Athlone Castle, Luan Gallery and Abbey Road Artists’ Studios will once again open their doors to welcome those interested in exploring arts and heritage sites this Culture Night which takes place on Friday, September 22.
Culture Night activities will commence with free entry to Athlone Castle Visitor Centre and grounds between 5pm and 8pm. The Castle team will be on hand to give visitors an overview of the castle’s incredible story from 1210 to modern times. Visitors can travel back in time and discover the rich history of this important stronghold and rediscover the joys of traditional games with an evening of fun in Athlone Castle’s courtyard. Visitors can enjoy playing popular games including X&Os, Tumbling Tower, Connect Four and more and a selection of period costumes will also be available for all to try on.
‘Stories from Athlone Castle’, a temporary exhibition that centres around the memories of former residents of Athlone Castle has been extended until Culture Night for all to enjoy. It features the recounted tales of the many families and individuals who have lived within the castle walls before it became a Visitor Centre in 2012. In addition, a guided tour of Athlone Castle Visitor Centre with Henry Brady, Athlone Castle volunteer, army veteran and tour guide is scheduled at 5.30pm. There will also be a further two guided tours with the knowledgeable and engaging castle cultural assistants at 6.30pm and 7.15pm. Places are limited and will be taken on a first come first served basis.
Culture Night will be an opportunity to meet artists Mimi Seery, Ciara Tuite and Paul Flaherty, three resident artists in Abbey Road Artists’ Studios who will host open studios from 6pm to 8pm. The artists are providing a unique, behind-the-scenes view of their practice and will showcase some of their existing artwork and work in progress.
Mimi Seery is an Irish multimedia artist working in mediums such as painting, traditional and digital illustration, mixed media collage, neon lighting and photography. Ciara Tuite is a Visual Artist/Writer originally from the Midlands, Ireland. Her background in fine art, performing arts and journalism results in a multidisciplinary approach, using imagery and word with a touch of colourful serenity and artistic license. Paul Flaherty is an emerging Irish visual artist from Athlone, primarily working in painting and drawing. His work explores the idea of digital dualism and living different experiences between physical and digital spaces. This is a wonderful opportunity to visit the studios of practising artists in residence at Abbey Road Studios in Athlone.
Athlone Photography Club, one of the creative groups using Abbey Road Studios community space, will host an exhibition of photographic works captured by their members in the first-floor community space in Abbey Road. The exhibition ‘Stealing Moments’ will open at 7pm and all are invited to attend. The exhibition comprises a “collection of photographs ranging from the closest study of an avocado to the outer reaches of the galaxy”.
Luan Gallery, will extend its opening hours until 8pm on Culture Night and members of the public are encouraged to visit its current exhibition ‘Symbols of Subject’.
‘Symbols of Subject’ is an exhibition of work on loan from TUS Athlone Campus modern art collection. This exhibition features work from acclaimed Irish artists such as; William Crozier, Louis le Brocquy, Margo McNulty, Jane O’Malley, Tony O’Malley, Anne Rigney, and Corban Walker amongst others.
Looking at formalist artwork that deals with shape, space, form, movement and boundary lines, this exhibition interrogates the use of line and geometric form in modern visual art practice. Semiotics, the study of signs and symbols and their use and interpretation, acknowledges that the signs that we encounter in our everyday lives are objectively meaningless, though subjective in nature, but through learned association, we interpret signs in a particular manner. Through social, experiential, and educational influence we ascribe meaning to signs.
Similarly, culture and society influence our preconceptions of the environments in which we live and, in some cases, can limit our openness to exploring new perspectives or even engaging with the visual arts. Dr Harman Murtagh is kindly offering a guided tour to all who may be interested in this wonderful exhibition. The tour starts at 6pm in the Luan Gallery.
