RIVER GUARDIANS

River Guardians interdisciplinary art project offers a series of symbolic actions which invite community participation and care for the Bandon River. These take place on the riverbanks marking the changing seasons in connection with the Celtic calendar. The actions and connected research address the complexity of caring for a river from multiple perspectives situating the ecological, social, political and sacred alongside each other. Final artwork will include a 16mm film work and a series of 35mm photographs. Artist Aoife Desmond is working in collaboration with Bandon River Trust, Bandon Environmental Action Group and Creative Bandon to produce and create this project for Bandon Flood Relief Scheme Residency Public Art Commission managed by Cork County Council funded by OPW. As part of the Lughnasa celebrations, River Guardians collaborates with Bandon Walled Town Festival to highlight the deep interconnection between art, community, heritage, and the life-giving flow of the Bandon River through the lens of the Celtic calendar.