Wednesday, October 19. 1998 Contra Costa Sun

Sculptures of Irish 'Troubles'

By Dorothy Bowen

Staff writer

When Douglas Holmes first created his relief sculptures, "The Belfast Series", he had never been to Ireland. The images of that strife torn country that haunted him were those he had seen in magazines and newspapers.

An artist with architectural experience in building and remodeling, the wondered how people must feel who live behind those barricaded doors and windows.

"The visual heritage they are passing on terrifies me" he says.

Since he first began work, he has made four trips to Ireland and he believes his sculptures are doing what he had hoped they would do; Start people talking together.

He has also created much larger sculptures out of corrugated steel that he has bent and crushed like tinfoil. He use that material because, he says, "It's more ubiquitous that Coca Cola."

It starts out in low-cost building and ends up in substandard shelters, he says.

This is the first time the the large sculptures have been out of his Hunters Point alehouse studio and on display. They will be at Hearst Art Gall on Saint Mary's College campus through Oct. 23. the free standing wood and metal sculpture are presented in conjunction with the western regional meeting of the American Conference for Irish Studies on the SMC campus for the first time.

Although Holmes' own family was Irish, "in a low key way", he became involved in Ireland through Celtic studies. When he saw the prehistorical sites in Brittany, he recognized the alignments of stones as similar to work he was doing.

To those who call his work, raw or brutal, he says, "The world isn't a pleasant place, but it's our responsibility. If few did it, we can undo it, if we pay attention.