MY IMPRESSION-When I got my first glance of Waterford, I noticed that the calm river running beside the stretch of colorful, cottage-like shops and restaurants encompassed an environment completely different from the one we have back home. The way the sun and clouds dance across the sky and take turns covering each building is so unique. At home, I have become accustomed to bland buildings and the constant heat from the scorching sun. However, here there is an extraordinary beauty about the city. I love the use of intricate detail and warm colors on the homes as well as the mystical grays on the rock towers (i.e. Reginald's Tower) and other old buildings. It almost feels like each structure tells a story. When I wasn't focused on the amazing architecture, I noticed that people here behave so much differently too. Nobody is rushing to work and people are so calm. I love the culture here, and I feel like merely looking at something tells me more and more about Ireland's history. Overall, this city, Ireland's oldest, feels like a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork in every way possible.
PIC 1: This is a statue of Thomas Francis Meager (1823-1867), an Irish nationalist who at the end of his life served as a U.S. soldier in the American Civil war. We saw this structure on a tour of Waterford. The organic shape of this artwork, makes Meager and his horse "come alive" on the streets of downtown. The vertical line Meager's proud body follows as he sits on the horse, definitely portrays him as a strong war hero and powerful character in history. The actual light that shines down on the statue during the day makes the art even more majestic and almost forces you to think about how Meager and his horse would have actually looked walking through Ireland in the 19th century.
PIC 2: This picture was taken at the beginning of the Waterford Crystal tour. The company's production of unique, handmade crystal pieces began in 1783, but after temporarily closing in 2009, the base reopened in 2010. The beautiful bowl at the bottom of the photo was the design people in an apprenticeship with the company had to complete perfectly at the end of 5 years. If unable to do recreate a precise copy by hand, they must start the training over again. Otherwise, they would continue on for 3 more years to become a master at the trade. My favorite part about the tour was seeing and hearing about the importance of the bowl. It is incredible that people were expected to remake every design. The real texture on the crystal bowl is beautiful, and when the actual light hits it each curve and line etched into the crystal, it glistens. I never knew such incredible, delicate pieces of art could be made so perfectly with one set of hands!
PIC 3: This is a picture of a stain-glassed window in the Christ's Church Cathedral we visited on our walking tour of downtown Waterford. Built in the 18th century by the famous architect John Roberts, this Neo-classical structure has held services and events for hundreds of years. The window in this picture depicts the beauty of religion, and the use of contrasting colors (ex. red and green on the angel's robe on the right) draws attention to the complexity of the piece. The actual light brightens the image on the glass, almost making it come to life. Although this time period appreciated a "darker" beauty, the perfect compilation of stained pieces of glass creates a very divine piece of art. Even little details are important. For instance, the diagonal line the angel on the left places her head depicts more of an active or emotional behavior, while vertical line the angel on the right stands signifies a greater sense of confidence and power. It is just so incredible what can be done with art!
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