Happy Easter!
My inconsistency is wonderfully consistent - which is why I am sending my March newsletter in April. March has been a whirlwind, a tumult, a time of reaping lots of art seeds - but as everyone knows during harvest you get covered in muck and really bloody tired.
Art
There has been much less studio time the last month because some wonderful things have come to fruition. I’ll start with the biggie - my painting ‘Locked In’ has been selected as a finalist in Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) 193rd Annual Exhibition. Over 4,600 works were entered, 660 were selected for the second round and 380 artworks were selected in the final round.
It was one of those things I thought - erra I’ll just throw my hat in the ring, what have I got to lose? I didn’t expect anything more and I am privileged and delighted to be a finalist. The exhibition is opening in May in Dublin and I’m bubbling over with excitement to go to ‘Varnishing Day’ - which does not mean artists in berets with little pots of varnish (to my disappointment) but is the preview evening on Sunday the 21st May where I’ll get to meet all the other artists. If I see a beret or pot of varnish rest assured I will take a photo.
I’ve also been participating in two wonderful exhibitions - the West Cork Creates Spring Show in Cnoc Bui in Union Hall in West Cork and the Be Framed Gallery Spring Show in Douglas. Exhibitions mean opening nights - opening nights mean lots of people - lots of people mean lots of craic and chats and meeting new and old friends.
I want to mention in particular the West Cork Creates show because it is so special. It’s hosted in a brand new arts and cultural centre called Cnoc Bui which means ‘Yellow House’ that has been set up to serve the West Cork Community. The house has been lovingly restored by hand by the owners and their tale of philantropy and love of the arts is really magnificent - I really recommend this interview to hear their inspiring story. The art was truly inspirational.
Life
It took me a while to think of what ‘life’ things I could write about because I realized I don’t really have one at the moment - I’ve been pretty taken up with all the exhibition and arty stuff. It’s been busy. Like most artists I also have a full time job so trying to slot everything in can be hard. Like that duck serenely floating on a lake, who is desperately waggling her little legs underneath. There was one week where I was working, driving up and down to West Cork to drop off paintings, going to an exhibition opening in the evening, getting up at 5am next morning to get a bus to Dublin on a 6 hour round trip to the RHA, and back out to the West Cork exhibition opening the next day. Needless to say the dishes did not get done that week and there were many microwave meals.
But that’s all part of it, the exhilaration, the overwhelm and the crash afterwards where you catch up on the things you neglected (this newsletter!!) and eat 14 easter eggs.
In Between
Here are some things that have been keeping me company the past few weeks:
Artist - Standing in front of a Tom Climent painting is like entering another world. I was blown away by his paintings at the West Cork Creates show.
Podcast - Eadaoin Glynn’s’ interview with Eamon Colman on her podcast the Warrior Artist is a fascinating conversation with one of Irelands most respected artists.
Book - The Day of the Triffids - a 1951 post-apocalyptic novel by the English science fiction author John Wyndham. This popped up on Audible and my god I loved it - serious dystopian vibes and completely absorbing.
TV - Colony - continuing in the dystopia theme this is a great sci fi series that is totally mental and bonkers and a lot of fun.
And finally my recommended song is that rollicking good feel tune by Journey - don’t stop believing folks - those little waggling legs will get where they’re going eventually!
xx Aoife