The Visual Artists’ News Sheet, Jul/Aug edition.
The latest edition of the Visual Artists’ News Sheet is out now. I’m delighted to have been given the opportunity to write about my photographic process in the member profile section.
You can pick your free copy at art venues around the country or, if you’re a member of Visual Artists’ Ireland, you can opt to have it posted to you.
I’ll share the archive link for the digital copy when it’s available, but for the moment here’s a phone photo sent to me by my brother.
The Visual Artists’ News Sheet, Jul/Aug edition.
ISL Workshop at Droichead Arts
I have found working with members of the deaf community hugely inspiring and I wanted to take this opportunity to thank AAEX, specifically the lead artist co-ordinator, Susan Farrelly and our Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpreter, Leah Murray for all their hard work in making this series of workshops happen.
A total of six professional artists were involved in providing workshops with Leah for members of the deaf community. I worked with a group towards the end of June in Droichead Arts Centre and through our exploration of objects my eyes were opened in just two hours.
I’ve included one of the photographs I made at the end of the session of just one of the set-ups with objects, let me tell you the background behind it.
One of the setups a participant from my ‘Exploring Objects’ put together at an ISL workshop I facilitated through AAEX and Droichead Arts Centre.
As a participant was putting this particular set of objects together, Leah explained to me the significance of bound hands to members of the ISL community. A discussion began, through sign language, about how its’ use had been banned up until the 70s with the dominant thinking for decades being that people from the deaf community should learn to lip read and try make sounds to communicate. This approach caused huge issues, especially in terms of education.
I looked into it further when I returned home and found that the Irish Deaf Community had been further stifled in communicating, even when sign language was taught in single sex schools, as it was segregated like the sexes, with girls learning different signs to boys for the same things.
To book a place on my upcoming workshop at Íontas Theatre and Arts Space on the 30th July which coincides with my current exhibition, Looking for Light, please email david@iontascastleblayney.ie
The workshop is free to attend and open to all, but if you have any special requirements, please let David know in your email. You can sign up to my specific workshop mailing list below.
Thrice Remembered - An Anthology of Cavan Writings. Publication Day.
Thrice Remembered. Image Credit: Fidel Hogan Walsh.
Wednesday was publishing day for an exciting new anthology of writing by authors with connections to Cavan. The brain child of Heather Brett, the publication is supported by Cavan Arts Office and Creative Ireland with a whole variety of launches scheduled from the end of July up until Christmas.
Our own Fidel Hogan Walsh has three gorgeous short stories in the book and you may notice the cover features a piece of mine called ‘Follow Your Dreams’. I’ll keep you posted on any events but if you can’t wait you can grab a copy from Eason’s Cavan or Candlelight Books (it’s only €10 plus shipping)
Looking for Light Exhibition continues at Íontas until 9th August
This really is a gratitude blog post today. I have to thank Vera who sent me the most beautiful, supportive emails over the past two weeks, prior and post visiting my exhibition with a group;
“I am writing to let you know how fascinating my group of artists and teachers found your work. I conducted a Visual Thinking Strategies workshop with them this morning in the Íontas theatre, Castleblaney and I could hardly drag them away afterwards!! It really whetted their interest and curiosity and their responses to your work were very insightful and considered. You would have been delighted by the depth of their engagement. It was amazing”.
As an artist, we grow in our art practice when we engage with our audience. I know as my exhibition moves on from Íontas to ArtisAnn at the end of November my understanding of my own work will evolve, it was never my intention for Looking for Light to be a body of work set in stone, like me, it’s on a journey too.
So thank you for your kind support, Vera, and everyone, it really means the world.
My Cultural Highlight - The Tower by Jesse Jones at RuaRed
Medieval mystic piece, part of the Stone and Flesh section from The Tower by Jesse Jones based on the protagonist character performed wonderfully by Olwen Fouéré. There are visuals from those large screen that will stay with me forever (photo credit: my phone).
My cultural highlight simply has to be the latest instalment of the Magdalene Series curated by Maolíosa Boyle at Rua Red in Tallaght, The Tower.
The Tower by Jesse Jones is the second instalment of her trilogy which began with her 57th Venice Biennial show commissioned to represent Ireland in 2017, ‘Tremble, Tremble’ (Definitely worth looking up, if you’re not familiar with it, it will inform your understanding of The Tower as it introduces the ‘bewitching’ of the judicial system).
Essentially The Tower explores who came before the witches, inspired by the 12th century heresy trials and the visuals of Luis Buñuel’s 1965 film ‘Simon of the Desert’ we experience medieval mystics and Milagros through the words of Marguerite Porete.
My souvenir from The Tower, Milagros pressed into clay that Jesse made the previous week, a rare one with two images. I absolutely treasure it.
The dynamic visuals are thanks to the Rua Red dancers in residence Junk Ensemble, and a cast that includes actors Olwen Fouéré, Naomi Moonveld-Nkosi and a young choir of performers all filmed at the IADT Film School.
I really feel I could write an entire novel on The Tower, my notebooks for now will suffice. So do go experience it for yourself. It’s also worth watching the TG4 series, An Diabhal Inti if you want to learn more.