Pictures from the CD Launch of NoLand Folk, "Ghosts Light The Scene"

WORLD PREMIER-North Clare made film SEASIDE STORIES by writer/director Fergus Tighe

Following a successful preview at the Cork Film Festival the North Clare made film SEASIDE STORIES... had it's WORLD PREMIER at  the COURTHOUSE STUDIOS GALLERY on DECEMBER 12th at 5 and 7pm

                                       

The Writer/Director Fergus Tighe was at both screenings as most of the actors including Fionn de Búrca (11 years) of Kilcornan who plays Locky, the boy around which the story swings. The film was made over the past 3 years from Gallivanting Media's base at the Courthouse Studios & Gallery

Top picture: Mick Flynn who wrote the song "Liscannor Bay" in the movie getting a hug from Fergus

Fergus was presented with a Birthday Cake after the showing of Seaside Stories

Locky is a boy who's been flourishing since his mother, Anna, gave up the drink three years ago. When Anna's old boyfriend Mick gets out of prison she falls back into her old ways of daytime drinking while Locky runs wild in the streets with his friend Callo, played by Caolann O'Dwyer 13. Meanwhile Sally arrives home determined to tell Locky that she is really his mother. This does not go exactly as planned and sets the scene for a series of events that changes the lives of all involved.

                                               

Fergus introducing Seasides  Stories to a packed house

All praise for Fionn de Búrca!

NoLand Folk new CD Launch Thursday 10th December @ 8pm

International folk-rock troubadours NoLand Folk will launch their second album "Ghosts Light the Scene" in the Courthouse Gallery on Thursday 10th Dec at 8pm.

Come and hear the band playing and enjoy the music. This is an open event and all are welcome to attend.

This follow-up to debut Never Going Home (2007) sees the band embark on a new course, articulated by some major changes in line-up. Recorded in the paludal hinterland of Co. Clare, ‘Ghosts Light the Scene’ is a tour de force of folk-rock using violins, accordions and guitars interwoven with an elegant, more electric setting to create a lush musical backdrop. What ensues is a vibrant, energetic and fearless set of songs.

Drawing from life experience and folk tradition moreso than outside influences, Ghosts Light the Scene tells a story of revenge, cacoethes, love, loss and dispossession. It marks the end of an old way, and the beginning of a new journey for this lonely ship…

'A Festive Review' - Christmas Show 2009 opening Friday 27th November at 8pm

Ennistymon Courthouse Gallery presents ‘A Festive Review’ Christmas Show, celebrating the creative achievements of the past year.

Courthouse Gallery is launching the annual Christmas show on Friday 27^th November at 8pm with live music from local musicians Christy Barry and Colin Nee. This is a free event and all are welcome to attend.  A Festive Review will run from Friday 27^th November until Thursday 14^th January 2010. The gallery is open Tuesday – Saturday, from 12pm – 4pm daily. No admission fee.

A Festive Review celebrates the creative achievements of the past year. The gallery is proud to look back on 2009, highlighting 23 artists who contributed to the artistic excellence and success of the gallery in 2009. Each artist will show new works which will include paintings, drawings, photography, ceramics, and sculpture. The opening provides a wonderful opportunity to see the work and meet the artists. The show highlights the work of local artists, with a national and international aspect.

Participating artists:

Fiona Woods

Sara Foust

Michael Hanrahan

Sinead O'Connell

Fergus Tighe

Vicky Lennie

Judy O’Sullivan

Fiona O’Dwyer

Jacqui Hersey

Fergus Cronin

Frank Golden

Dessie Mc Loughlin

Niall McCormack

Jan Ploeg

Josephine Geaney

Marianne Potterton

Mary Foudy O'Halloran

Madeleine Irene Smyth

Robin Grace

Maria Kerin

Valerie Driscoll

Brid Harhen

Olga Leszczynska

For further information, please contact Ennistymon Courthouse Gallery, Parliament Street, Ennistymon, Co. Clare, or telephone 065 707 1630, or email: ennistymoncourthousegallery@gmail.com.

One week left to come see "Dress Drawings" by Judy O'Sullivan

One week left to come see "Dress Drawings" by Judy O'Sullivan! 

An installation of drawings and projected images by the Lisdoonvarna based artist.

 

Mutual Exchange - by Clare artists in the Red Couch space

Mutual Exchange is an exhibition of work by Clare artists in the Red Couch space at The Courthouse Gallery in Ennistymon.

Each of the six artists based in the Courthouse studios have invited another artist to show a work and to select a work by their host, the mutual exchange described by the title.

This exciting concept, initiated by Trudi van der Elsen of the Courthouse Gallery, is a way of extending the connections between the Courthouse Gallery and artists in the area. It also opens up possibilities for the studio artists to work in a new way. A diverse range of practices will be on show.

'Alightment'

Studio-based artist Fiona Woods has invited well-known artist and curator Maria Kerin to collaborate with her on the creation of a new time-based sculptural/performance work. This piece of work will evolve and change over the course of the exhibition.

The exhibition will also feature work by the acclaimed painter Vickie Lennie, who has invited sculptor Barbara Roder to exhibit.

 

Local artists Sara Foust shows recent 

paintings alongside her invitee 

Debbie Horn.

The delicate ceramic works of Sinead O’ Connell, which have proven very popular at previous exhibitions, will be shown alongside her invited artist Sara Comerford.

Michael Hanrahan shows a

recent painting alongside invitee 

Mary O’Brien

 

Two photographers – studio artist Olga Leszczynska 

and her guest Jarek Szczucki – 

will bring an international dimension to the exhibition.

Mutual Exchange takes place to coincide with the exhibition of new work in the main gallery by North Clare artist Judy O’ Sullivan.

Dress Drawings by Judy O'Sullivan

Observe the process of drawing over time  as the artist Judy O'Sullivan will do a large drawing on the wall of the Courthouse Gallery

stage 1

stage 2

stage3

At the Launch of Judy O'Sullivan's new exhibition Dress Drawings

The official Launch of Judy O'Sullivan'exhibition held on the 24th of October at 4 pm, was a great success!

Professor Timothy Emlyn Jones, Dean of the Burren College of Art opened Judy's Show

 

Dress Drawings - New work by Judy O'Sullivan

Dress Drawings is an installation of drawings and projected images by Clare based artist Judy O'Sullivan. The artist responded to the Courthouse space by making work which varies in scale from tiny drawings on canvas and paper to a large scale wall drawing which will be made in situ and which the artist will develop for the duration of the exhibition.
















 'Clothes', according to Virginia Woolf, 'have more important offices than merely   to keep us warm; they change our view of the world and the world's view of us'.

These are drawings about what wraps, shields, protects and transforms the self. The dress is a skin of fiction, a fiction of appearance. When the fiction is played out the dress is left empty. It is the abandoned 'skin' - dress, sea urchin, mermaid's purse which fascinates by its beauty and strangeness, empty of the life it once held, evidence of something that was. 

The work began with drawings of an old black dress, made of crepe with a sequinned detail on the upper bodice given to the artist by her grandmother, a small farmer in West Cork, who was fond of the occasional 'a bit of style'. At the time the artist was also drawing a mermaid's purse, the empty egg case of a skate, shark or ray in which the young fish gestate, which she found on a beach. Working on both sets of drawings she made a connection between the dress and mermaid's purse, which she began to explore through drawing, painting and photography. Other elements of 'wrapping' like a lace veil and embroidered apron also found their way into her work.


The drawings are made with the simplest of materials on translucent paper originally made for wrapping butter. The paper itself is like a skin, wrinkling under the watery drawing and absorbing the drawing into itself. The paper, water, pigment and mark all merge into something new and surprising. Some are layered onto canvas. A video piece reflects this process and reveals another layer to this delicate, tactile exhibition.


This is a unique opportunity to observe the process of drawing over time as the artist will do a large scale drawing on the wall of the gallery and document its growth.

Opening of Fiona O'Dwyer's exhibition 'Strange all the rooms we've lived in'

Photographs from the opening of Fiona O'Dwyer's exhibition 'Strange all the rooms we've lived in'. A great night was had by all and thanks again to all who attended.

The opening took place on the 18th September and the exhibition runs until 19th October.

Poetry Night on Thurs 1st Oct at 9pm (National Poetry Day)

Salmon Poetry in association with Poetry Ireland presents an Evening of Poetry as part of All-Ireland Poetry Day in the Courthouse Gallery.

Featuring Salmon Poets:

Celeste Auge
Gerry Hanberry
Stephen Roger Powers
Jean Kavanagh

With music by Dan Jeffery.

On Thursday 1st October @ 9pm.

Free Event and all welcome to attend!

Free Outdoor Film Screening

As part of the “Strange the rooms we've all lived in” a new multimedia exhibition by Fiona O’Dwyer in the Courthouse Gallery Ennistymon from 18 Sept - 19 Oct, there will be a special outdoor screening of “I Was Happy Here” on Wednesday 23rd September at 8.00 pm at Egans Pub, Liscannor, Co. Clare. The film was shot in Co. Clare in 1965 and was directed by Desmond Davis and starred Cyril Cusack and Sara Miles.

Time: 8.00pm
Date: Wednesday 23rd September 2009
Where: Egan’s Pub in Liscannor
Admission: Free!

A collection of archive material from the film will be exhibited in Egan’s pub at the same time.

The screening will take place outdoors under a canopy with outdoor heating, but please be advised to dress warmly. Put your fold up chair in the boot in case it is needed! The event is weather dependent and as a result may need to be moved indoors or rescheduled.

For more information and updates on film and video screenings and related events see fionaodwyerart.blogspot.com

Recording Studio Open Day - Thurs 24th Sept 10am - 3pm

Ennistymon Courthouse Recording Studio is holding an open day on Thursday 24th September from 10am - 3pm. All are welcome to call in and have any questions you might have answered. A chance to have a good look around!

Questions you might have...
What is the Courthouse Recording Studio?
Who can use it?
How much does it cost?
When can you use it?
How do I book it?

Recording: Live Demos, Bands, Traditional Music, Singer Songwriters

Mixing / Remixing
Mastering
Production
Audio Restoration
Voiceovers
Eductional Programmes

Life Drawing Classes start on 24th September

The Autumn season classes in the Courthouse Gallery are commencing again starting with the weekly Life Drawing Sessions on Thursdays. Life drawing begins on Thursday 24th September 2009 from 10am - 12pm and costs €10 per session. These are drop-in classes so no need to book in advance. Please bring your own materials. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Thursdays @ 10am - €10.
Call the Courthouse for further information on 065 707 1630.

"Strange the rooms we've all lived in" by Fiona O'Dwyer :: 18th Sept - 19th Oct 2009

Strange the rooms we've all lived in is an exhibition of new multimedia work by artist Fiona O'Dwyer to be shown at The Courthouse Gallery, Ennistymon, Co. Clare from the 18th September to the 19th October 2009. It will be opened by Fiona Woods on Friday 18th September at 8pm.
 

Commissioned by Clare Co. Arts Office the exhibition will include photography, video/sound installation, drawing, print, and archive material. Spilling out from the gallery spaces, using the town as her set the artist’s work echoes the making of the film I Was Happy Here shot in Co. Clare in 1965.

In the video piece Endless Return O’Dwyer as the performer is seen cycling around in an endless circle while her reflection in the wet sand seems to be pedalling backwards. She is pulled in two directions, in a constant moment of divergence between herself and her other.

“In a play between duration, movement and form the artist pursues a strategy of repetition and endless return. At the centre of the work she has placed a set of moments and objects/images; these have been turned over and over, picked apart, troubled and worried by the artist, subjected to a variety of processes and practices, staged and re-staged as a series of events. Fiona Woods 2009.

There will be a special outdoor screening of I Was Happy Here on Wednesday 23rd September at 8.00 pm at Egans Pub, Liscannor, Co. Clare. For more information and updates on film and video screenings and related events see fionaodwyerart.blogspot.com

Benefit Night

A big thank you to all who supported our recent benefit night for the Courthouse Gallery with Paddy Mulcahy's VIBE Musical Youth Club, the Kavanagh girls, and Nolad Folk on Thursday 20th August 2009. A great night was had by all!

Gallery now on Facebook!

Ennistymon Courthouse Gallery is now on facebook. Visit us and become a fan!

Call for Submissions for 2010

Ennistymon Courthouse Gallery is seeking submissions for the forthcoming year, 2010.

Deadline: 5pm, Friday 2nd October 2009

The newly renovated Ennistymon Courthouse building features a main art gallery, the smaller Red Couch gallery space, five artists’ studios, and a sound recording studio. The Courthouse Gallery seeks to attract local and national audiences by exhibiting work of the highest standard by local, national, and international artists.

We are interested in exhibiting a wide range of visual art, including collaborations and multi-media projects for exhibition in both our gallery spaces. We also welcome proposals that are participatory led or involve some engagement with the community.

We wish to focus on exhibiting emerging artists based locally and nationwide.

If you are interested in applying, please send your submission (which should include):

*biography/ CV
*artist statement,
*brief description of proposed show,
*6-8 images on CD or hard-copy photos

25% commission charged.

Please send submissions to:
Trudi van der Elsen - Coordinator,
Ennistymon Courthouse Gallery,
Parliament Street,
Ennistymon,
Co. Clare.

Selection will be made mid October and all artists will be contacted after that.

For more information or a gallery viewing please contact:
E: ennistymoncourthousegallery@gmail.com
T: 065-7071630
W: www.ennistymoncourthousegallery.blogspot.com

Deadline for submissions: 5pm, Friday 2nd October 2009

Lisdoonvarna FETAC Student Exhibition

Lisdoonvarna FETAC students are exhibiting their work in the Red Couch Space, Ennistymon Courthouse Gallery from the 13th August - 13th September 2009.

Participating Students:
Stephen Benn, Rolf Fendler, Peter Garrihy, Audrey Huguet, Helen Jackson, Esther Kinnane, Christine Malsey, Josephine Quigley, Mary Reynolds, David Walsh, David Wheeler, and Uta Wagner.

Admission Free.

'Merging 3', an Exhibition of Sculptures and Paintings.

Madeleine Smyth - Mary Foudy O'Halloran - Marianne Potterton

‘Merging 3’ is the title of the exhibition by three artists from the North Clare area in the Courthouse Gallery in Ennistymon. To be opened by Madeleine Taylor Quinn on Friday 14th Aug at 7pm.

The exhibition runs from 13th August - 13th September 2009. Admission Free.

Madeleine Irene Smyth / Sculptures: ‘I work in bronze and plaster. Depending on my mood my work is figurative or semi-figurative. The bronze casting technique defined my piece “Pilgrim”. The piece “In The Dock” could be Christ resolute before Pilate or someone on death row’. The pieces for the exhibition were cast by Seamus Connolly of the Kilbaha Art Foundry, Kilrush, Co. Clare.

Marianne Potterton / Paintings: This particular series was partly inspired by the Buddhist concept of there being seven veils of illusion. ‘I am fascinated by the idea that the material world, the earth we live in, is much less concrete than we like to imagine; that things change and metamorphose, and that in the process the spiritual and the physical worlds are always merging’.

Mary Foudy O’Halloran / Paintings: Transience, layers, traces and the everyday are the major concerns of the work of artist Mary Foudy O'Halloran. Her work is a dialogue between the figurative and the abstract. Using mixed media, she builds up layers, making marks and balancing tones to find the personal in the ordinary. She believes that it is in the process that the painting is found.

Vanessa Daws 'Escapade' Mixed Media Exhibition

Launch on Friday 17th July at 8.00pm and exhibition runs from 15th July – 7th August 2009

Vanessa’s work is an eclectic mix of brightly coloured paintings, sculpture, drawing and animation. She is inspired by art where the viewer can discover aspects of the work that they can manipulate, manoeuvre or peer into.

As children we look at the world differently, creating our own stories and mythology parallel to the ordinary world; as we grow older this world gets put to one side. Vanessa’s art work explores possibilities of access to these parallel worlds and allows the viewer to temporarily escape the mundane.

Interactive art and participation plays a major role in her own work, this comes from years of working in community arts and having the desire to make art accessible for everyone to share, respond to and enjoy.

Since moving to Ireland in 1997 Vanessa has been working in community arts starting out as a volunteer to designing for art groups such as Macnas in Galway and St Patrick’s Day Festival, Dublin. Since 2007 she has been concentrating on pursuing her own visual art practice.

For further information, please contact Ennistymon Courthouse Gallery on 065 707 1630 or ennistymoncourthousegallery@gmail.com.

Gallery opening hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 12pm – 5pm.

No admission fee!

Free lunchtime traditional music concert

Courthouse Gallery Ennistymon

presents

A free lunchtime traditional music concert
as part of the Riches of Clare 2009 series.

Friday 3rd July @ 1pm


The concert will take place this Friday, 3rd July 2009 at 1pm in the gallery.
Performers include Conor Crimmins, Caitlín Nic Gabhann & Damien O’Mhuiris.
Admission is free and all are welcome!

Friday 3rd July Time: 1pm – 2pm
Admission Free

For more information please see http://www.richesofclare.com/

Stop Motion Animation Workshops with Vanessa Daws

August 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th 2009 - for teenagers and adults!

Courthouse Gallery Ennistymon presents a series of stop motion animation workshops in August 2009.

During the workshop participants will use different stop motion animation techniques such as sand animation, bringing drawings to life, claymation and making objects appear to move by themselves. In groups, the participants will develop storyboards, build characters and sets, use sound and take lots of photos. When these photos are played at 12 frames per second the characters created will magically come to life!

All the animations will be edited together with music and all participants will receive a copy of their animation on DVD.

The workshops are open to teenagers and adults and will run daily from 12pm to 4pm. Participants can take part for one day, two days, three days, or even do all four days...the more workshops you do, the more you will get out of it! If possible, participants will need to bring their own digital camera.

Workshops cost €20 per day.

Booking is essential as places are limited.

To book a place, please contact Courthouse Gallery Ennistymon on 065 707 1630 or email ennistymoncourthousegallery@gmail.com.

August 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th
12pm - 4pm
€20 per day