Contents On The Cover Array Collective, Pride, 2019; photograph by Laura O’Connor, courtesy Array and Tate Press Office. First Pages 6. 8.
Roundup. Exhibitions and events from the past two months. News. The latest developments in the arts sector. Columns
9.
One Hundred Summers. Cornelius Browne reflects on the enduring legacy of painter, Joan Eardley. Fragmented Body. Mel French discusses her recent training in silicone casting with model-maker, Paul McDonnell. Regional Focus: Donegal
10. 11. 12. 13.
The Winds are Wilder. Paul Hallahan, Visual Artist. Glebe House and Gallery. Jean Kearney, Head Guide, Glebe House and Gallery. On the Edge. Martha McCulloch, Coordinator, Artlink. Shape of The Place. Laura McCafferty, Visual Artist. Cé as tú? Myrid Carten, Visual Artist. Community in Donegal. Jeremy Fitz Howard, Acting Manager, Regional Cultural Centre.
Profile 14. 16.
Portraits of Resistance. Colin Darke reviews ‘Sorry, Neither’ and Zanele Muholi at the Naughton Gallery, Belfast. The Art of Now. Susan Campbell reports on recent acquisitions to the National Collection at IMMA and Crawford Art Gallery.
Critique 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26.
Cover Image: A.K. Burns, The Dispossessed, 2018, installation view, Lismore Castle Arts, 2021. Sheila Rennick, ‘Screaming on Mute’, Kevin Kavanagh Gallery. Fiona Hackett, ‘The Long Disease: LA Stories’, RHA Ashford Gallery. ‘Light and Language’ at Lismore Castle Arts. ‘HOME: Being and Belonging in Contemporary Ireland’ at The Glucksman. Richard Mosse, ‘Incoming and Grid (Moria)’, Butler Gallery. Charlie Porter, What Artists Wear (Penguin, 2021). Adrian Duncan, Midfield Dynamo (Lilliput Press, 2021).
Editorial WELCOME to the July – August 2021 Issue of The Visual Artists’ News Sheet. To mark the much-anticipated reopening of galleries, museums and art centres, we have compiled a Summer Gallery Guide to inform audiences about forthcoming exhibitions happening in July and August across Ireland and Northern Ireland. This guide is published on the VAN website (visualartistsireland.com). We are thrilled to resume coverage of exhibitions in VAN’s summer issue. Colin Darke reviews ‘Sorry, Neither’ at the Naughton Gallery, as well as ‘Somnyama Ngonyama’ – the first solo exhibition of renowned South African photographer, Zanele Muholi, on the island of Ireland, which was presented in partnership with Belfast Photo Festival 2021. Matt Packer interviews Iranian-Irish filmmaker, Rouzbeh Rashidi, founder of the Experimental Film Society, marking its twentieth anniversary this year with a new publication and exhibition, ‘Luminous Void’, at Project Arts Centre. In addition, reviewed in the Critique section are: Sheila Rennick at Kevin Kavanagh Gallery; Fiona Hackett at RHA Ashford Gallery; ‘Light and Language’ at Lismore Castle Arts; ‘HOME: Being and Belonging in Contemporary Ireland’ at The Glucksman; and Richard Mosse at Butler Gallery. This issue features an interview with members of Belfast-based art collective, Array, following their nomination for the Turner Prize 2021, along with four other UK collectives. Another significant development
The Visual Artists' News Sheet:
Editor: Joanne Laws Production/Design: Thomas Pool News/Opportunities: Shelly McDonnell, Thomas Pool Proofreading: Paul Dunne The VAN Podcast (Post-production): Louis Haugh
Visual Artists Ireland:
CEO/Director: Noel Kelly Office Manager: Bernadette Beecher NI Manager & Services Impact: Rob Hilken Advocacy & Advice: Shelly McDonnell Membership & Special Projects: Siobhán Mooney Services Design & Delivery: Michael D’Arcy Logistics & Administration: Kaylah Benton Ní Bhroin News Provision: Thomas Pool Publications: Joanne Laws Accounts: Dina Mulchrone
Project Profile 27. 28. 30. 32.
Mergemerge. Brian Fay interviews Michael Geddis and Joanna Kidney about their long-running collaborative drawing project. I Know, But Only Just. Claire-Louise Bennett and Ruby Wallis continue their collaborative project. The North is Now. Joanne Laws interviews members of the Belfastbased Array collective. Luminous Void. Matt Packer interviews Rouzbeh Rashidi, founder of the Experimental Film Society.
Board of Directors: Michael Corrigan (Chair), Michael Fitzpatrick, Richard Forrest, Paul Moore, Mary-Ruth Walsh, Cliodhna Ní Anluain (Secretary), Ben Readman, Gaby Smyth, Gina O’Kelly, Maeve Jennings.
Career Development 34. 35.
Light and Shadow. Joanne Laws interviews artist Ciara Roche about the evolution of her painting practice. Working Interdependently. Rachel Botha outlines recent developments in her curatorial practice.
Residency Report 36. 37.
Living Island. Rosie McGurran outlines the evolution of the ‘Inishlacken Project’, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. High Impact. Bryan Gerard Duffy reports on his experience of the inaugural Bolay residency in the Linenhall Arts Centre.
within the Irish visual arts community is outlined in Susan Campbell’s report on the million-euro acquisition fund, through which 422 artworks by 70 artists have been added to the National Collection at IMMA and Crawford Art Gallery. Among other profiles for this issue, Claire-Louise Bennett and Ruby Wallis continue their collaborative project, Brian Fay interviews Michael Geddis and Joanna Kidney about their long-running collaborative drawing project, Rachel Botha outlines recent developments in her curatorial practice, while Joanne Laws interviews Ciara Roche about the evolution of her painting practice. Residency coverage for this issue includes Rosie McGurran’s text on the Inishlacken Project, celebrating its twentieth anniversary this year, and Bryan Gerard Duffy’s report on his experience of the inaugural Bolay residency in the Linenhall Arts Centre. In columns for this issue, Cornelius Browne reflects on the enduring legacy of painter, Joan Eardley, whom he refers to as the “patron saint of plein air painting”, and Mel French discusses her recent training in silicone casting with model-maker, Paul McDonnell. This issue includes a Regional Focus on County Donegal, with insights from the Regional Cultural Centre, Artlink and Glebe House and Gallery. In addition, artists Laura McCafferty, Myrid Carten and Paul Hallahan offer insights into the realities of maintaining a visual art practice in the county.
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Last Pages 38. 39.
Opportunities. Grants, awards, open calls and commissions. VAI Lifelong Learning. Upcoming VAI helpdesks, cafés and webinars.
International Memberships
