The July/August issue of the Visual Artists’ News Sheet is out now. It has been sent out to all members of Visual Artists Ireland, as well as to art galleries and art centre across the country.
In light of the historic vote to repeal the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland, we asked Cecily Brennan to reflect on the contributions of the Artist’s Campaign. In other columns, Victoria Durrer, lecturer in Arts Management and Cultural Policy at Queen’s University Belfast, discusses a new collaborative research project, aimed at evaluating the impact of art as a catalyst for reconciliation. VAI NI Manager Rob Hilken reports on the symposium, ‘Best Practice in Developing Sustainable Artist-led Workspaces’ which took place on 11 June in Belfast.
In the How is it Made? section, Aidan Kelly Murphy interviews emerging artist Áine McBride, while Sarah Ellen Lundy discusses her ecology-themed art practice. Daniel Bermingham interviews Eimear Walshe and Emma Haugh about their recent exhibition, ‘Miraculous Thirst’, which ran at Galway Arts Centre from 5 – 25 May. Brenda Moore-McCann outlines some of the new work commissioned by Sirius Arts Centre as part of the ongoing Brian O’Doherty/Patrick Ireland project, ‘One, Here, Now’, including new work by Brendan Earley, showcased in his solo exhibition, ‘Present Perfect’. In other features for this issue, Jonathan Carroll discusses some of the main international contemporary art fairs attended by Irish commercial galleries, while Christopher Steenson provides an overview of Visual Artist Ireland’s Get Together 2018 and also reports on Sonorities, a sonic arts festival that took place across Belfast in April. In the new Art Education section, facilitators offer insights into ‘I Sing the Body Electric’ – an education programme for the 38th EVA International. Two conference reports also feature: Rebecca Kennedy reports on the Turbulence symposium at The Model, Sligo, while DIT students and inaugural Create fellows, Gemma Browne and Bianca Kennedy, report on the recent CAPP staging event in Madrid.
Organisation profiles for this issue come from Cork: John Thompson outlines the evolution of the artist-led intitiave, the Guesthouse Project, while Kirstie North interviews Mary McCarthy, Director of the Crawford Art Gallery, about her future plans for the gallery, including its renovation and extension.
The Regional Focus for this issue comes from Omagh and Fermanagh. Insights on the realities of living and working in the region are offered by visual artists Helen Sharp and Susan Hughes and sculptor Simon Carman, while Noelle McAlinden discusses the evolution of Fermanagh Live Arts Festival.
Reviewed in the Critique section are: Martin Gale at Taylor Galleries; Elizabeth Magill at the Ulster Museum; Sarah Walker at Oliver Sears Gallery; Gerry Blake at Mermaid Arts Centre; and Leo Boyd at Atom Gallery, London.
As ever, this issue has details of the upcoming VAI Professional Development Programme, exhibition and public art roundup, news from the sector and current opportunities.
