The Silverburn Art Trail is under development but already has many artworks of interest along its length - from murals in Castletown itself, through to sculptures at Rushen Abbey, the Lily Ponds and the railway station in Ballasalla. Art is being used to make an already great walk which takes in urban and rural splendour, into a cultural experience.
further Permanent Artwork Currently on the trail:
Take a walk on the streets around both Market and Barracks Squares in Castletown, to discover a wealth of street art from artists such as Megan Hindley, James Duggan and Karolina Pawlowska. On the walkway to the side of Castletown Town Hall are a series of murals made during a Mini Mural Fest as a part of the Creative Network's Isle of Man Art Festival. Members of the public could visit the mini weekend festival and watch the artists creating their pieces as well as having a go themselves by contributing to a joint community mural.
The Community Wallaby by network artist Eve Adams is also sighted along the trail. A gift from Hospice Isle of Man to the Castletown Community, Eve painted this sculpture in recognition of the town's fund raising efforts following the Wallabies one Wild sculpture trail
On the roundabout at the end of Victoria Road in Castletown (opposite the Wallaby) is another community art piece put together by Eve Adams. The piece is called Together Apart and was made in response to the Covid pandemic and lockdowns on the Island. Numerous contributors added their own artwork to a triskelion design, those triskelions were then interlocked to signify the community being together in spirit if not in person. This community art piece was funded by the IOM Arts Council and sited where all the community could enjoy it.
Just across the road from the Wallaby, in Castletown's Poulsom Park, is some willow work, also by Eve Adams. The Park's Willow Heron seating area by the skate park is the perfect place to sit and pause for a moment, listening to the real herons nesting and swooping overhead. This artwork and the workshops which assisted in it's making were funded by The Year of our Island
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Ballasalla Railway station homes a beautiful glass mosaic mural produced in community workshops led by Network artist Debra Tracey-Carney. The community based workshop was funded by The Year of Our Island.
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Tucked away behind Rushen Abbey in Ballasalla near the ford, is a small community Garden.
Local woodcarver Gavin Carter started a beautiful Oak sculpture as a demonstration during the 2019 IOM Art Festival. The final decorative carving was completed on site, helped by an army of local primary school children. This schools workshop was kindly funded by The Year of Our Island. |
Floating on the Islands at the Lily Ponds, in Silverdale Glen, Ballasalla, you'll find a triptych of stained glass and wooden sculptures by Network artist Jill Gillings. The pieces reflect the seasonal floral colours and complement this especially tranquil and peaceful site. Hartford Homes kindly supported the making of these three artworks.