Just thought that I would let you know about some of the shows I’ve been to lately.

1) Charles Harper – Drawings by Charles Harper
Exhibition in the United Artists Club opened by Ruairi Quinn TD
Thursday 18th February
Exhibition will run until March 9th 2010.  It was a real treat to see such a wonderful selection of Charles Harper’s work in such an historic and prestigious artists club. Definitely worth seeing..

2) Dorothy Cross and William McKeown - Exhibition “Pool”

THURSDAY 18 FEBRUARY, 6-8 PM

Went to see this the same night as Charlie Harper. Very different exhibitions. The delicate watercolours on paper of McKeown were a response to Cross’s exploration of water in all it’s aspects. Particularly liked Cross’s suspended shark skin gilded inside with 21 carat gold!

3) Francis Alÿs: Le Temps du Sommeil

A sneak preview of the Francis Alÿs show which opened on 25^th February. Limited to just 30 people, there was a glass of wine and a walk around the show with the Curator Catherine Lampert  on Wednesday 24^th, the evening before the official opening.

East Ground Galleries, IMMA

Francis Alÿs (Belgian, but living in Mexico) is a compulsive wanderer: a close observer and occasional manipulator of the quirks of everyday life, he has been assembling a series of 100 tiny paintings (accompanied by instructions and postcards), visual ‘diaries’ of his interactions with locations all over the world. This series is being shown at IMMA before it travels to Tate Modern for an international retrospective of Alÿs’s work, and it is an honour to be able to show it in Dublin before it’s UK showing.

Loved this show and the chance to ask the curator all those questions that I normally have, having seen a contemporary show!

IT Tralee have decided to purchase one of my larger works ‘Threesome’ for their new Library & Information Resource Centre. The piece will be installed over the coming weeks.

Art Fair ‘09 will be held in the RDS , Ballsbridge, Dublin this weekend 13th – 15th November.  This is the new name as the RDS themselves have taken over the running of what used to be known as ‘Art Ireland’.

Come see me at stand D2.

Let me know if you would like me to email you a ticket.

Opening Times: Fri 12 – 9pm, Sat 11-7pm, Sun 11-6pm

'Always Make Time For Impromptu Leapfrog'

I’m very, very excited. I have been selected as a finalist for the International Aesthetica Creative Works Competition. The piece ‘Always Make Time For Impromptu Leapfrog’ was highly commended by Cherie Federico, Editor of Aesthetica Magazine.

They had over 12,000 entries and only 40 were selected. As a finalist my image will be printed in The Aesthetica Annual and the winner will be announced just before publication at the end of November. Wish me luck!

Once again I have been invited to exhibit at  The Blackrock Hospice Art Exhibition. The show will feature over thirty high quality works of art from artists including Pauline Bewick, John Kingerlee, Kenneth & Susan Webb, , Paddy Lennon amoung others.

The exhibition takes place on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th of November from 10am-6pm in Blackrock Hospice, Sweetmans Avenue.

I will be exhibiting as part of Operation Art, a collaborative exhibition between Operation Smile & NCAD October 29th – 31st, 11am – 5pm. There will be an Opening View on Thursday 29th October 2009 from 6-8pm. Opening at 6.30 by Miriam O’Callaghan. The proceeds from sales of work will help fund Operation Smile Ireland, an international children’s medical charity.

www.operationsmile.ie

Carysfort Gallery will be taking some of my pieces to the ‘Castlecomer Discovery Park’ for the Kilkenny Arts Festival this year.

www.carysfortgallery.ie

Kildare County Council recently launched it’s three year arts policy in Aras Chill Dada, Naas, Co. Kildare. I am very pleased to have been included as a selected artist on the Kildare County Council Art Panel 2009 – 2011.

Cllr. Colm Purcell, Mayor of Co. Kildare, formally luanched the policy documents with Lucina Russell, Arts Officer for Kildare acting as MC at the event.

I’m delighted to have been asked to participate once again in Art In Action at Townley Hall, just off the M1 at Drogheda, Co. Louth this weekend 30th May – 1st June. 

Art in Action is a 3-day arts & crafts festival where top artists and craftspeople from many different disciplines are invited to set up studio and demonstrate their work and skills live.

Visitors come to see how it’s done and are inspired; they are welcome to meet the artists informally and ask questions about their work and techniques. 

Most of the art and craftwork on show is available for sale direct from the artists. 

A wide range of practical classes is available each day, with adults and children catered for separately. Classes are designed to encourage the novice and each participant learns how to make a finished piece of art or craft for taking home. 

The liberal arts are represented through a programme of music, drama, dance, story telling and lectures. 

The event is renowned among visitors and artists alike not only for the breadth and quality of the art on show, but also for its wonderful organisation, relaxed family atmosphere and beautiful setting around Townley Hall.

Art in Action has grown greatly in scale, quality and variety from its small beginnings in 1994. In that time over 75,000 visitors have spent a magical day watching hundreds of leading artists and craftspeople actively creating their work. A record 10,000 visitors are expected this year.

Art in Action is a not-for-profit event which honours the role of the artist in society. It is organised and staffed entirely on a voluntary basis and is held every year over the 3 days of the June Holiday Weekend.

www.artinaction.ie