Check out our latest compilation of artwork & installations now at SOLAS
Over the past 18 months we have worked with local artists & crafts people to introduce lots of inspiring works and designs
1. TOURIST MAP
Local tourist maps of Portarlington, Laois and surrounds in our revamped food court
40ft in length
Showcasing over 25 different tourist sites
Designed by: Adam Warren @adwart
Lazer cut metal work by: C&G Engineering Naas
2. SOLAS SCRAP MEADOW
80ft Long scrap metal art piece embodies everything we strive for a SOLAS
This art piece uses only left over sheets of shipping container & scrap metal from our build
The piece incorporates different flowers, plants & insects
Tulips, Sunflowers, Mushrooms, Bees & Bluebells
Designed by the very talented Beta Franca of the Port Art Collective
Installed by Beta and Niall O Donnell
Beta Website can be found at betafranca.carbonmade.com
Interesting facts:
A subtle touch in this design, that makes all the difference, is the fact that all the bits (petals, leaves etc) align with its corrugated steel background. That was also what made the making of it very tricky.
As a result, we have the mural looking like two different pieces of art – one, when the sun hits it throughout the morning, creating hard shading that reveals the texture of the corrugated steel; and another one after it goes into shade in the afternoon, when the objects themselves stand out (see images attached).
Very interesting was the fact that, throughout the making of it, when the flowers were already up on the wall and spring was just around the corner, we witnessed a good few times a bumble bee going along the whole mural, visiting flower after flower, from one side to the other, and then leaving. That was really incredible, especially because it happened again and again.
3. 9 Flags
Designed in house at SOLAS
These colourful festival flags measure 4m in height
Hand made in Co Cork by : Tara Marshall /
9 flags at Solas Eco garden centre
Each representing various environmental ideals.
Sun: solar energy. Farm land: local produce. Wind: Wind energy. Trees: Carbon storage. Wildflowers: Native plants. Honeycomb: Protect our Bees. Ladybird: Natural Predators. Butterflies: Biodiversity. Water: Protect our seas/ reduce plastic waste
One to follow: Nuclear Energy!
4. Welcome Container
Designed by Adam Warren
One of several art pieces by Adam & Darren at Solas
The entrance container spans 40ft in length
The art piece brings together many elements of our garden centre & town
Our now famous Chickens
Our tower Logo
Plants, flower & insects
And a bridge representing Portarlington
5. Art in the pipeline
Watch this space
We have a lot more to come
See a sneak peak of our next works, due to commence June 2022
6. Other pieces
Our Bug hotel entrance sign
Designed in house, built in Franz Caffery of Portaoise
Our hand made welcome entrance
Designed & built by Franz Caffery of Portlaoise
Our metal screen wall
Lazer cut in Portarlington
Our Recycled Re-bar internal walling
Designed in house & built by johnny bracken
We also have willow weaving art
Our Farmers Market Sculpture
Designed & created by Jerry Smith of Monasterevin
Our Shop Lamp Shades
Designed & created by Jerry Smith of Monasterevin
Up Cycling
This area is a work in progress
Obviously the shipping containers
We have an our tractor now decorated with flowers / plants in our farmers market
We have an old 1960 public bus from Scotland
Signage throughout the shop & garden centre: