New artwork inspired by Art on Your Doorstep programme unveiled
The artwork, created by artist Sinéad Smyth, draws inspiration from three iconic artworks and will now be on public display at the Tower Museum.
A STRIKING new artwork created in response to a community art trail currently on display throughout Derry and Strabane has been unveiled at the Tower Museum.
Created by artist Sinéad Smyth, ‘The Dockworker's Muse’ is a large-scale mixed-media painting developed in response to artworks featured as part of the Art On Your Doorstep project, delivered in partnership with The National Gallery, London.
The artwork will now be on public display at the Tower Museum.
The piece draws inspiration from three iconic artworks: Joseph Wright of Derby's ‘An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump’ (1768), George Bellows' ‘Men of the Docks’ (1912), and Cosimo Tura's ‘A Muse’ (Calliope) (c.1455-60).
Together, these masterpieces explore themes of discovery, community, labour, creativity and human connection.
Art On Your Doorstep is a programme that shares masterpieces from The National Gallery collection with communities, and Derry City and Strabane District Council is one of 12 partners currently exhibiting reproductions of some of the world’s most iconic artworks in outdoor locations.
Developed live during the Art On Your Doorstep launch event, ‘The Dockworker's Muse’ invited audiences to witness the creative process in real time, transforming the event into a shared artistic experience.
The painting creates a contemporary visual dialogue with the featured National Gallery masterpieces while reflecting the cultural identity, resilience and collective spirit of local communities.
By bringing together themes of light, labour and artistic imagination, the work embodies the overarching aspiration of the Art On Your Doorstep programme - making world-class art more accessible, relevant and rooted in local places.
Museum Service manager with Derry City and Strabane District Council, Margaret Edwards, said the piece was a wonderful legacy from the programme which would hopefully encourage other artists to engage and take inspiration from it.
"This artwork perfectly captures the spirit of Art On Your Doorstep and demonstrates how historic masterpieces can inspire new conversations and creative responses today,” she said.
“Drawing on themes of inquiry, imagination and cultural identity, ‘The Dockworker's Muse’ creates meaningful connections between the artworks on display throughout the city and district and the experiences of local people.
"The live creation of the painting encouraged audiences to engage with art in a dynamic and accessible way, highlighting the important role museums and galleries play in fostering creativity, participation and community connection."
Artist Sinéad Smyth said the project was groundbreaking in how the artworks were made accessible to all, and an exceptional experience.
"Painting in front of a live audience was an exciting way to connect and bring this national collection of artworks to everyone,” she added.
The Art on Your Doorstep trail can still be viewed at locations throughout Derry, Strabane and Castlederg until the end of September: https://towermuseumcollections.com/art-on-your-doorstep/