For The VAN July August 2024 issue, Carissa Farrell’s Public Art profile considers Comórtas – a new artwork by John Byrne, commissioned through Fingal County Council’s public art programme, Infrastructure 2018-2024. Also in this section, Valerie Byrne, Public Art Manager at Cork City Council, outlines the Island City sculpture trail in Cork city centre.
In Focus: Digital Art includes profiles by VAI members 1iing heaney, Cailean Finn, Jonah King, and Gerard Carson, who each outline their use of digital technologies, including 3D scanning and printing, digital rendering, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Computer Generated Imagery (CGI), and Virtual Reality (VR).
For the first in a new Irish Art History column series, Seán Kissane discusses the current retrospective at IMMA, celebrating the legacy of Irish modernist sculptor, Hilary Heron. Meanwhile, Sarah Browne outlines the use of captioning and audio description in her new film, Buttercup (2024) for the latest Access Column.
Among other Feature Articles for this issue, Barbara Knežević considers vast and intimate scales at the 60th Venice Biennale, while Linda Shevlin reports on themes of collectivism and resistance. Séamus Nolan outlines a collaborative art project, ‘Hereditas’, exploring traveller culture and social history for Cairde Sligo Arts Festival, and Joanne Laws interviews VAI Member, Eilis O’Connell, about the evolution of her sculptural practice over five decades.
As ever, the July/Aug issue includes the latest news, developments, and opportunities in the arts sector, as well as details of VAI’s forthcoming Lifelong Learning programme.
On The Cover
John Byrne, An Comórtas/The Contest, 2024, back-lit, digitally printed PVC, installation view, Carnegie Library, Swords. Commissioned through Fingal County Council’s public art programme, Infrastructure 2018-2024; photograph by Louis Haugh, courtesy of the artist and Fingal County Council.
First Pages
6. Roundup. Exhibitions and events from the past two months.
8. News. The latest developments in the arts sector.
Columns
9. Beside the Ocean of Time. Cornelius Browne considers holy days, sacred observations, and a date beyond calendar time.
I Was Thinking One Night. Leah Corbett discusses the work of KCAT artist Lorna Cope Corrigan.
10. A Question of Pace. Lian Bell reflects on setting the pace of work as an arts freelancer.
Curatorial Exchange. Mark O’Gorman discusses his participation in EXPO Chicago.
11. Hilary Heron: A Retrospective. Seán Kissane discusses an exhibition at IMMA celebrating the legacy of an Irish modernist sculptor.
Buttercup: A Questioning Orientation. Sarah Browne outlines access methods for her new film including captioning and audio description.
Exhibition Profile
12. Apocalypse Anxieties. Michaële Cutaya considers the current group exhibition at Luan Gallery.
Socially Engage Practice
14. Hereditas. Séamus Nolan outlines a collaborative art project exploring traveller culture and social history for Cairde Sligo Arts Festival.
In Focus:
15. Digital Changelings. 1iing heaney, VAI Member
16. Creative Technology. Cailean Finn, VAI Member
17. Cyborg Ecologies. Jonah King, VAI Member
18. Wanderings in the Digital Soup. Gerard Carson, Digital Artist
Critique
19. Helen Hughes, ‘finding the most forgiving element’, installation view, Butler Gallery.
20. Pauline Rowan and Caline Aoun at The Dock
21. ‘HORSES’ at Mermaid Arts Centre
22. Helen Hughes at Butler Gallery
23. Martin Healy at Crawford Art Gallery
24. Martina O’Brien at Galway Arts Centre
Festival / Biennial
26. Autotheory. Barbara Knežević considers vast and intimate scales at the 60th Venice Biennale.
27. Foreigners Everywhere. Linda Shevlin reports on themes of collectivism and resistance at the 60th Venice Biennale.
Public Art
28. Island City. Valerie Byrne outlines a sculpture trail in Cork city centre.
29. Comórtas. Carissa Farrel discusses John Byrne’s new public artwork for Fingal.
Member Profile
30. Biomorphic Forms. Joanne Laws interviews Eilis O’Connell about the evolution of her sculptural practice over five decades.
32. Do It Yourself. Rachel Macmanus outlines the evolution of her art practice to date.
Change of Climate. environmental artist Evelyn Sorohan reflects on her practice and recent exhibition at glór.
33. Congruent. Sara Cunningham-Bell outlines her sculptural practice and current solo exhibition at F.E. McWilliam Gallery.
Recognisable Bodies. Clare Scott reflects on the work of VAI Member Eoin O’Malley.
Last Pages
34. Opportunities. Grants, awards, open calls, and commissions.
35. VAI News. VAI staff report on recent activities nationwide.
36. VAI Lifelong Learning. Upcoming VAI helpdesks, cafés, and webinars.