Edel Ni Nuallain
Earth - Organ - Transplant
24 November to 30 November

During this residency Edel will be exploring the potential for Organ Music performances for Organ Transplant patients, their families and friends, together with relatives and friends of those who will or have donated Organs. While in residence she will also be researching the Medicinal Native Irish Plants that benefit specific organs, as potential gifts for audience members, shifting awareness to protecting our environment. Using the time to begin exploring the power of visceral metaphors as living PR campaigns generating awareness of Organ donation and protecting our organs and researching the intricate links between humans, plants and music through artistic enquiry.

Edel will also be Inviting communities of interest together to appreciate music and land art, with associated positive wellbeing benefits of connection. She will welcome visits or calls from Musicians of all types of Organ instruments, such as church organs, keyboard organs, mouth organs, Uillean and bagpipes, etc. and Organ donor families or living organ donors, and those who received an organ donation are welcome to meet me and discuss the project. Visitors can contribute to the Plant Mandalas. Edel will also welcome herbalists, and gardeners and those living a sustainable lifestyle, land artists and the general public.

The objectives are to research stakeholders, make plant mandalas and make links with Musicians and Music Networks. Edel will invite people linked to Organ donation or Organ music to connect with each other through dialogue with her at the studio. Musicians can bring their instruments and play them or share them online. Gardeners, herbalists, or the general public can visit the studio and bring a plant or natural found object to add to the mandala.

Edel’s typical work is Arts in Healthcare program management at Cork University Hospital, St. Luke's General hospital Kilkenny and Wexford General Hospital. She often sees patients with issues related to their organs, such as dialysis, diabetes, lung and heart patients and Eyes. CUH is a center of excellence and one of the transplant hospitals in Ireland. She also manages the Piano Music recital programme at CUH where they have in total 2 pianos and 2 piano-organs. The baby grand piano is located in the Cardiac Renal center and transplant and dialysis patients often hear the performances. CUH is a pilot test center for a major Nationwide poster Campaign to encourage people to become Organ donators. CUH is also the first Green Campus Hospital in the world and therefore this project linking Healthcare, Music and Nature fits our hospital ethos.

Artists quote: The starting point for my Art is often inspired by words in context. I am fascinated by the ethnology of words and origins of language. Specifically the links between words that sound the same yet mean different things. This project explores; Organ Music, Human Organ transplants and Plants for the benefit of Organs. This triad is completed through the project.

As a child in rural Westmeath I made my first Land Art on the farm but called it Play! This love of nature led me to study Environmental management (DIT) and Landscape Design (UCD). After 10 years I applied for an MA Research Scholarship in Arts & Health (SETU & Realta) and have been working as an Arts program manager in Hospitals for 20 years. My own arts practice includes Land Art, Eco arts, Visual art, Poetry, Creative writing, Spoken word, Comedy. I enjoy Swimming and Hiking in nature, Dancing and Singing, Playing the Bodhran and Mandalas.

Facebook: Edelle Nolan

Instagram: Edel_Ni_Nuallain

WCAC acknowledges the financial support of the Arts Council and Cork County Council in making these residencies possible.