Dublin InQuirer
Front Cover
Dublin InQuirer is an independent, local newspaper published both online and in print. Each monthly cover is given over to an artist to put their stamp on it, highlighting something around the city close to their heart. This February´s front cover fell to me to work my magic on.
Picture from Little Deer Comics, Dublin
There have been some great additions to the city centre in regards to kids, including some lovely new playgrounds and more pedestrianised streets (unfortunately often focusing on people being served rather than just being). However, it pales in comparison to desolate, and often even, absent outdoor spaces within apartment blocks, communal amenities padlocked to keep some people out, threats to precious sporting facilities such as football pitches daring to stand in the way of housing or new laws (or lack there of) to encourage more shoebox apartments. Alas, Dublin´s key measure still remains profit per square metre.
Picture from Little Deer Comics, Dubln
Space for kids, just like affordable housing and culture, should be a fundamental part of Dublin´s planning. It should be on their doorsteps. It should be safe. It should encourage kids to play. It might even encourage us adults to follow suit.
Looking at nostalgic pictures of Dublin in years gone by, you see that kids don`t need a huge amount to make their own fun. Such pictures (including those of Swede Jean Hermanson from Dublin in the sixties) are the inspiration behind this front cover.
Head over to Dublin InQuirer to read some of their brilliant journalism, keeping those with power in Dublin to account.