Signed Limited Edition Print

LEAVING
There has been some interest in this image and I am going to print it as a signed limited edition run of 30 Giclee prints for £30 each. Mounted, for an A4 frame on fine art Hahnemuhle acid free paper I won't sell any more of these as prints after the 30 are gone. If you are interested in one of these PM me. When they're gone they're gone ;)

Links to Art in the City (a Whistle stop tour)

There is so much happening in Derry at the moment in the run up to the Turner Prize. 


The eyes of the Art world are on Derry! This is your chance to discover what is new and exciting in the art world right now.Study up on the Short List  for Turner here. 

Where to start the enjoyable, witty and lovely refreshing Grayson Perry was in town for Reith Lecture check here if you weren't one of the lucky ones in attendance at the newly refurbished Guildhall. 

If you are in town for the Turner Why not take in some of the other Art the City has to offer.

 The London Street Gallery  are celebrating the opening of the Turner Prize show with the exhibition  - No Jury, No Prize which invited all artists to submit one small work which will be shown  (there is no jury) during the three weeks of the exhibition. 

I have a piece in this called Rekindle :) Materials: Photography, book and fire

Arts Care Dedicated Gallery
Some great News too, Arts Care will have their very own dedicated Arts Care Gallery Space in Altnagelvin hospital after the success of the Older Peoples Festival Exhibition 'In Full Bloom'. 

The feedback we had from  staff, service users and Arts Care artists alike about how the older peoples work  transformed the space was indeed very positive and encouraging. 

 The  proposed gallery space will showcase not only the work of the service users and staff but  a programme  will be developed of exhibitions for the year where interested artists/groups are invited to exhibit throughout the year.

This Gallery space would be curated by myself :)

Ceo of Arts Care and Chair of Arts Care in Western Trust at
Older People Exhibition 'In Full Bloom' 

We have an opportunity to launch this proposal very shortly with a visiting exhibition by artist Julien Friers. This launch would be a joint launch with  London St Gallery's who themselves will be launching their  own project which is to temporary donate Artworks into healthcare areas and ares of need.

The upcoming exhibition will be in November, is titled ‘Rhythm and Hues’ has been specially commissioned as part of the City of Culture 2013 celebrations, and recognises some of the biggest names in the music industry including some of our own homegrown talent. Local jazz legend Gay McIntyre and actress and singer Bronagh Gallagher take their places alongside Dave Fanning, Terri Hooley and Henry McCullough in 14 larger than life canvasses celebrating music and creativity. More News soon. 

What Else?
Be sure to check out Momentous Times at the CCA and the fantastic programme of events around this exhibition. Good news for the CCA's Aileen Burns and Johan Lundh who have been appointed Co Directors of The Institute of Modern Art in Brisbane, Congratulations!

The Mark Wallinger: One (twice Turner nominee) curated by Elaine Ford exhibiiton will be finishing up next week at The Void Galley and the upcoming Santiago Sierra exhibition curated by Sara Greavu and Jonathan Cummins looks promising.

On the Subject of twice Turner nominated  'UnSeen' a major exhibition of photographic and video works by Willie Doherty.in the upper gallery beside the Void.

The Shirts,  Photo by Roisin O'Donnell

One of the big successes of this year is the Shirt Factory Project, taking its inspiration from the shirt factories of Derry, boasting a pop up museum and a themed shop and a secret garden as well as Rita Duffy, this has to get a life after this year as part of the 'Legacy' of the City of Culture. 

In Other Places
 Not to be out done there is another chance to see Hollywood: The Remake, photography by myself and Aria Fikriyah and styled by Gladrags and Handbags at Bedlam. This can be 'reseen' in the entrance of Bedlam  up unto the end of the year.

When in the vicinty take in the lovely gallery in Bedlam, Gordons gallery across the Street, and the gallery on Ship Quay St.

Still time to catch Mak9  Draw on the Walls,

and to check out The Portrait of a City around the city (funny enough) and of course the Indigionous murals and wall art (every thing can be art, ask Mr Perry). Thats only the tip of the artberg, (haven't even touched on 'The Arts' in a wider context, but enough to whett the Whistler  for now :).

I have time to sit and write this cos Kids in bed and hubby is Stage managing 'From The Camp to The Creggan' and  (Opening tonight Oct 16th, in the Forum and then Lenashee on Nov 8th in the Venue).

(Talking of sitting) After all that you can have a wee sit down on the Sofa Book  which  is  the Action Mental Health's sofa created out of books a project I was involved with facilitating whilst  watching the washing dry in the random places!

AMH New Horizons Foyle's Big Lottery Culture for All Project entitled “What’s Your Story” You can see it on tour at 

Magee UU 22nd-23rd Oct, \
Guildhall 24th-10th Nov, 
CIty Hall 11thNov-25th, 
Antrim New Horizons 25th Nov-2nd Dec and Foyle St Library 2nd Dec to 16th Dec

Out of Town

Not all the culture is in town, Arts Link Big Draw is worth a visit for all the family, also Donegal artist has forthcoming exhibition , Phillip McFadden  and of course Matisse line drawings and workshops in Limavady

Feel free to comment and add to list, whatever has been left out, I'm sure theres buckets of it.

New Website

Trying out a new website, to display latest works and encourage me to do more and more.

Here goes

http://bronaghcorr.com/

Here and Beyond Arts and Disability

We are only weeks away from our “Here and Beyond” dance performance, as part of the City of Culture 2013 celebrations in Derry/Londonderry. The performance will the culmination of weeks of hard work involving the project choreographers and all the young people and adults with and without disability who will be performing. The performance will feature over 100 dancers and will be an incredible spectacle to truly challenge pre-conceptions of dance and disability. This project has been funded as part of the City of Culture programme and we are keen to attract a large audience in this amazing 2,000 seat Venue theatre. Arts Care would like this to be a night to remember for both audience and performers.

We would like to invite you to come and support us  at the event.

The performance will commence at 7.30pm, Saturday 1^st June, at the City of Culture Venue at Ebrington Square and is estimated to last around 2 hours. Doors will open at 6.30pm.

We very much hope that you can join us in celebrating, not only a major achievement for Derry/Londonderry being awarded the City of Culture 2013, but the incredible work that these dancers will have created.

Animation Danny (RIP)

“Running in the Past” – an animation by Dan Gillespie, Pilots Row, The Nerve Centre and Bronagh Corr McNicholl

Throughout the Here and Now

festival, we have worked with some amazing older people who have told us some fascinating stories about their lives, none more so than Dan Gillespie who worked with artist in residence, Bronagh Corr McNicholl to produce this animation about his life.

Dan was born in 1909 in Strabane and became a keen runner in 1918, just after the Great War had ended, when he ran in the “Race for Children” celebrations. He subsequently joined the City of Derry Harriers where he won the junior medal before being selected to run for Northern Ireland in the European Championships.

Bronagh worked with Dan to produce a fantastic animation where Dan tells his life story and his passion for running. Sadly two weeks after the completion of his animation, Dan passed away, but what a wonderful legacy to leave and a testament to a life fully lived.

Check it out here (and now)    Here and Now  (BTW, my voice does not Really sound like this!!! ) 

Dr. Indrazno. in Donegal

Our good friend Indrazno has finished his PHD and leaves Derry to be reunited with our lovely friends and his family Rafa, Sara and Aria. Aria was my other shooter on the Hollywood project. Will miss them all but glad they are finally together. We had a lovely day out in Ards before hitting Mama Masalas. Some of the shots from Ards.

Keep'er Lit and On Reflection

'Keep'er Lit'

Some of the beautiful lights made with Older people on my Keep'er Lit project at the Fab Lab, brought to life with Delia, Nim and Paul, and 6 service users, their OT and student OT. Each light detailing what inspires them and keeps them lit. Looking foward to seeing them in situ Altnagelvin, April 9th.
They will be joined by the Lovely Lanterns decorated by the ladies from Waterside Hospital.

 

On Reflection

Self Portrait Digital Imaging

 Portrait Digital Imaging Project

The results of the fantastic Digital Imaging project with U3A as part of the Here and Now Older Peoples Festival. The work will be displayed on 28x24 inch canvases, initially as part of the 'In Full Bloom' Here and Now exhibition on April 9th, them in U3A.

Derry, Not the same Old Story

“So much time, and so little to do!  Strike that, reverse it.”  (Willy Wonka)

Not the same Old Story
It goes to show how busy I've been that I haven't been here in a while, which is a good thing (for everyone). I think if you are in the Arts in Derry and you are not busy this year, you are doing something very wrong! 

Between working on projects and attending them, I'm meeting myself coming back, but heck, loving every minute of the madness.

Roll on Friday night, Brian Friel's 'Translations' followed by the whole shenanigans that 

comes with St Patricks day ...weekend,  Sláinte!

 And then forward on to Monday, a family treat with the London Symphony Orchestra, (Featuring John Williams’ best loved works for films directed by Steven Spielberg in a unique cine-concert accompanied by big-screen film excerpts.)


Last week, it was touring the walls I was at,  with Anne Crilly's 'Herstory' rediscovering the hidden history of women in the Maiden City,  one of the best local productions I've seen in Derry, then that  same night when I attended the best not local thing I've seen in Derry, Horfesh Shecter 'Political Mother' Event in The Venue.  What a thing to behold, and I only had to walk up the road to attend it!



I did think about how I'm getting old when I realised it was a standing event and not seated, and then to add insult to injury,  I was handed earplugs! (I thought they'd picked me out especially, as someone in need of holding on to whatever hearing they have left, EH!) but as the music started and vibes reverberated through my bones... I wised up! 

...the older people I've had the pleasure of facilitating in the 'Arts Care 'Here and Now' Older peoples Festival would show you a thing or two about what it means to be 'old' and not in the traditional sense.

 What a night! I took the children the next day to the Craft Village (Horfesh Pop Ups) to try and give them a taste of the event, well done to all the local young people who were involved.

There's so much more to be looking forward to, where do you start?

• The Return Of Colmcille 7-8th June
• The All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2013, in August, 
• The Turner Prize, October..... 

........added to an already rich tapestry of Grass Roots Festivals and events..... I'm going nowhere else this year...  Well, apart from a weekend in Lego Land !!!  Its not for me, its for the kids, even though it happens to coincide with my birthday!

Talking about older people.....


'Here and Now' Older peoples Festival. 
Alongside being involved in numerous arts projects thanks to the the City of Culture effect, the extremely busy position as Arts Care, Artist in Resident for the Western Trust, has also kicked up a notch or two or ten.

Currently, Arts Care is in midst of delivering the 'Here and Now' Older peoples Festival. Funded by the PHB, the Festival is province wide and will culminate in an Absolutely  Fabulous exhibition Art trail through the wards of Altnagelvin Hospital, launching April 9th. There are over 30 artists working in all the Trust areas to bring this to the fore, all types of arts practices and all types of wonderful older participants. 

As the Western Trust artist I have been working with a number of groups. 

Louis Orange Self Portrait

'On Reflection'
The U3A are an amazing organisation and here I worked with 9 lovely really young older people to deliver a series of digitally manipulated self portraits entitled 'On Reflection'. The first day I met them my heart sank as I thought they were too young for the 'over 60' guideline, but all was well, as although some just made the bracket, others comfortably took up the role of 'elders'. The group as a whole are living testament to the fact  that being older can be a rung to new and exciting possibilities. 
Indeed this group all looked at me like I had horns at the start of our sessions, as I invited them to explore their inner self, but, they were patient and 'got' the brief. I didn't want a straightforward self portrait, but an essence of themselves, their spirit, a glimpse of themselves, a reflection. I cannot wait to unveil the 10 beautiful canvas's that are the result of our sessions on the 9th of April.

'Generations' Animation

This group mainly came from Pilots Row, again another youthly and sprightly bunch, this time all men. Getting them to something new, was not a problem, the problem was that they had to fit the two days into their already busy schedule! Gone are the days when old age and retirement mean solely pottering around the garden and the house. These guys, are baking, painting and working out!  not only that, they're Facebook-ing and Twittering away about all sorts...  

The french for retirement is 'être à la retraite ', I imagine that's where the word 'retreat' comes from, and to these groups of older people (in good health) that is exactly what retirement is to them, a retreat, and with brilliant organisations in this city that cater to our elders, this city of 'perpetual' youth is the place to grow old (disgracefully, which is my intention). The two days in the Nerve Centre saw these 'young cubs' animating an audio interview I'd done with another gentleman, this time at the lovely age of 103! 
(on asked the secret to his longevity... as a professional runner he kept fit, wore bright colours and well, he didn't marry...hmmm..). 

 My favourite part of the interview was when I took his photo and showed him the LCD screen at the back,  he exclaimed 'Oh No, I look 127" !! 

I'm looking forward for his story to be told to the masses.

Keep'er Lit (Part 1) and  (Part 2) (What lights you up?)
The Idea for Keep'er Lit is for the participants to create a motif from something inspirational in their life. This could be related to their career, hobby family or what ever ‘lights’ them up. These are to be made into gorgeous lights.

Part 1

Working with 8 Older Ladies at Waterside Hospital  creating  a final Art/Light piece was a complete privilege. As we worked with photographs and source images to find images that are inspirational, (eventually to be image transferred onto chinese Lanterns), the stories told, the tales regaled, much of which I dare not repeat, all poured into our artistic endeavours. I only wish everyone can see in these lights, the passion and love that these women still emulate in their quieter years.

Part 2
The final group I am woking directly with in the 'Here and Now' Festival, come from day care and adult mental health. The first session in the Playhouse was a huge step for many of these participants, as a few of them seldom leave their homes. Again it was with in trepidation, anxiety and fear they approached, but all left after sharing something special.

The participants will meet again to spend 2 days in the Nerve Centre’s, Fab Lab each producing a light, These will be lasercut  and contructed with the help of the FAB LAB team. How fabulous is that?

So in your Diaries now April 9th, Altnagelvin, Here and Now Older Peoples Festival

Check it out at

http://www.artscarephanihereandnow.com

I haven't even started to talk about 'The Portrait of a City' in Gransha  ( A digital wall collage, which is to be installed highlighting the History of Mental Health in Gransha) or The "What's Your Story, City of Culture Project Action Mental Health at Foyle New Horizons, in which I am facilitating the creation of a sofa out of books. Maybe when its done, I can sit down, would be a novel experience.

“So much time, and so little to do!  Strike that, reverse it.”