The May – June 2019 issue of the Visual Artists’ News Sheet is out now.
This issue includes a brief focus on prominent national art collections. Discussing the 60-year evolution of the Niland Collection, Emer McGarry, Director of The Model, highlights collecting and ‘keeping’ as active investments in building ‘living repositories’ of thoughts and ideas. As the Arts Council of Northern Ireland launches its new Art Lending Scheme, Suzanne Lyle, Head of Visual Arts, discusses their contemporary collection. Similarly, Eamon Maxwell offers insights into the evolution of the Arts Council of Ireland Collection, which was established in 1962. VAI NI Manager, Rob Hilken provides an overview of art collections in Northern Ireland.
Several feature articles focus on recent or ongoing archival projects. Val Connor and Dorothy Hunter offer insights into ‘The Long Goodbye’ – an exhibition focusing on the late 1990s as a pivotal stage in the 50-year history of Project Arts Centre. In a similar recollective vein, Christina Mullan profiles the Stephen McKenna retrospective, currently showing at VISUAL Carlow, while Pádraic E. Moore discusses the cultural nostalgia underpinning ‘The Last Great Album of the Decade’, a group exhibition at The LAB Gallery, Dublin. In addition, Vukašin Nedeljković discusses his ongoing project, Asylum Archive, which documents Ireland’s Direct Provision system.
We are delighted to publish a review by Lily Cahill, winner of the VAI/DCC Art Writing Award 2019, which offers vibrant reflections on Michelle Doyle’s exhibition, ‘Obedient City’ (13 – 23 September 2017), at A4 Sounds Gallery, Dublin. Also in this issue, Jonathan Carroll speaks to artist Eva Rothschild, who will represent Ireland at the 58th International Venice Biennale (11 May – 24 November 2019).
In other feature articles, artist Karen Hendy reflects on her recent residency at Siamsa Tíre, while Aidan Kelly Murphy speaks to a group of artists who have created a temporary studio space in north inner-city Dublin. Julia Moustacchi discusses the benefits of Visual Thinking Strategies for Irish galleries, while Denis Farrell describes the evolution of Lodestar School of Art, an alternative summer residency in Glenstal Abbey.
The Regional Focus for this issue comes from County Westmeath, with profiles from Luan Gallery, Chimera Art Gallery, Shambles Art Studios. Westmeath-based artists Celine Sheridan and Liz Johnson discuss their recent work.
Reviewed in the Critique section are: Sam Reveles at Butler Gallery; Anita Groener at The Dock; Geraldine O’Sullivan at Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre; Walker and Walker at IMMA; and ‘MAKing Art: The PAINTing Exhibition’ at Draíocht.
As ever, we have details of the upcoming VAI Professional Development Programme, exhibition and public art roundups, news from the sector and current opportunities.
