Nolan collaborated with groups and organisations throughout Mayo such as Outwest, Artsquad Mayo, Mayo Rollers, and HEARTH, among many others, to curate one of the largest exhibitions the Linenhall has had the privilege to host, displaying outstanding pieces from one of Ireland’s most prestigious art collections, that of the The Arts Council.
‘What Colour Is The Soil’, an engrossing musical collaboration commissioned specifically for Guides, can be experienced via headset in the main gallery throughout the exhibition run. Local artist and musician, Breda Mayock, alongside Owdunni Ola Mustapha, Christina Mkwada, Nono Ndlovu, Rispa Mwangi and Celesta Khosa, created this musical piece exploring the concepts of belonging, through song. The artwork grew from a conversation about the different relationships to land in the group’s countries of origin and the process of becoming familiar with the colours and smells of the Mayo landscape.
A programme of live events runs in tandem with Guides, highlighting the diverse range of organisations that contributed to its formation. Wednesday, August 17, sees the welcome return of Eamonn Maxwell, Collections Adviser to the Arts Council of Ireland, giving a guided tour of the displayed works, an informative glimpse into the inner machinations of one of the country’s leading art collections, the process behind their acquisition and how they came to be showcased in Castlebar, by this expert in his field.
On Saturday, September 3, the Linenhall salutes 25 years of Artsquad Mayo, a staple of the arts culture scene here. In honouring a quarter of a century in operation, Mayo Artsquad created 25 flags hung on the ceiling in the Linenhall foyer, one for each year it has supported community arts and artists. Participants both old and new are invited to gather and mark the work Artsquad has done, and continues to do for the arts in Mayo.
Established in 1997 with FÁS support, Mayo County Council's Artsquad provides an excellent training opportunity in community arts skills, for fifteen participants annually. Coming from a wide variety of backgrounds, they work with groups from all communities, providing workshops, training, street theatre, and extensively on the festival circuit throughout the country.
Learn more about all the Linenhall’s upcoming events by visiting www.thelinenhall.com or contact (094 ) 9023733.
