http://www.finolagraham.com/
http://www.paulineturmel.com/

WEST CORK the premiere of a short film

WEST CORK

 ....PLUS SOME NORTH CLARE VOICES

Friday 18th May at 8.00 pm

Free event

The poem West Cork - Gobnaits' Bed ; Rag Tree ; Holy Well  by the late Seán Dunne is a remarkable homage to an idiosyncratic form of public worship which is still practised in Ireland today - the veneration of holy wells, rag trees and curiously-shaped stones. The poem is set in the magical St Gobnait's monastic site in Ballyvourney in Cork - a great magnet for pilgrims right down to the present day. St Gobnait is the patron saint of bees.
The poet Seán Dunne is a sorely lamented voice of Irish poetry. His premature death in 1995 was a major shock in the Irish literary world. Brendan Kennelly said of him "Dunne constantly pitted his own values against the pain, suffering, violence and futility of the world. And his values are strong, perhaps lasting ones"

Three North Clare based people came together this spring to make a short 5 minute film version of the poem.

 Carles Casasin of Ballyvaughan filmed and edited ; Mick O'Riordan of Doolin provided voice and original soundtrack whilst Tony Kirby of Kilnaboy produced.

There will be a fine cast of North Clare voices on hand on the evening to enrich the event with song, music and thoughts. M.C. on the evening will be John Morgan (Kilfenora) and guests will include Fr Denis Crosby (Liscannor), Phil Gaston (Kilnaboy) and Susan Daly (Doolin) 
The event coincides with Ennistymon's first ever Dylan Thomas Literary Festival which takes place over the same weekend. All are welcome for what promises to be a memorable evening. More information 065 707 1630.

Liens An exhibition of new work by Finola Graham and Pauline Turmel

11 th May – 7th June
Official opening 11th May at 8 pm by Siobhan Mulcahy

Liens (ties, bonds, connections) is an evolution of the work done by the French

artist Pauline Turmel and the Irish artist Finola Graham for their exhibition Cross-Currents in the ‘Centre Culturel Irlandais’Paris in 2011.

The Paris exhibition was the result of a process of exchange of ideas and of place

that took place over a period of three years, between the two artists of different worlds, nationalities and generations.   

Every three months from 2007 to 2010  Turmel came to Co. Clare to work in Graham’s studio and the surounding area, while Graham went to Paris and worked in Turmel’s studio there.

 Finola Graham

While working for our last exhibition in the ‘CCI’ in 2011, I was spending time in an area of paris where, as a student in the 1960’s,  I had lived one of the most intense and formative periods of my life. This brought up a map of submerged memory and layers upon layers of feelings (See image  Lariboissière).  This sense of a mapped history dictated what was for me a new approach to my work.  I started to use fine ink lines and nikawa glue paint   for a very sparse intense use of colour.  Since the Paris exhibition I have continued to work this way using  different textures of paper with prints, paint and  inks. The works in this exhibition combine some of the Paris  works with my recent works.

Pauline Turmel

Pendant que je travaillait pour notre Exposition dans le Centre Culturel Irlandais à Paris 2007/2011 j’ai passé De veritable periods d’immersion dans le quartier de Clare entre Fanore et Ennistymon.

J’ai eu beaucoup des contacts, facilité par le ‘courtyard gallery’

Je suis rentrée en contact et je suis allée à la rencontre de nombreuses

Personnes.c’est de ses expériences que nait les oeuvres qui font partie de cette exposition

Don’t be frightened, it’s just Quantum Logic – an exhibition by Barry Foley

C.G.I (computer generated imagery) watercolour & ink

11 May – 7 June 2012

Official opening Friday 11^th May at 8 pm by Siobhan Mulcahy

Barry Foley is a native of Tipperary town but is now based in the Burren, Co Clare. In this exhibition Barry explores intriguing questions about science and scientific exploration.

“Not since Victorian times science and scientific exploration have captured the public’s attention, nor has it been more controversial. The world is at a juncture; Global Warming, Economic and Cultural disaffection. Has scientific evolution contributed to the situation we now find ourselves in? Can science bridge these gaps and aid in the solution to such problems?”

The Victorians were impressed by science and progress, and felt that they could improve society through discovery in the very same way they were advancing society through technology. Is it possible that our outlook on life and the world can be changed by looking back? Back to a time when science was met with romanticism and wondrous excitement? Can a more nostalgic perspective open a door to an accessible modern relationship with science?

An inspiration for his work is Charles Quartermaine a scientist, explorer and artist. He received his Doctorate in Quantum Anthropology from Harvard in 2008 and is best known for the discovery of the Higgs Boson Field, which not only confirmed the multi-verse space time theory but opened the door (literally) to inter-dimensional travel. “His work deals with current research in Cosmology and Quantum Physics, and is trying to reveal the very essence of our world. To challenge what we think we know to be true. Influenced by Victorian Plate Photography and the era itself Charles displays his work believing that we all possess this sense of shared history”

Barry received his Degree in Sculpture from the Crawford College of Art and Design, Cork in 2004, he had numerous shows before gaining a Masters Degree in Fine Art (Virtual Realities) from the National College of Art and Design. He has taken part in numerous exhibitions and has works in Private Collections both in Ireland and Europe.

North Indian Classical Music and the Foreign Phenomenon

In the gallery  4th May 8pm   a concert, small talk and show of a short 9 minute film.

North Indian Classical Music and the Foreign Phenomenon

:Musical conversations

This event explores the unique experiences of foreigners undertaking serious study of North Indian Classical Music.  Beginning with a discussion by Australian born Mattu Noone, who is a long time student of the North Indian 25 stringed lute called the sarode, this evening will give the audience an insight not only of the music of North India but the physical, emotional and mental challenges of it's discipline.  Dara O' Brien, a Cork based sitar player, will also present ideas from his recent PHD material on the spiritual beliefs of North Indian musicians.  A short film entitled, We are Nocturnal Animals, will be presented which outlines the experience of the concert season in Kolkata, West Bengal.

Finally, Mattu, Dara and tabla player, Sadanand Magee, will present a recital of North Indian instrumental music.  This item will be a jugal bundi or conversation between sarode and sitar. 

Depth

DEPTH

FETAC Art Exhibition

Ennistymon Vocational School        

April 27^th – May 3^rd 2012

The annual end of year Art show by the FETAC Level 5 and 6 students of Ennistymon Vocational School 

 opening this Thursday April 26^th at 7pm.

The exhibition is a culmination of the years work. The title and theme of the exhibition is 'Depth' which represents the many ways the students looked at their art this year.

depth n 1 the extent, measurement or distance from top to the bottom, from the inner to the outer, downwards, backwards, or inwards. 2 intensity of thought or objects, emotion, silence colour etc. 3 the intellectual ability to penetrate deeply into ideas.

The collection demonstrates the self expression and skills development of the course participants and this is clearly seen in the variety and exploration of media and subject matter. Ceramics, sculpture, textiles, painting and drawing unite to make an eclectic, bold and exciting body of work.

The FETAC Level 5 and 6 Art course in Ennistymon is a full time course running from September to May each year. It is open to anyone who has an interest in, and wishes to expand their knowledge and skills in art. The course is always well subscribed and appeals to both mature students and school leavers who wish to explore their creativity or embark on art as a career. If you are interested in joining the group this September contact Ennistymon Vocational School on 065 7071375 http://www.artroomennistymonvs.blogspot.com/

VAI Info Clinic at the Courthouse Gallery Friday 4th May from 12pm to 2.45pm

On Friday the 4th of May 2012 Aideen Barry, Western Representative for Visual Artists Ireland will host a VAI Info Clinic at the Ennistymon Courthouse. This is the second time the artist has run a VAI Info Clinic and follows on from the success of the last clinic in 2008. 

The Clinic is open to all artists, art students, artist led initiatives, curators and cultural practioners working in the visual arts. Aideen is keen to meet everyone and to have a chat about the needs and concerns of visual artists in the Clare region. The Clinic is an informal way for you to come and find out about the Visual Artists Ireland Organisation: its professional development courses, recent opportunities and information on the services that the organisation provided for artists and organisations.

Aideen Barry is a full time practicing visual artist as well as the western representative for VAI she also Lectures in Limerick School of Art and Galway Mayo Institute of Technology. 

The clinic runs from 12pm to 2.45pm and is free for all.

For further information on the VAI please visit www.visualartists.ie

Tom Portman Concert

Tom Portman

At the Courthouse Gallery, Ennistymon

Friday 20^th April 8.30pm

Admission €8  concession €5

Multi-instrumentalist, performer and songwriter Tom Portman will be bringing his talents to the Courthouse Gallery in Ennistymon on Friday 20th of April at 8.30pm. €8, €5 conc.

Playing acoustic, electric guitar, Dobro and lap steel, Tom presents a wide repertoire. His compositions draw on many global styles yet have a distinct flavour of their own. Last year he launched his second solo album, At One, with a sell-out show in Galway's Town Hall Theatre. This self-produced collection features instrumental compositions, songs and arrangements of traditional Irish tunes for fingerstyle guitar and Dobro.

He regularly performs around Ireland from small venues to festivals such as the Electric Picnic and the DLR Festival of world cultures. Internationally, Tom has toured in Poland where he played the Suwalki Blues festival. Portman has also played venues in the UK, North Italy and the South of France. Tom will bring his unique style to the Ennistymon Courthouse Gallery.

'He absolutely captivated me...'        John Richards, Galway Bay FM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Om6DTP2Gg-Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPUELI2vDwM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_LwKWsxTx8

TIME FRAME Photography by Robert Ellis, Video & drawings by David O'Rourke

TIME FRAME

Opening Fri March 23^rd 8pm

Robert Ellis

New Line:

This body of work documents the space inhabited by a small alternative community in the West of Ireland. By exploring the private world created by the people that live here, this work adopts a silent and contemplative tone, and seeks to engage with this space and its inhabitants, rather than expose it. Through carefully negotiated access and many discussions, the work becomes a catalyst of my experience and the time spent making the work. Carried out over the period of a year the images reveal the harsh depths of winter and the warm fertility of summer. The images tell the stories of the people that belong here, but only ever show a glimpse of their presence.

Robert Ellis was born in Dublin in 1984 and is a graduate of MFA Photography in the University of Ulster, Belfast. His photography, which has been exhibited in Ireland and abroad, often deals with the notion of “home”. Working with small rural communities, his photographs rely on inherent or local knowledge to inform a sense of place.  

www.robertellis.eu

David O'Rourke

video still " persistance of memory " by David O’Rourke

 A. THE PERSISTENCE OF MEMORY (projected video)

For this piece I wanted to go back to the origins of cinema and limit myself accordingly. The first motion picture by the Lumiere brothers “ train arriving at the station “ needed a complete narrative in one take from a fixed viewpoint (due to the constraints of technology at the time) so I strove with modern technology to do likewise. No editing or effects ,using original sound and having  a complete narrative. References around  train imagery being many , this journey by train could symbolise past lives.

B. THE PERSISTENCE OF VISION (DVD)

Based on the phenomena ‘Persistence of Vision’ in which a series of still images projected in succession

give the illusion of an unbroken  connection (the basis of film and animation) and more specifically the visual hallucination which occurs when the speed of the object being  filmed exceeds the film speed. (The reason why wheels on a car move backwards in a film.)Our perceptual systems seem to work in a similar way. The piece is self referential  in nature relating itself to the way this medium works and indeed its inequities which have correlations to the inequities of our perceptual systems.

In relating the two pieces I compare the visual  hallucinations of  “persistence of vision ” and  the construct of mental hallucination in  “Persistence of memory”(present/past lives). The tunnel hallucination symbolizing near death and birth experiences.

Artefact - A series of white chalk drawings on black paper.

 Each drawing was completed over the course of a day.  As the day progressed the light changed and the detail was picked out, leaving the shadow from the morning.

In this way they are like composite images recording the passage of time.

Fertile Rock - mixed media by Liz Moloney

March 23 - April19,

in the Red Couch Space

Opening March 23rd at 8 pm

Fertile Rock is a series of works inspired by the rich and diverse Flora and Fauna of the Burren.
By exploring these unique forms through a series of observational drawings and photography.
The images are then taken out of context, altering the dimension's and scale and playing with 
the introduction of pattern, texture and motif.