The Visual Artists’ News Sheet
13
November – December 2010
Regional Profile
Letters
Letters
Hybridization of the Native
Re: Roscommon profile
Ciarán Ó Dochartaigh - work from 'Sub Arctic Expedition’
I live and work in Derry as a practising artist. Having completed a degree in Belfast in 2000, later this year I am on the move – I’m undertaking a twoyear MFA at Goldsmiths London. I have witnessed some dramatic changes in Derry’s art scene – especially in the last five years. The Void and the Context remain the two main galleries in town. The Void showcases established internationals; and the Context highlights upcoming or locally / nationally known practitioners, although on occasion there have been a reversal of these parameters, which can be an interesting prospect. Derry still has plenty of room for the other or the third space(s) in the near future. Derry has interesting characteristics partly due to its location; neither overtly affiliated with Belfast, nor Dublin – it has a unique cultural identity (along with a closeness to Donegal). The people of Derry have always had strength in fighting their own corner, this spirit has transcended to the art community. The Void have forged links in England, Scotland and Europe – as much as with other groups throughout Ireland, – perhaps placing itself at the forefront of the art scene here. The Context, through its director Theo Sims has brought a unique perspective to Derry, Sims having spent several years working in Manitoba’s vibrant art scene, often with up incoming artists and First Nations communities in Winnipeg. My ‘Sub Arctic Expedition’ installation at the Context (29 Aug – 25 Sept) was the culmination of a two-year body of work – an Irish-Canadian transatlantic site-specific piece. The video is set on board a hybrid, traditional Canadian canoe, adapted for fishing The location a mountain lake Lough fad, purportedly contain only Arctic Char yet this has not been confirmed. The fish are post-glacial colonizers. The piece is a voyage of discovery in the form of a staged Arctic tundra expedition on board the vessel. A portable cast is taken from the canoe and transported in a suitcase and re-fabricated in Winnipeg, the canoe then smudged at the culturally symbolic Forks. The piece will later be exported and re-fabricated in the high Arctic to catch the landlocked relative. The installation was presented at Context Gallery in the form of a anthropology display containing, hand made artefacts, two hybrid canoes, and three movies of the expeditions and three light boxes outside the Gallery. A key theme in the work was the local becoming global, highlighting national origins and cultural displacement as represented through a skewed botany and natural history, from the introduction of foreign or adoptive species to the hybridization of the native. There are many advantages to being based Derry – provisions, rent and transport are among the cheapest in Ireland. Artists have the choice of making work in a community-oriented atmosphere, or to work in relative solitude. However it is easy to become isolated like any other place, therefore it is essential to be aware of what is happening outside the region. Support and promotion of the visual arts in the city often comes down to individual selfpromotion.
Ciarán Ó Dochartaigh - work from 'Sub Arctic Expedition’
At present there are good quality, secure studios at Void. Although there are no studio provisions that cater for larger works and no studios with 3D workshop facilities, there are plenty of local companies and trades people who can help fabricate 3D work at competitive rates. There are also facilities to hire digital video and audio equipment with a wealth of non-linear editing software equipment. Generally there are enough resources here to cater for most artists disciplines to work comfortably, with some more specialist facilities like printmaking a relatively short journey away. There is a definite interest from the boarder community to participate in art-making; as demonstrated recently at context gallery workshops ‘Sew What’ as facilitated by Delaine Le Bas as an extension to her show ‘Witch Hunt’ the energy and commitment from the large amount of participants was inspiring. Commitment and much needed support to young students has been evident at Voids art school, as facilitated by Damien Duffy this past few years, has become a strong bridge for building student portfolios and beyond, proven to have become an institution in itself, with students leaving and returning for more. An expansion of the Art school combined with a fully recognised degree at the NWRC or Magee is a necessity as Connor Mc Feely and others have been campaigning for. These initiatives are imperative for Derry’s future. The visual arts community needs an influx of young art practitioners from the age of 18+, who wish to live and make work here, when this happens Derry will be a cultural force to reckon with. Visiting international artists will undoubtedly make the imminent extension to the art community in Derry more layered and challenging. Earlier this year Scott Stevens a Canadian First Nation Anishinabe artist based in Toronto / Winnipeg, visited Derry as artist in residence at the Context. Scott’s presence in Derry was culturally significant, and highlighted further the need for future cultural exchanges that is implicit to our future. The people of Derry welcomed Scott with warmth; the interaction between both will have a lasting significance. Scott is in the process of making work based on his experiences here. The City of culture title is yet to be seen as the financial cultural injection Derry needs. As an artist I am not convinced that potential corporate and financial stimulation, equates a better visual arts culture. I would be concerned that we may lose a grip of the issues that are so important here, and in essence this accolade could dilute our cultural heritage. I am excited with the challenge of moving to a cultural capital in a well-established institution. I hope to learn more and to challenge others in the cultural exchange that the MFA at Goldsmiths will hopefully prove to be. Ciarán Ó Dochartaigh
Dear Editor, I am writing in response to the Roscommon focus in the September / October edition of The Visual Artists News Sheet. Whilst the feature offered an interesting insight of what is happening on the visual arts front in County Roscommon it was not entirely comprehensive. As a Roscommon based artist, I would like to contribute further to this overview, with a few words about an initiative that I run from my home – an arts space and project entitled Mandala. I live 3 miles outside Strokestown in the heart of County Roscommon; and under the auspices of the Mandala project I have held a series of exhibitions promoting the work of emerging and established artists – both from the County and indeed from around the country. Some of the artists who I have exhibited have included textile artist Frances Crowe and painter Honor Lynn – both of whom are founding members of Working Artists Roscommon. This group should be credited with establishing very solid foundations for contemporary art in this county – both on a national and international level. As a painter myself, I have a particular interest in promoting painting through Mandala. Among the painters I’ve worked with are Malachy Costello (Roscommon); Gillian Gannon (Roscommon); Ada O’Donnell(Roscommon), John Brady(Galway); Corry O’Reilly(Galway); Jean Purtell(Galway); Kristy Verenga (Galway) and from Westmeath, Ann Wingfield, Lesley Wingfield, Celine Sheridan and Paul Row – also Jock Nichol(Offaly); Gordon Farrell( Longford) and Ian Wieczovek (Mayo). Sculpture has also been presented at Mandala – Sandra Vernon (Leitrim) and Billy Moore(Sligo) have shown at the space. Mandala has showcased works by recent graduates, such as painter / sculptor, Ruth Cadden,(Crawford); Niamh Beirne, (DIT ) – a Roscommon local; and award winning sculptor Holly Asaa (NCAD)/ Going forward, I am planning a solo show of my own for June 2011 and a group show for this Autumn here in Mandala. I am looking forward to working with some of the artists mentioned above; as well as meeting and working with some new and exciting emerging artists. I am optimistic that the Irish arts scene will flourish in the coming years and am excited to be part of this movement. I feel that in writing a piece about the arts in Co. Roscommon that I really must mention and pay tribute to Fergus Ahern, who sadly, this week, suddenly and unexpectedly passed away. Fergus, a patron of the arts, was a founder of Boyle Arts Festival and was also the inspiration behind the Boyle Civic Collection – both initiatives worthy of national merit. Fergus was a force to be reckoned with. He put Roscommon firmly within the realms of the wider contemporary Irish arts world and for that we must be eternally grateful. Fergus also raised thousands of euros for charities through his art auctions – the most recent being an event for Haiti. Ar dheis De a raibh a anam dilis. I hope that this additional information; give a further indication of breadth and variety of visual arts activities in County Roscommon. The Visual Artists News Sheet is a lifeline for artists such as myself. Keep up the good work!
Best Wishes, Siobhan Cox-Carlos