This article, ‘The Elements Of Nature’ was originally written by Katharine Blake for the Kilkenny People week ending Friday June 2nd, 2006.

Early this year, Kilkenny-based mosaic artist, Colette O’Brien was commissioned by the Copper Coast Geopark in Waterford to create a piece of sculpture for their cliff top.

Last week, the colourful 9′x 5′ piece which started life as a large hunk of Kilkenny limestone, was taken from its birthplace in Paulstown Quarry to its new home at Dunabrattin Head on the Bunmahon coast.

According to the brief, the work was to ‘celebrate the way volcanoes, oceans, deserts and ice sheets have combined to create the rocks which provide the physical foundation of the natural and cultural landscapes of the coast’.

With the limestone as a base, Ms O’Brien used rich-hued, hand-made Venetian tiles to depict the slow, trickling beginnings of a volcano which builds, explodes and cascades from the top of the stone on one side and the formation of a glacier on the other, with both elements being buffeted by crashing waves.

“This was the biggest piece I have ever done,” said the self-taught artists, who started work on the piece two months ago. “I got a lot of help from Technical Stonework in Paulstown, especially from Fergus Corrigan who had never worked on anything like it before and he was great.”

The Geopark in Waterford where the piece entitled ‘Ice, Fire, Water’ will be based is the only park of its kind in the Republic and one of only 17 in Europe.

Geoparks are designated areas of geological and scientific interest, significant for their rare elements, aesthetic appeal and educational value. The Copper Coast Geopark is managed vy Margaret Cosgrave, former arts officer with Kilkenny County Council.

Ms O’Brien’s interest in mosaic started 11 years ago when she found herself without a mirror and with a few left-over tiles in her new house.

“After decorating the new mirror, friends started asking me to make mirrors for them and make panels for their showers and it just went from there until I found myself exhibiting in Brussels, Dubai and Kilkenny,” said Ms O’Brien.

She also runs courses in mosaic in Portlaoise prison and her next commission is to make a wall panel of St. Brigid for a primary school in naas, Co Kildare.

In Kilkenny, Ms O’Brien’s work can be seen in the fire station in Callan where a piece commissioned by Kilkenny County Council depicting Prometheus, the Greek God of fire, lights up the exterior wall.

“My mum is from Callan so it was great to get my first public commission in her home town,” said Ms O’Brien, who, when she was growing up, travelled from England to spend ever summer with her grandad just outside the town.

Copper Coast European Geopark is at Knockmahon Lodge, Bunmahon, Co. Waterford. Tel: 051 292828, www.copper-coast.com.