AN INNOVATIVE group of artists in the south east have combined their talents to showcase an alternative view of ‘the Gathering 2013’ initiative.
The ‘Scattering-Gathering’ exhibition in Waterford’s Garter Lane Arts Centre features a wide variety of works from artists involved with the city’s 20ten group and their guests.
The curator of the exhibition, and one of the exhibiting artists, Chris O’Brien-Shanahan, commented on the display to The Echo and said: “Far from the traditional scattering of seed and gathering of harvest is the notion of a Diaspora called home – while a new generation prepare to leave.”
He went on to comment that ‘almost every family in Ireland has been directly touched by the experience of emigration and immigration’.
“Arriving in a new place requires us to make sense of a different environment [and] we find ourselves dealing with the strange and familiar, alien and natural,” said Mr. O’Brien-Shanahan.
“Loss of old certainties and the need to find new meanings can evoke memories, emotions, fears and aspirations.”
Waterford City Arts Officer, Conor Nolan, said the exhibition draws on each of the artists’ personal experiences and reflects their views on broader issues.
20ten is a Waterford based collective of distinctly diverse artists: Pat Carri, Kevin Connolly, Róisín Kinsella, Darragh Lyons, Pat McArdle, Christine O’Brien-Shanahan, Conor Rush and Milia Tsaoussis-Maddock.
Four guest artists are also involved in the ‘Scattering-Gathering’ exhibition: Magdalena Karol and Willemein Koelink, who now live in Ireland, and two Irish artists now living abroad: Andrea Caulfield and Kate-Bowe O’Brien.
As part of the exhibition programme of fringe events woodcarver, Conor Rush, will give a talk in the centre tomorrow, Wednesday, March 6, as part of National Tree Week.
On March 22, ‘Seriously Now’, will see German writer and literary translator Petra Kindler talking about her unlikely journey to becoming an Irish resident.
Admission to all of the events is free-of-charge, however places are limited at the workshops so booking is essential through 051-855038.
The exhibition was co-curated by Evelyn Power, Visual Arts Officer, Garter Lane, Mr. O’Brien-Shanahan and Conor Rush.
It will remain on view to the public until March 27.
Opening times are from Tuesday to Saturday (11 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.) and during performances.
