Summer ’13
Vol 9 Iss 4
Space Inside Arts Magazine
Linde Fidorra
Space Inside LIVE NIGHTS 1st Tuesday October to June Wicklow Sailing Club, Wicklow Town FREE ADMISSION Great Music, Poetry and Dance 1
Editorial Hi all, Welcome to our Summer issue of the Space Inside magazine with topical articles and information about the arts. I would firstly like to introduce myself as the new editor of The Space Inside. I have worked alongside Carol the past few years on the journal and so understand what is required to make an issue that is unique in content yet accessible to our audience. Carol’s dynamism will be a hard act to follow but she has certainly left me with plenty of great material to work on and develop. In our main feature we talk to Carol about her Space Inside legacy and what the future holds. The Space Inside team would like to take this opportunity to thank Carol for all her hard work through the years on both the journal and the live nights. We wish her every success in her endeavours to become a full-time Poetry Therapist. To further celebrate her tenure, some of her poetry has been added to the journal poetry section. Here’s a quick look at what else is in the journal
New SingerSongwriter Open Mic Night Comes to Wicklow
An exciting new singer-songwriter night was recently launched in Wicklow town. The Stablesessions aims to showcase in a welcoming environment up and coming songwriters as well as those who have been on the scene for a while. The night is held once a month in the downstairs of Ernie’s Bar. If you wish to perform, you can get in touch with Eugene through their Facebook page or email stablesessions@gmail.com. The next one will be held on Monday 5 August (Bank Holiday weekend) at 9pm. Entry is free.
4 Music and Book Reviews 7 Americana and Roots Festival 9 Twitters I look forward to working on creating the best journal possible for readers.
Anne Graham
Cover Art
Space Inside Arts
by Linde Fidorra
AGM
As part of the ‘Elements’ exhibition by staff artists at Signal Artists, Bray Exhibiting From Tuesday 10th September – Sunday 22nd September 2013 Opening Reception: 13th September 2013, 79pm
Are you interested in helping to maintain and grow a unique vibrant arts night and journal that is accessible to all in the community? Are you a great organiser or an ideas person? We need both! A dedicated team to ensure we deliver the best live nights and journal possible. If you’d like to get involved, please email spaceinside@hotmail.com to get details on our next AGM.
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Inside the Space
Anne Graham talks to Carol Boland, founding member of the Space Inside about moving on to newer artistic spaces and how much she’ll miss working on the live nights and the journal. “It came off the top of my head!” says Carol Boland in response to being asked where the name ‘Space Inside’ came from. At first I was disappointed, expecting it to be taken from some famous essayist or philosopher about the cerebral process that goes into creativity. Then I laughed to myself and realised that a title referring to the mysterious mass that births the greatest ideas should ideally come into being from the dark spontaneous and raw. This ‘light bulb’ title came a few years after Carol moved to Wicklow Town from London. Having already dipped her toe in arts-related waters as a founding member of both the Wicklow Arts Festival and Wicklow Writers, Carol felt there was a need for something more regular in occurrence. True, there were bands a plenty playing the local pub scene but these gigs could be few and far between. And of course the noise levels of an average weekend night in a pub didn’t really give acts a chance to engage with their audience
and get the proper listen they deserved. “The idea was to showcase emerging artists as well as those already well established in the areas of music, writing/poetry, dance, film and art and to provide them with an interested, respectful audience.” The night was set up not only for these acts but to give people in the area with an interest in the arts a night of entertainment they could enjoy without any distraction. In particular, Carol wanted to help create an encouraging atmosphere for young performers starting out. “And”, she adds, “It was important that it be free to ensure access to all in the community.” With the help of an enthusiastic team, a relaxed nonjudgemental arts night was created that soon gained a loyal following. As the live nights progressed over the years to showcase many exciting acts (from rock bands, to drama to Flamenco dancing) the Space Inside journal also grew, from very modest beginnings. “It started out merely as a newsletter to inform the public of the upcoming live nights and then slowly but surely we started adding more content to it and people really welcomed that which encouraged us to make it as professional and as enjoyable as possible.” With contributions from various members of the community, the journal expanded to 12 pages of arts-related topics with a focus on the Wicklow area. “I have to say I enjoyed doing the journal more than the live nights!” laughs Carol, “But I think it’s great how the two fed into each other and augmented each other. I think the audiences really appreciated that dynamic.” But as much as she enjoyed and will
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miss the experience, it was finally time to move on. Carol will be starting her first year of a psychotherapy degree in September. Her ultimate goal is to practice Poetry Therapy - using dialogue about poetry to help people express themselves and hopefully open up to deeper insights about themselves. She currently runs Self Discovery Through Poetry workshops (see carolboland.blogspot.ie for more info). It is yet another determined metamorphosis for a woman who started her career as a reinsurance writer before moving on to the roles of novelist, poet, arts event coordinator, publisher and now therapist. “I suppose I have a lot of willpower, that’s why I’ve always kept going and been able to try new things career and lifestyle-wise. I never take ‘no’ for an answer!” Before we finish our interview, I ask Carol what her favourite moments have been at the Space Inside. “Well obviously it’s great to look back on all the great talent we’ve had such as (guitarist) Eamon Sweeney, (singer) Leslie Dowdall, (actor) Pat Nolan and others, as well as seeing many acts start and grow with us over the years. But for me the best moments were when we had a full house; it was so crowded I couldn’t even find a seat for myself! It was like a validation of our years’ of work - to reach out and give the community a decent arts outlet they could enjoy for free.” Carol would like to thank all Space Inside team members throughout the years for their dedication and ideas. She would also like to thank audiences and the positive response that has helped make The Space Inside a truly enlightening and entertaining experience.
Music Review
Book Review
Olympia Austra
Jacob’s Folly by Rebecca Miller
(Domino Records) In eighteenth-century Paris, Jacob Cerf is a Jew, a peddler of knives, saltcellars, and snuffboxes. Despite a disastrous teenage marriage, he is determined to raise himself up in life, by whatever means he can.
Michael Tinsley reviews ‘Olympia’ the sophomore album of Canadian electronic outfit Austra. Austra’s debut album Feel It Break was probably my favourite album of 2011, so it is not an over statement that I was excited at the prospect of the arrival of the follow up Olympia. Now in my experience when you are that anxious to hear new material it can often disappoint or underwhelm.
More than two hundred years later, Jacob is amazed to find himself reincarnated and in the Long Island suburbs of twenty-first-century America, his new life twisted in ways he could never have imagined: he is now a common house fly! But even the tiniest of insects can influence the turning of the world, and thanks to his arrival, the lives of reliable volunteer fireman, Leslie Senzatimore and a young Orthodox Jewish woman Masha, nursing a secret ambition, will never be the same.
Thankfully ‘Olympia’ is fantastic, retaining all the strengths from their debut - the synth driven sound, Katie Stelmanis’ unusual but spectacular operatic styled vocals - but also adding new elements that come from Austra being a full six-piece band with a couple of years touring under their collective belts. For example backing vocalist twins Sari and Romy Lightman, who also record under the name Tasseomancy, contribute hugely to the harmonies and even the song writing.
‘Jacob’s Folly’ is a fantastically original novel which comes brilliantly to life with the skilled writing of Rebecca Miller. Thoroughly compelling, this is a must read for the summer and a great read for any book club.
Joanna
For me the stand out track is ‘Painful Like’ with its arpeggiated undertow and heart-aching lyrics about the disillusionment of growing up gay in a small town and finding solace in the arms of a love. That said there isn’t a duff track across the 45 minutes here. Destined to be another long-time favourite in my house.
Bridge Street Books, Bridge Street, Wicklow. T: +353(0)404 62240 www.bridgestreetbooks.ie
Space Inside Arts
And if a new album wasn’t good enough it was announced on Friday that Austra will be returning to Dublin on 22nd November to play the Button Factory. I didn’t get to see their recent Forbidden Fruit appearance. However, I did see them in the intimate Crawdaddy back in 2011 and they were excellent. Tickets are on sale now so snap one up to avoid disappointment.
Live Nights On the first Tuesday in the month, from October to June, the Space Inside runs a FREE evening of music, dance and poetry in Wicklow Sailing Club, Wicklow Town. Doors open 8pm. For upcoming performers, or if you or your band want to perform, check out our blog at
http://www.austramusic.com/
Michael Tinsley is one-half of Wicklow based band Aphrodite Lion. For more music news and reviews check out their regularly updated blog ‘The Lions Share’ at http://aphroditelion.tumblr.com.
www.thespaceinside.blogspot.com
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Sleepwalkers Exhibition at Hugh Lane Gallery
Some Things Are Free!
O'Eir Stoneage Art
Sleepwalkers Exhibition at Hugh Lane Gallery Sleepwalkers is an ongoing project where six artists have collectively used the gallery as a space for research. The first phase was an attempt to reveal the process of conceiving an exhibition by the display in gallery of work and ideas in progress. This process results in each artist developing a solo exhibition at The Hugh Lane. The next in the series are two exhibitions running simultaneously – Two exercises in awareness and observation by Lee Welch and A blow-by-blow account of stone carving in Oxford by Sean Lynch. Exhibiting from 10 July to 29 September.
Through Streets Broad and Narrow: Benedict Kiely's Dubliners 30 July, Irish Writers’ Centre A lecture on the work of Benedict Kiely by Director of Irish Studies at University of Massachusetts, Boston, Dr. Thomas O'Grady. Dr. O'Grady will be introduced by author, screenwriter and musician Ferdia MacAnna.
As part of Heritage Week, Erik O'Eir Dendro-lithic artworks has recreated Neolithic Megalith Art as from our stoneage ancestors similar to carvings at Newgrange. The free entry exhibition will be held in The Riverside Gallery in The Bridgewater Shopping Centre in Arklow from 19-25 August. For times see www.heritageweek.ie
Leonora Carrington Exhibition The first major retrospective of Leonora Carrington's work in Ireland, this iconic exhibition is a timely rediscovery of this painter and her role in the Surrealist art movement. Carrington is known for her figurative dreamscapes filled with extraordinary and complex narratives informed by her rich interest in mythology, alchemy, fairy tales and the occult. Leonora Carrington comprises some 50 paintings, eight sculptures, eight tapestries, and 20 works on paper from the 1940s onwards, holds a particular focus on the imagery that enchanted her as a child and
on the cultural influences of Mexico. The works in this exhibition will be organised thematically rather than chronologically. Metamorphosis and transformation, themes constant in the artist’s work, will draw on Carrington’s hybrid world full of the strange figures creatures half-human-half-horse, elongated women, people changing into birds - and will include works such as The Giantess (The Guardian of the Egg) and Edwardian Hunt Breakfast.
Free Public Tour of The National Print Museum During an interactive guided tour of the Museum, one of the guides accompanies you on a journey of discovery, with both technical descriptions and anecdotal tales, through the three
core areas of the exhibition – the Compositing Area, the Printing Area and the Finishing Area. Each visitor is offered the opportunity to hand compose and print a poster during the tour! The Museum also houses a new Education Area for families on the mezzanine of the Museum. This interactive area is full of fun self-guided art and craft activities and includes a mini printers’ library. The use of this space is free every day! On every Sunday (excluding Bank Holiday Weekends) at 3pm. www.nationalprintmuseum.ie
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What’s On – Events that caught the Space Inside’s eye MUSIC The Henry Girls
FESTIVAL
Sat 24 Aug 2013 8 pm
5-22 September 2013
Dublin Fringe Fest
Various venues, Dublin City The Henry Girls are the latest talent from Inishowen, Donegal to cast their musical spell over audiences in Ireland and beyond. Subtle and enchanting, their haunting and melodious harmonies are transporting and this first visit to Mermaid Arts Centre promises to be something very special. For children and adults
For 18 days this festival transforms Dublin into an exposé of great creative talent from around the globe. It is a platform for the best new, emerging Irish arts companies and a showcase for the best contemporary theatre and dance shows touring internationally. For artists, the Fringe facilitates an opportunity to innovate, to cross disciplines and boundaries and to find new ways and places to create work.
€16/14 conc Mermaid Box Office T: 01 272 4030 www.mermaidartscentre.ie
For listings see fringefest.com
FILM
THEATRE LANDFALL Circus Theatre
I Am Breathing Centre for Creative Practices Thurs 08 Aug 2013
Project Arts Centre 7 – 10 Aug 2013
I AM BREATHING is the hard-hitting story of Neil Platt – a 33-year-old man who contracted Motor Neurone Disease. Paralysed from the neck down with only months to live, he tells his story to help raise awareness around his devastating disease and dedicates the film to his one-year-old son Oscar. EMPIRE Magazine calls it “touching, humbling and inspirational”
Four characters find themselves in an impossible situation - they have nothing to stand on. Suspended in a post-apocalyptic landscape, a wild girl, a wistful opera singer, a forlorn gardener and an errant business man find themselves at close quarters. Hoop, rope, silks, chains help to weave wonder in this breathtaking aerial performance. €16/14 conc
€6
39 East Essex Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, Ireland t: +353 (0)1 881 9613 www.projectartscentre.ie
15 Pembroke Street Lower, Dublin 2 t: +353 (0)1 7995416 cfcp.ie
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Anne
Graham
O’Donnell
about
chats the
to
Conor
Dubliners, was a major influence on Conor growing up. “I was happily
upcoming
Americana and Roots Festival in Greystones Conor O’Donnell is a bundle of energy. You rarely see him sit still for more than two minutes. And when he talks, words spill over each other in abundant enthusiasm; an enthusiasm that is infectious. So not only is he the perfect candidate to organise a festival, but an Americana one at that. Brimming with positivity, but also possessing a dry rock ‘n’ roll sensibility, he is the perfect poster boy to champion the bustling, drawl of The American Dream’s soundtrack: consisting of Blues, Rockabilly, Bluegrass, Folk and a touch of Country (but no Garth Brooks or Daniel O’ ‘you-know-who’). For four years, Conor has been at the helm of the Americana and Roots weekend held each summer in Greystones. It is not your highly regimented arts festival; rather the ethos is more informal “Let musicians play, chat and play some more,” says Conor “It’s a small music festival where everyone is welcome and all music is free.”
Denver, The Cujo Family, Gypsy Rebel Rabble and so many more. I think that’s about twenty acts but it always ends up being more than that. We always support local bands and bring in new acts too.” There will also be a new stage in addition to the three established ones, called The Swamp Shack. “There will be hay bales and mics hanging from the ceiling to give it that authentic hillbilly feel. Unfortunately we weren’t allowed to have live frogs and crickets as background noise but I think our acts will more than help with the authenticity we’re looking for!”
The Future brain washed listening to great live folk acts at Lisdoonvarna and such!” The spirit of camaraderie and revolving players from one band to another at these festivals has definitely inspired how the Americana Festival has developed since its inception.
So what does Conor envision for the festival in the future? “In years to come I would like to be able to extend to maybe a week long festival with more stages, bigger stages. We basically want more music. And keep giving new artists a start and the old ones somewhere they can come to vent!
Conor’s Roots It’s really not surprising that Conor, who is a musician himself playing in The Big Muddy and The New Peasants, would end up organising a festival like this. His father Al O’ Donnell, an Irish ballad singer who has performed with the likes of The
This Year And the festival gets bigger and better each year. “We have a fantastic Lineup this year with Kory Quinn from Portland Oregon, Ben Jordan from
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The Americana and Roots Festival runs from 2-5 August in Dann’s Bar/The Beach House in Greystones. rootsweekend.ie or find them on Facebook.
In Profile
Arts in Focus: History
Lemon Kush
John
Anne Graham profiles Wicklow band Lemon Kush
historical and fictional weavings of ‘Dublin: Foundation’ by Edward Rutherfurd.
The band Lemon Kush was formed in the summer of 2013 due to the addition of a new band member to an acoustic two piece cover band. Guitarist/vocalist Rachel Moore and keyboardist/vocalist/ukulele player Megan Evans formed the band in 2012. Their peculiar harmonies reached the ears of one Nicky Lumsden who proceeded to join the band on the electric and bass guitar.
Graham
reviews
the
This is a historical fiction of some finesse. Rutherfurd (real name Francis Edward Wintle) has written a number of books using this interesting style of mixing history with the fictional people he creates. He even outlines family trees to show the relationship of people over a very long period. What I find so interesting is his ability to weave together the different groups, such as Celts, Vikings, Normans and the development of Irish society in the present day; the intricate process that made us who we are today.
Their live output is very eclectic including covers of Justin Timberlake, Bob Marley, MGMT and The Civil Wars with the girls’ unique harmony blend giving the songs a fresh perspective. They also write their own music, utilising different genres such as techno and folk as well as adding instruments such as rain makers to create vibrant atmospherics.
The full title of this book is Dublin: Foundation and it covers the period from pre-history to the 16th Century. It traces this history through fictional characters and shows the impact major changes occurring in Dublin and Ireland overall have on their lives: the coming of Christianity, the arrival of the Vikings, the Norman invasion and the start of the Reformation in Ireland. The result is a very enjoyable read and an interesting story that helps us understand who we are. In particular, anybody living in or from the Dublin/Wicklow area will find this book both informative and very familiar in many ways.
Although a relatively new band in the music scene in Co. Wicklow Lemon Kush have quite a few gigs lined up for August 2013. They will be playing at The Americana and Roots festival in Greystones on Saturday the 3rd and in the Wicklow Regatta the following afternoon, debuting some of their original material. They are also currently working on their first EP which is due to be released by the end of the year.
I will not spoil the story by going into any more detail, except to say this book is highly recommended, go get a copy and have a really good read. Rutherfurd has written a follow up to this book, called Ireland: Awakening (2006) and I will return to this later. Also, he has just published a new book titled Paris (April 2013). If they are any way as good as Dublin, then I am looking forward to some further great reads.
CONTRIBUTORS WANTED FOR
SPACE INSIDE MAGAZINE If you have love the arts and have something interesting to write about, get in touch! email: spaceinside@hotmail.com
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TWITTERS Mentoring Support from Voluntary Arts Ireland
Wicklow Reminiscences: Exhibition and Community Project Heritage Week 17-25 August Whether you are looking for advice on starting a festival or taking your group to the next level, Voluntary Arts Ireland can help. Their field officer Emma Whitehead can talk you through the range of services they offer and help you find what it is you need. To make an appointment to see her email emma@vaireland.org
A display on the lesser-known characters of Wicklow where viewers are encouraged to contribute their own anecdotes and memories. The exhibition will run in all Wicklow Branch Libraries and entry is free. All stories submitted by the public will be added to the Wicklow Heritage archive on their website. If you have a story of your own to tell, contact Ciara O’Brien in Wicklow County Council Library Services. Tel: 01-2866566
Creative Writing Comps
caobrien@wicklowcoco.ie
Novel Fair 2013/14
Connecting Creativity - Breakaway Project
Deadline: 16th Oct 13 Wow! Award 2013
This project works towards creating links between Irish and American artists, showcasing work by American artists here in Ireland and developing showcase opportunities for Irish artists in America. They are developing this project to test the boundaries of technology, using Skype for artistic collaborations that would otherwise not be feasible. Each Irish actor will be paired with an Americanbased writer, and each American-based actor will be paired with an Irish writer. Actors will have a Skype call with their writer, who will then write a five minute monologue for the actor on the spot. The result of their work can be seen at the Centre for Creative Practices on Fri 16 August at 8pm.
Deadline: 31st Nov 13 The Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Prize 2013 Deadline: 30th Apr 13 Japan-EU English Haiku Contest Deadline: 1st Aug 13 Irish Children’s Prize Deadline: 17th Oct 13 Source: creativewriting.ie
Admission €8.
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Memories in a Mattress
Carol Boland was born in Dublin and, after many years abroad, now resides outside a small village in Co. Wexford. A poet, journalist and author of the teen novel Hostage, she also recently finished her tenure as editor of the Space Inside arts magazine.
I wrestle the writhing beast through the door heave and pull at dip and lip until sullen and withdrawn winded on its back it submits in the back garden I stand at the foot of this double-sided slice of my life so, it has come to this twenty years of seeping blood, milk and tears. I press the unseen knife to its belly where each blemish is an act of love, or a tainted stain like a birthmark on a pelt a storyboard a hide for acts of treason.
The final battle I am tired of the battle with dragons and dragoons of laying out my armour at each sunrise and sunset
Murder on my mind, I stab the sagging skin rip open its lumpy recess spill its guts discolour the soil black and white.
Did Cúchulainn fear the next smear of blood on his axe Lir’s silver chained swans the next sip of green water When did breathing become so important
And up to my elbow in pleasure I feel it squeal under my hand as I reach for its backbone dislodge curls of coiled springs condemn our shared memories to the grave.
FRIENDS of The Space Inside 2012/13 Businesses: National Fire Museum of Power (Wales), Healthy Habits Café, Wicklow, Maltfield Riding School, Redcross,, Bridge Street Books and Track One (Wicklow) and Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray. Groups: Wicklow Writers and Shed Poets Individuals: Anne Ferris (TD), Helen Duffy, Avril Young, Charlie Burke, Conal Kavanagh (Councillor), Mary Boland, Anne Graham, John Graham, Joy Whittaker, George and Meta Whittaker, Liam Walsh, Edward Ryan, James Boland, Edward Ryan, Andy Boland, Cora Boland, Marie O’Brien, Philip Lynch, Michael Tinsley, Shirley McClure, Marin O’Donovan, Carol Boland, Margaret Kennedy, Tommy Dickenson, Bernie Walsh, Pat Moore, Peter Kelly, Philip Galvin, Pascal Moran, Liam Walsh, Catherine Graham, Helen Graham, Kevin Graham, Charlie Kavanagh, Angela Nolan, Kerri Gill, Patricia Gill. Space Inside Arts Magazine is published quarterly by volunteers: Carol Boland and Anne Graham. Distribution: Evert Beerda, Tess Doyle and others. Live Nights: Carol Boland, Pascal Moran, Kerri Gill, Anne Graham, Cait Breathnach, John Graham, Maureen O’Donovan
http://thespaceinside.blogspot.com E:spaceinside@hotmail.com
Space Inside Arts Live Nights First Tuesday in the month, from October to June, the Space Inside Arts runs a free evening of music, dance and poetry in Wicklow Sailing Club, South Quay, Wicklow Town. Doors opens 8pm Help us to keep afloat by becoming a Friend for only €35. You can also donate €3 (or more) online at thespaceinside.blogspot.com. The Space Inside is grateful to Wicklow Town Council and Friends for making the journal and Live Nights a reality. This project was initially assisted by Wicklow Rural Partnership Ltd under the European Union LEADER +/National
Development
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Plan
2000-2006.