Kindred Spirits (sculpture) facts for kids
Kindred Spirits is a large outdoor sculpture made of stainless steel. You can find it in Bailick Park in Midleton, County Cork, Ireland. This special artwork reminds us of a truly kind act from history.
The sculpture celebrates a generous gift made in 1847. During a very difficult time in Ireland, known as the Great Hunger, the Native American Choctaw People sent money to help. This was especially amazing because the Choctaw themselves were living in hardship and poverty. They had recently gone through their own terrible journey, known as the Trail of Tears. The Choctaw's gift was a very large amount of money, showing incredible kindness and support.
The Kindred Spirits Sculpture
The Kindred Spirits sculpture is made up of nine large eagle feathers. Each feather is about 6 meters (20 feet) tall. They are all made of shiny stainless steel. The feathers are arranged in a circle, and no two feathers look exactly alike. Together, they form a shape that looks like a bowl. This bowl shape represents a gift, like a bowl of food given to someone in need.
How the Sculpture Was Made
The artist who created Kindred Spirits is Alex Pentek. He worked on the sculpture at the Sculpture Factory in Cork, Ireland. Students from the Crawford College of Art and Design also helped him. The sculpture was put in Bailick Park in 2015.
The Midleton Town Council asked for this memorial to be built. It was officially shown to the public and dedicated in June 2017. Important leaders from the Choctaw Nation, including Chief Gary Batton and Assistant Chief Jack Austin Jr., came for the ceremony. Councillor Seamus McGrath, who was the County Mayor of Cork, was also there. A group of about 20 people from the Choctaw Nation traveled to Ireland for this special event.
