Mary Gregoriy

 Title: The Navigator

Artist Name: Mary Gregoriy
Year of Installation: 2000
Dimensions: 2m high x 1.7m long x 9m wide
Medium: Bronze and Stone
Location: Cobh, County Cork
Details of Commission: Commissioned by Cork County Council with funding from the Per Cent for Art Scheme for the Great Island water scheme. The set theme was the Christian Millennium and Cobh’s maritime heritage.

The piece depicts a Christ like figure sitting in a boat, which may in fact be a bathtub. It is supposed to represent the guiding force of a benevolent Christ helping weak and vulnerable human beings as we battle against life’s storms. The figure cradles a paper boat in his large hands. This represents the fragile and tenuous nature of our existence. Gently he sets the boat down onto life’s troubled waters. The piece contains the hope that he will always remain in the background to steer and guide us. A sextant leans against the rear of the boat and a compass lies at the base – the tools of the Navigator’s trade.

A fountain is incorporated into the sculpture and water flows from the figure’s hands onto the deck of the boat. The human scale, the water and the robustness of materials have endeared it to children and tourists alike.

The sculpture is appropriate to the waterfront location and has a simplicity and graphic quality which make it appealing. 

Artist Bio: Since attaining her BA in Fine Art/Sculpture from Crawford College of Art and Design in 1999 Mary has been slowly developing her style and skills, primarily as a sculptor in bronze, but also as a teacher and lecturer.

She was awarded ‘The Student of the Year Award’ in 1998

As a member of the British Art Medal Society (BAMS) she works a lot designing and making coins and medals. Notably, she designed a commemorative coin in 2006 for the Central Bank of Ireland.

She works mainly to commission and for private collectors and rarely exhibits her work publicly.

Currently she is living in Norway and is working towards a rare solo exhibition scheduled for the end of Nov 2009 entitled “My Norwegian Sojourn”.

Venue: Store Skippergate. Owing to space and material restraints and the restraints of living a travelling lifestyle the work in this exhibition will be mainly drawing/paintings and prints.

From 29th December 2009 she will be taking up residence in Spain.

Artist Website: marygregoriysculptor.blogspot.com

Email: metamoth@gmail.com