Project - The Twelfth Night

The body of work I am constructing in Ireland is site-specific.  As I discussed in an earlier blog post, I have been strongly influenced by artists who focus on making art that is tied to geographic locations or has an important cultural bond.  That has been the focus of a number of my projects including this one.  This was my main reason for traveling to Ireland.

This is perhaps the most personal body of work I have ever created.  Being a first generation Irish/American, I am intertwined into Irish culture and traditions through my family background.  I have realized working in Ireland however, that I am most Irish when I am in the United States, and least Irish when I am here.  Although I am an Irish citizen, this country is still very foreign to me.

When I was young, my family celebrated a candle ceremony called the “Twelfth Night”.  This always took place on the eve of the Epiphany, a Christian holy day after Christmas.  Based on my research, there is not an extensive amount of documentation on this custom but its origins can be trace to Western Ireland. The tradition goes back to pagan times but was assimilated into a connection with Catholicism. People of an older generation describe it as being common in certain regions. It was also one of the rituals that some families, like mine, decided to take with them when they immigrated.

Twelfth Night Candle

The practice consisted of placing twelve candles on a surface such as a platter, rock, wood, etc, and assigning a family member's name to each candle. The candles were then lit, a rosary said, and everyone watched the wax burn down. The first candle of this “Twelfth Night” ritual that was extinguished signified who in the family was going to be the next to die.

This custom may seem a bit morbid, but the topic of death is something very Irish.  It can be found in numerous superstitions, folklore, stories, and the troubled history of the county.  In my mind, various customs, such as the Twelfth Night, becomes a powerful metaphor for the people and what they hold dear.  My piece will focus on this theme and be presented as an interactive installation which, will include photographs, candles, sculptural elements, found objects, and text.

Image One