30/4/2003
Smidirin
St Mary's Church, Dingle
A richly diverse exhibition of works from the Irish Museum of Modern Art Collection, curated by fifth-year art students from Meánscoil na Toirbhirte, Dingle, Co Kerry. The exhibition is a culmination of a year-long curatorial project represents a celebration of a creative collaboration between the students and staff of Meánscoil na Toirbhirte and the Irish Museum of Modern Art, which embodies the spirit and participative objectives of the National Programme.
Siopa na bhFÃodóirÃ, Údarás na Gaeltachta and St Mary's Church, Dingle, Co Kerry
SmidirÃn is a richly diverse exhibition of works from the Irish Museum of Modern Art Collection, curated by fifth-year art students from Meánscoil na Toirbhirte, Dingle, Co Kerry. The exhibition is a culmination of a year-long curatorial project represents a celebration of a creative collaboration between the students and staff of Meánscoil na Toirbhirte and the Irish Museum of Modern Art, which embodies the spirit and participative objectives of the National Programme.
The project was designed both to increase and develop the students individual abilities while at the same time encouraging them to collaborate with their classmates in a constructive and productive way. Most of the works represent the individual choices of the students and was followed by research on each of the artworks. The artworks encompass a wide range of media such as the screenprint, When I woke up in the morning, the feeling was still there, by Angus Fairhurst, a coloured panel which is deliberately blurred around the edges to suggest the uncertainty of the emotions mentioned in the title, selected by Julie Nà Mhuircheártaigh. The sculpture, Francis Street Boys, selected by BrÃd Nà ChurraÃn, a portrait of 15 students made from a plaster cast of their head and shoulders, was made as the result of a collaboration between the artist John Ahearn and the 4th class boys of the Christian Brothers School, Francis St. However some work received unanimous approval such as the film piece, Waves, by Marie Jo LaFontaine, shot in the West Coast of Ireland it displays the power and passion of the natural world.
The curatorial process involved a series of meetings, both in Dingle and Dublin, where the artworks were discussed and selected and where venues and layout where researched and decided upon. Each student designed an individual catalogue, the overall design was then debated by the whole group and elements of each design were incorporated into the final catalogue.
The exhibition is supported by Údarás na Gaeltachta and Féile na Bealtaine.
Commenting on the project Johanne Mullan, National Programmer, IMMA, said:
'IMMA welcomes the opportunity to be challenged and questioned about what it
means to put art on show for the public. During SmidirÃn it has been
thoroughly refreshing for the Museum to be held to account by such an
enthusiastic group of young curators. With its kaleidoscope of diverse elements
SmidirÃn represents the exuberance of youth, yet is unified and underlined
by themes of community and locality. The group worked above and beyond our most
optimistic expectations, approaching the project with a vigour and freshness
which could challenge any professional curator. The project would not have been
possible without the continuous commitment of the group and their art teacher,
Brenda Friel'.
The National Programme is designed to create access opportunities to the visual
arts in a variety of situations and locations in Ireland. Using the Collection
of the Irish Museum of Modern Art and exhibitions generated by the Museum, the
National Programme facilitates the creation of exhibitions and other projects
for display in a range of locations around the country. The National Programme
establishes the Museum as inclusive, accessible and national, de-centralising
the Collection, and making it available to communities in their own localities,
on their own terms, in venues with which the audience is comfortable and
familiar.
A full-colour catalogue designed by the students accompanies the exhibition (price -5.00).
opens to the public on Thursday 1 May 2003 until 10 May 2003
For further information and colour images please contact Monica Cullinane at Tel
: +353 1 612 9900, Fax : +353 1 612 9999
Irish Museum of Modern Art
Royal Hospital
Military Road
Kilmainham
Dublin 8
Ireland
Phone +353 1 612 9900
Fax +353 1 612 9999
Venues:
Dingle, Co Kerry:
Siopa na bhFÃodóirÃ, Údarás na Gaeltachta and St Mary's Church.