Out Now | January – February 2023 issue of the Visual Artists’ News Sheet

We wish to extend a happy new year to all VAN readers – may the Irish visual arts community go from strength to strength this coming year.

In the first issue of 2023, we profile a range of interesting exhibitions that took place around the country as 2022 came to a close – some of which are continuing into January and beyond. This includes Periodical Review at Pallas Projects/Studio, Corban Walker at Crawford Art Gallery, Grace Dyas at Rua Red, ‘In and of Itself’ at The RHA, Kevin Mooney at IMMA, Isabel Nolan at VOID Gallery, and  Brian Fay at Limerick City Gallery of Art.

In columns for this issue, Iarlaith Ni Fheorais introduces the radical potential of access in the visual arts, while Matt Packer discusses the history of international curatorial invitation in Ireland.

We are delighted to include Member Profiles on two octogenarian members of VAI – Mike Bunn and Gillian Deeny. This issue also includes Organisation Profiles on Artform School of Art in Dunmore East, the Grilse Gallery in Kerry, and Temple Bar Gallery + Studios on the occasion of their 40^th anniversary.

In festival profiles for this issue, Emma Campbell interviews Clare Gormley about her curatorial vision for TULCA 2022, while Thomas Pool interviews the EVA Platform Commission artists making new work for EVA International 2023. And lastly, Brenda Moore-McCann discusses the Italian townhouse, Casa Dipinta (meaning ‘painted house’), once owned by the late Brian O’Doherty and his wife, Barbara Novack.

On The Cover

Isabel Nolan, Desert Mother (Saint Paula) and Lion, 2022, water-based oil on canvas; photograph by Lee Welch, courtesy the artist, Kerlin Gallery, and Void Gallery.

Columns

9          The Signature of All Things. Cornelius Browne discusses the origins of artistic anonymity.

Mashq. Kip Alizadeh outlines their participation in ACNI’s Minority Ethnic Artists Mentoring and Residency programme.

10        Through Care, Towards Access. Iarlaith Ni Fheorais introduces the radical potential of access in the visual arts.

Curating in a Negative Spectrum. Matt Packer discusses the history of international curatorial invitation in Ireland.

11        Practical Magic. Siobhán Mooney outlines the 12th iteration of Periodical Review at Pallas Projects/Studio.

We Need to Talk About Painting. Karen Ebbs reports on a series of talks she recently organised at IMMA and The Complex.

12        The Kerr Shoe Collection. Eve Parnell considers a collection of twentieth-century Irish shoes housed in NIVAL.

Direct Support. Elida Maiques outlines her participation in Mermaid Art Centre’s Transform Associate Artist Scheme.

Legacy

13        Casa Dipinta. Brenda Moore-McCann discusses the Italian townhouse owned by Brian O’Doherty and Barbara Novack. 

Organisation

14        The Space to Grow. Members of TBG+S consider the organisation’s legacy and continued importance on its 40^th anniversary.

17        Ireland’s St. Ives. Martina O’Byrne outlines the evolution of Artform School of Art in Dunmore East in Waterford.

18        Defining an Arena. Lucy and Robert Carter on Grilse Gallery. 

Critique

19. Tinka Bechert, Handlanger, 2018, mixed media on raw canvas.
20. ‘UPHOLD: New Collections’ at 35DP
21. Grace Dyas ‘A Mary Magdalene Experience’ at Rua Red
22. ‘In and of Itself – Abstraction in the age of images’ at The RHA.
23. Kevin Mooney ‘Revenants’ at IMMA
24. Brian Fay ‘The Most Recent Forever’ at Limerick City Gallery of Art

Exhibition Profile

25        Re_sett_ing_s. John Graham reviews a recent exhibition by Jaki Irvine and Locky Morris at The Complex, Dublin.

26        Corban-scale. Jennifer Redmond reviews Corban Walker’s solo show continuing at Crawford Art Gallery until 15 January.

28        Flotsam, jetsam, lagan and derelict. Kevin Burns reviews Isabel Nolan’s current solo exhibition at VOID Gallery, Derry.

VAI Event

30        Get Together 2022. Joanne Laws and Thomas Pool report on VAI’s annual networking event for visual artists.

Festival / Biennial

32. The World Was All Before Them. Emma Campbell interviews Clare Gormley about her curatorial vision for TULCA 2022.
33. EVA International 2022. Thomas Pool interviews the EVA Platform Commission artists making new work for the festival.

VAI Member Profile

37. The Man Who Sees Through Shadows. Mike Bunn.
38. Up in the Sky with the Swallows and Swifts. Gillian Deeny.
39. Oonagh Latchford. Catherine Marshall on Oonagh Latchford.