PETALS OF HOPE BOOK LAUNCHED
Petals of Hope book launched
By JOHN McCUSKER
A BOOK featuring the entire collection of art pieces made from the flowers left in Omagh following the Market Street explosion was launched in the town yesterday morning.
Petals of Hope was written by textile artist, Carol Kane who was responsible for overseeing the transformation of the flowers into artworks in the weeks and months following last year's bombing.
Speaking at the launch, Omagh Council Chairman Allan Rainey said the book would help preserve the memory of the love and support shown by thousands of people in the wake of the atrocity.
He said: "You cannot fail but to have been moved by the beautiful pieces of artwork and the genuine sentiments of sympathy and horror expressed in the books of condolence which were received from all over the world.
"The outpouring of public sympathy and grief, so evident in the many thousands of bouquets of flowers which were left in the streets of Omagh in the days and weeks after the bomb, was real and sustained.
"I have read the book and even now I find the pictures evocative and moving. I hope that each of you will find in the book, some degree of solace."
Following the explosion on August 15 1998, thousands of sprays of flowers were left throughout the streets of Omagh.
In an effort to preserve a lasting reminder of the tributes, schoolchildren, community groups and individuals came together under the guidance of Ms Kane, to transform the leaves and petals into artworks.
The exhibits first went on show in the town's library in March of this year and have since been displayed throughout Britain and Ireland.
Some of those bereaved and injured in the attack joined the author at yesterday's launch in the town's Council Offices. And representatives from some of the schools who took part in the project witnessed the fruits of their work being published in book-form.
In an introduction to the book, Omagh Council Chief Executive John McKinney said those who sent flowers in the aftermath of the tragedy should find "calmness, reassurance and healing" through the publication.
And Head of Arts and Tourism, Frank Sweeney - who was involved throughout the project - described the book's contents as a "creative response to a destructive act."
"The arrival of the flowers gave people in Omagh a sense of the support of the outside world, and an understanding of the level of solidarity for their plight" he added.
By JOHN McCUSKER
A BOOK featuring the entire collection of art pieces made from the flowers left in Omagh following the Market Street explosion was launched in the town yesterday morning.
Petals of Hope was written by textile artist, Carol Kane who was responsible for overseeing the transformation of the flowers into artworks in the weeks and months following last year's bombing.
Speaking at the launch, Omagh Council Chairman Allan Rainey said the book would help preserve the memory of the love and support shown by thousands of people in the wake of the atrocity.
He said: "You cannot fail but to have been moved by the beautiful pieces of artwork and the genuine sentiments of sympathy and horror expressed in the books of condolence which were received from all over the world.
"The outpouring of public sympathy and grief, so evident in the many thousands of bouquets of flowers which were left in the streets of Omagh in the days and weeks after the bomb, was real and sustained.
"I have read the book and even now I find the pictures evocative and moving. I hope that each of you will find in the book, some degree of solace."
Following the explosion on August 15 1998, thousands of sprays of flowers were left throughout the streets of Omagh.
In an effort to preserve a lasting reminder of the tributes, schoolchildren, community groups and individuals came together under the guidance of Ms Kane, to transform the leaves and petals into artworks.
The exhibits first went on show in the town's library in March of this year and have since been displayed throughout Britain and Ireland.
Some of those bereaved and injured in the attack joined the author at yesterday's launch in the town's Council Offices. And representatives from some of the schools who took part in the project witnessed the fruits of their work being published in book-form.
In an introduction to the book, Omagh Council Chief Executive John McKinney said those who sent flowers in the aftermath of the tragedy should find "calmness, reassurance and healing" through the publication.
And Head of Arts and Tourism, Frank Sweeney - who was involved throughout the project - described the book's contents as a "creative response to a destructive act."
"The arrival of the flowers gave people in Omagh a sense of the support of the outside world, and an understanding of the level of solidarity for their plight" he added.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0601
Published Date: 02-Dec-99
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