VAN’s May/June issue features coverage of several major exhibitions, including ‘i See Earth’ at VISUAL, Carlow, and ‘girls girls girls’ at Lismore Castle Arts. Also featured in this issue is an interview with Rónán Ó Raghallaigh, a profile on the 40th anniversary of Black Church Print Studio, a Regional Focus on County Longford, and much more.

This issue introduces a new column series focusing on ‘endings’ from the Department of Ultimology, as well as several Arts & Disability columns, variously outlining: Arts & Disability Ireland’s Curated Space programme; Visual Thinking Strategies for people with visual impairments; and the realities of maintaining an art practice whilst living with chronic pain or long-term illness.

In Member Profiles for this issue, Orla O’Byrne reports from a stone-carving residency in Northern Italy, while Gillian Fitzpatrick and Justin Donnelly discuss their participation in ‘Moon Gallery: Test Flight’, which recently sent artworks to the International Space Station.

On The Cover:

Francesca Woodman, Self-portrait talking to Vince, Providence, Rhode Island, 1977, Gelatin silver estate print; Photograph courtesy The Woodman Family Foundation and Marian Goodman Gallery, © Woodman Family Foundation / DACS, London.

Columns

8. A Painter’s Sunrise. Cornelius Browne considers the benefits of early morning painting for a self-taught artist.

One Last Thing. Introducing a column series by the Department of Ultimology.

9. The Perils of Obedience. Evan Garza reflects on contemporary art and activism in Ireland.

The Social Turn. Miguel Amado considers the civic agenda of art and its contributions to activism.

10. The Practice of Looking. Róisín Power-Hackett considers how VTS could become more accessible for people with visual impairments.

Anticipatory Time. Paul Roy considers the temporalities of maintaining an art practice whilst living with a long-term illness. 

11. Pathology of Energy. Iarlaith Ni Fheorais reflects on Arts & Disability Ireland’s Curated Space programme 2021.

Body Without World. Day Magee reflects on chronic pain. 

Regional Focus: Longford

12. Engage Longford. Rosie O’Hara, Director of Engage.

Roads and Roundabouts. Marian Balfe, Visual Artist.

13. Genius Loci. Ciara Tuite, Visual Artist.

A Sociological Gaze. Amanda Jane Graham, Visual Artist.

14. Hidden Heartlands. Emily Brennan, Visual Artist.

Am I Inside or Outside? Gary Robinson, Visual Artist.

15. Immersive Process. Siobhan Cox-Carlos, Visual Artist.

Myth Memory. Gordon Farrell, Visual Artist.

Career Development

16. Performative Rituals. Barry McHugh interviews Rónán Ó Raghallaigh about his celtic and pagan influences. 

Critique

19. Cover Image: Angela Gilmour, Cladoxylopsida Wattieza (first forests, 383 Ma, Gilboa, US), 2022, acrylic on FSC birch panel.

20. ‘Shadow Forests’ at The Lord Mayor’s Pavilion, Cork 

21. Gerry Blake at Municipal Gallery, dlr Lexicon

22. Aoife Shanahan at Golden Thread Gallery

23. Conor McFeely at St Augustine’s Old Graveyard, Derry

24. ‘With Other Matter, Part One’ at Roscommon Arts Centre

Exhibition Profile

26. Black Heart in Flight. Clare Scott reflects on ‘girls girls girls’ at Lismore Castle Arts.

28. Consequences of Language. Rod Stoneman reflects on ‘Mountain Language’ at Galway Arts Centre.

30. Stories Taking Shape. Darren Caffrey considers current exhibitions at VISUAL.

32. On Steady Ground/Unsteady Ground. Jonathan Carroll interviews Cora Cummins and Saoirse Higgins about their show at dlr Lexicon.

Organisation Profile

33. Black Church Turns Forty. Alan Crowley discusses the evolution of Black Church Print Studio.

Residency

34. Blessing, Curse, or Inoculation. Maria McKinney reflects on her Bolay Residency at Linenhall Arts Centre. 

Member Profile

36. Like gold to airy thinness beat. Gillian Fitzpatrick and Justin Donnelly.

Peeling the Stone. Orla O’Byrne.

37. Le Segrete Vite. John Keating. 

A Good Impression. Maria Noonan-McDermott.

Source