Mayo County Council Arts Office, Library Service, and the Jackie Clarke Collection in Ballina are delighted to announce the official launch of the artistic outcomes of the Artist in Residence to commemorate 1916. The official launch will take place on Saturday May 7 at 3pm at Ballina Civic Offices Exhibition Space.
Artist Katie Moore is a talented emerging artist based in Foxford and was selected via an open competition which attracted large numbers of established excellent artists. She is a graduate of GMIT (Galway Campus ) with first class honours and was a finalist for the RDS Student Arts Awards. Katie’s work is exquisitely detailed: she uses textiles, stitching, and installation in addition to drawing and video to create unforgettable visual experiences of the world. The selection panel were greatly impressed by Katie’s approach to the residency and genuine connection with the theme and Jackie Clarke.
The aim of the residency was to provide the artist time to research and develop ideas in the creation of new art work, in response to the events of the 1916 Easter Rising, by working with the Jackie Clarke Collection. It also provided an opportunity to highlight the unique, nationally significant, resource that the Jackie Clarke Collection represents, especially in the centenary year of the Rising.
Katie was particularly interested in the paper peace lilies which were found in Jackie’s wallet, included in the collection. She was greatly inspired by this at the artists’ site visit which took place in June last year, during which Sinead McCoole of the Jackie Clarke Collection provided a fascinating insight into the collection which has been described as ‘an overflowing treasure chest’. The lily theme continued to be a large source of inspiration for Katie throughout the development of her ideas for final artworks. Many local people have worked with Katie during the residency, and have contributed to the creation of a special installation which will be on view from the launch on Saturday May 7. Katie says “I'm making a piece of art that is an acknowledgement to the great collector Jackie Clarke and an act of memory for the 1916 Rising.”
The official launch of Katie’s major artwork installation will take place at the Ballina Civic Offices exhibition space at 3pm on Saturday May 7. Writer and broadcaster Vincent Woods is the guest speaker for the event, which is free and all are welcome to attend. A further artwork, created with the help of the local community will also be exhibited from that date in the Seomra garden room at the Jackie Clarke Collection. Both artworks will be exhibited until June 25, opening hours from 10.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Saturday.
Katie is also producing a limited edition special publication which documents the artworks and the process of the residency. This will launched at a second event, at the closing of the exhibition period. Copies will be made available for all who attend that event and later via the county libraries. This publication launch and closing event will take place at the Civic Offices exhibition space on Saturday June 25 at 3pm. The Irish Times arts critic Aidan Dunne will be the guest speaker. All are welcome to this free event.
