principles 1–4 involved intricate fabrication, with painted steel for the arcs and bronze castings to add detail and texture. The arcs form a portal that students can pass through as they enter and leave the school, physically embodying the principle of inclusivity and belonging. The artists engaged the specialist services of Jim Mansfield Chartered Engineers to help bring their vision to life.
The sculpture’s interactive nature encourages movement and engagement. Children can climb, walk through and play around the arcs, inventing their own imaginative narratives—whether it becomes a ship, a space craft, or a dinosaur’s skeleton is left up to individual perspective. Shifting light patterns animate the sculpture throughout the day, creating dramatic “light drawings” that act as a natural sundial, further reinforcing the sense of discovery.
Collaboration
This project was a deeply collaborative effort, not only between both of the artists but also between the artists and the Midleton ETNS community and wider stakeholders. By involving the children of the school in the creative process, the artists ensured a strong sense of ownership and connection to the final piece. The bronze castings and fret-cut designs echo symbols and imagery developed during the workshops, celebrating the school’s ethos.
The artists also created a blog to document the project, describing each stage of development and inviting ongoing engagement from students, staff, and families. This focus on transparency helped foster a collective sense of pride in the work and ensured the sculpture truly reflected the community’s identity.
About the artists
Artist Maree Hensey and sculptor Mark Ryan bring together decades of expertise in sculpture, metalwork and public art. Known for their innovative and collaborative approach, they create works that reflect the unique stories of the communities they engage with.
Their practice is rooted in a philosophy of participation and dialogue, often leading to projects that transcend the traditional boundaries of art-making. Hensey and Ryan’s work encompasses materials such as steel, bronze and aluminium; a focus on thoughtful research and community involvement results in pieces that are as meaningful as they are visually striking.
Legacy
Core Principles 1–4 is more than a sculpture—it is a lasting emblem of Midleton ETNS’s values and the power of community collaboration. The piece symbolises the journey students take from junior infants to sixth class, as well as the knowledge and skills that are passed from one generation to the next.
Interactive and inclusive, the sculpture offers a gathering space for the school community and wider Midleton area. Traditions will form as students engage with the bronze castings, using them as symbols of good luck or commemorating significant milestones. The energy and vibrancy of Core Principles 1–4 will remain a defining feature of the school for generations to come.