Custom House Studios with Westport Arts Festival 2008, will host a book launch and reading from the new poetry collection ‘Points West’ by Gerald Dawe at the Creel Restaurant, Westport Quay, on Thursday October 9 at 8pm. The guest speaker on the evening will be Thomas Kilroy.
Gerald Dawe’s seventh collection spans the globe, from Belfast to Boston and Berlin, from a Mediterranean island to his home in County Dublin, and from the irretrievable past, full of half-remembered things and distant echoes, to fugitive voices caught up in the turbulent beginnings of the twenty-first century. ‘Points West’ is a book of emotionally forceful meditative poems — their plain style and direct expression by now an unmistakable signature of Dawe’s.
Gerald Dawe was born in Belfast in 1952. He has published seven collections of poetry: Sheltering Places (1978; newed.2008 ) ), The Lundys Letter (1985 ), Sunday School (1991 ), Heart of Hearts (1995 ), The Morning Train (1999, Lake Geneva (2003 ) and Points West (2008 ). His other publications include The Proper Word: Collected Criticism, My Mother-City (both 2007 ) and Catching the Light: Views and Interviews forthcoming from Salmon Publishing. He was Burns Visiting Professor at Boston College (2005 ) and is the incoming Heinbold Chair (Villanova University, 2009 ). A Fellow of Trinity College Dublin, he is Senior Lecturer in English and Director of the Oscar Wilde Centre for Irish Writing. Gerald Dawe lives in County Dublin.
Thomas Kilroy was born in 1934 in County Kilkenny and now lives in County Mayo. His novel, ‘The Big Chapel’, was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and won the Guardian Fiction Prize and the Heinemann Award. His plays include The Death and Resurrection of Mr Roche, Double Cross, Ghosts (after Ibsen ), The O'Neill, The Seagull (after Chekhov ), The Secret Fall of Constance Wilde, Talbot's Box, Tea and Sex and Shakespeare, The Shape of Metal, My Scandalous Life and Pirandellos (December 2007 ). In 2004 Thomas Kilroy received the Irish Times/ESB 'Lifetime Achievement' Award. This event is supported by Poetry Ireland.
Norbet Fleishman exhibition
Austrian artist Norbert Fleishman will exhibit his work at Westport Town Library opening at 6pm on Thursday evening October 23. The exhibition entitled "agree to differ" will be formally opened by the Cathaoirleach of Westport Town Council, Cllr Martin Keane.
Painter and printmaker Norbert Fleishman is working at Custom House Studios Westport during October on exchange from Krems in Southern Austria - part of a continuing programme between Westport and Krems. In exchange, Marian Shorten will work in Krems during September and October.
Weekend monoprint course
Custom House Studios is pleased to offer a two day monoprint workshop on Saturday October 18 and Sunday October 19, 2008. The course is designed to introduce students to a variety of monoprint techniques. These will include creating images on Perspex plates and printing them using an etching press. Monoprint is a painterly process and students will complete a number of unique prints on each day. Both oil base and water base techniques will be explored. Beginner students as well as working artists are encouraged to enrol. The class will meet at 11am each day for five hours. Class size is limited to six students. Custom House Studios will supply most materials. Classes will take place at our temporary accommodation; Unit 1, No 15 Westport Industrial Park, Newport Road, Westport. Participants will have the opportunity to rent studio time on completion of this course. Course Fee €100. To register please call 098 28735.
Drypoint Printmaking course
Custom House Studios is offering a two day drypoint print workshop on Saturday November 15th and Sunday November 16. The course is designed to introduce students to tools and equipment used in creating fine art prints. The drypoint technique enables students to create an edition of prints from a single metal plate. Plate-making and printing processes will be explored. Colour options will be demonstrated. Beginner students as well as working artists are encouraged to enrol. The class will meet at 11am each day for five hours. Class size is limited to six students. Custom House Studios will supply most materials. Classes will take place at our temporary accommodation; Unit 1, No 15 Westport Industrial Park, Newport Road, Westport. Participants will have the opportunity to rent studio time on completion of this course. Course fee €100. To register please call 098 28735.
