Planting a Seed was a Per Cent for Art commission, developed by visual artists, Carol Anne Connolly and Augustine O Donoghue, for Coláiste Íde agus Iosef secondary school in Abbeyfeale, County Limerick.

The commission comprised a series of artworks sited in various locations around the school building, both inside and outside. The artworks were inspired by and reflect the ethos of the school, exploring the themes of learning, development, innovation, inspiration and creativity. A variety of contemporary art media and practices were utilised to develop this project, as the artists felt it was important that those using the building on a daily basis have input into the creation of the work. The artists employed methodologies that allowed participation by students, staff and the local community throughout the process of developing the project.

The project included a bronze sculpture of an apple tree, inspired by one of the most famous anecdotes in science – the story of Isaac Newton’s discovery of the law of gravity. The sculpture was created by taking casts from apple trees in the Abbeyfeal community, in order to create a direct link between the local environment and the school.

Further interplay between art and science focused on Newton’s discovery of the nature of light. A light installation of glass dispersive prisms was created for the corridors in the science wing upstairs in the school building. The work responds to external environmental conditions. Depending on light conditions throughout the year, the subtle rainbow light show (exploring Newton’s theory of the nature of white light) appears and disappears on the door and walls of the science room.

A diverse and thought-provoking programme of events and workshops was developed for students. This included a series of workshops with UCD scientists and Irish Seed Savers Association (an environmental NGO), and a visit to an exhibition called ‘Welcome Disturbances’ at The LAB Gallery, exhibiting the diverse practices of UCD Artists in Residence. A visit to the Bronze Art Foundry, where the bronze sculpture was being created, allowed students and staff to meet the different workers and skilled crafts people involved in making the sculpture for their school. The project also included students planting a native Irish heritage apple orchard on the school grounds. During the Seed Savers workshop, students had the opportunity to graft their own heritage apple tree and take it home to plant in their gardens.

While conducting research for the project, the artists were amazed to discover that Newton’s famous Flower of Kent apple tree was still in exitance. The tree is over 400 years old and growing in Woolsthorpe Manor Lincolnshire – Newton’s birthplace and family home. The tree is protected by the National Trust in the UK. A very unique aspect of the project involved the artists negotiating with the National Trust the donation of seeds from Newton’s tree to the project. The seeds were brought to Ireland and students and teachers grew the seeds in the school’s science room, which were then planted in the newly created Isaac Newton apple orchard on the school grounds.