Irish Rose, 2015

Copper Plates

4” x 5” x 2”

This work is a tribute to my grandfather and the story of his immigration to Canada. This piece is currently housed in the Pengzhou International Artist Centre as a sculptural work representing Canada. The written work Discarded Rose was conceptualized by Michael Shanahan, an Irish immigrant who when attempting to escape the draft in Ireland sought to relocate to the states. At the United States border in Ontario he was denied access, at the time the quota of Irish Immigrants in the United States was capped. He ended up settling in Tkaronto (known today as Toronto). In his first few months he saw the discarded rose on the busy streets of Toronto and created the poem.

This piece is made of many layers of copper plates stacked on top of each other. The particular pattern comes from an extrusion calculated with the unique hand written script written by Michael Shanahan through a program which is commonly used to make signage. By extruding the surface of the piece with a written text the words warp the image creating a unique pattern.

On a busy street I saw a faded Rose

It was kicked there from the sidewalk I suppose

Some people passed by showed no care and didn’t ask why

theough discrepid was its final resting pose

I wondered where the lovely rose hag grown

and for what purpose and for whom the rose was shorn

its fragrance once divine was now in fast dicline

it lookesd so all lone and so forlorne

Did it once adorn a lovely wifes bouquet

or was it worn by him that lucky day

or caused it teary eyes for a mothers day surprise

or maybe on a graduation play

did it stand guard over a loved one passed away

or decorate the church where people pray

or did it seal with joy between loving girl and boy

some special promise amde by them that day

for what e’er purpose I am sure that rose brought joy

yet here on city streets its doomed to die

This of course is life comprised of happiness and strife

But still I feel entitled to ask why.

Written By Michael Shanahan