Ceol an Éin - Birdsong
Ceol an Éin
Odette Ní Bhaoill, Adrian Ó Ceallaigh, Marina Porter Póirtéir, Bernadette Ní Oibicín, Claire Mclaughlin Nic Lochlainn, Deirdre Nig Fhionnaile
Tháing ‘Artspace’ Leitir Ceanainn le chéile sa bhliain 1993 ar mhaithe le stiúideo a chur ar bun do ghrúpa ealaíontóirí proifisiúnta a bhí ina gcónaí agus ag saothrú a mbeatha i Leitir Ceanainn. Bhí sé d'ádh orthu áit a fháil ar léas ó Institiúid Theicneolaíochta Leitir Ceanainn ar a gcampas in ospidéal Naomh Conaill. Bhíothas i ndán an fhoirgneamh seo a fháil agus a athchóiriú a bhuíochas do Chlár LEADER trí Chomhlacht Forbartha Áitiúla Dhún na nGall (DLDC), rud a chinntíonn go bhfuiltear ag cloí le caighdeán ard sábháilteachta agus go bhfuiltear ag baint an úsáid is mó tairbhe as an spás. De thairbhe go bhfuarthas deontas caiptil flaithiúil de £20,000 ón Chomhairle Ealaíon, bhíothas ábalta gléasraí eitseála, ceirmeach, seomra dorcha agus trealamh ríomhaireachta a cheannacht. Tá a n-aidhm bainte amach ag an ghrúpa anois agus tá siad bródúil as a n-úinéireacht ar ghrúpstiúideonna ina bhfuil gach uile ghléas atá de dhíth agus atá ag feidhmiú go lánaimseartha.
Cuireann na stiúideonna ar fáil spás oibre do chúig ealaíontóir atá ag cleachtadh a ngairm agus a bhfuil a saothar le feiceáil sa taispeántas seo. Rinne Odette agus Adrian staidéar ar a gceird i Sligeach, Claire in Ollscoil Uladh agus sa Royal College of Art, Londain, Bernadette sa Choláiste Ealaíon i nDún Laoire, Marina i Leitir Ceanainn agus i Luimneach, agus rinne Deirdre staidéar ar a ceird san N.C.A.D. Bhí, agus tá go fóill, gach ball den ghrúpa ag obair ar thionscadail aonaracha chomh maith le bheith ag comhoibriú go rialta do thaispeántais grúpa do ‘Artspace’. Bíonn páirt ghníomhach ag furmhór na mball i bhFéile Ealaíon an Earagail, mar chomhordaitheoirí, i mbun seónna puipéad, taispeántais sráide agus a mhacasamhail sin. Tá lúcháir mhór ar An Gailearaí go bhfuil siad anseo le críoch a chur le clár taispeántas na bliana seo lena leithéid de thaispeantás contae den chéad scoth.
Birdsong
Odette Boal, Adrian Kelly, Marina Porter, Bernadette Hopkins, Claire Mclaughlin, Deirdre McGinley
Letterkenny ‘Artspace’ came together in 1993 to work towards establishing a group studio for professional artists living and working in Letterkenny. They secured premises which are leased from Letterkenny Institute of Technology and situated at their campus at St. Conal’s. The building and it’s renovations was made possible by an award from Leader, Donegal Local Development Company, this has ensured the best use of the space and conforms to a high safety standard. Through the generous award of an Arts Council Capital grant of 20,000 etching, ceramic, darkroom and computer equipment was purchased. The group has now realized their goal and is now the proud custodians of a fully functioning and fully equipped group studios.
The studios provide working spaces for five practicing artists all of whom have contributed work for this exhibition. Odette and Adrian studied in Sligo, Claire at University of Ulster and the Royal College of Art, London, Bernadette at Dun Laoghaire College of Art, Marina at Letterkenny and Limerick and finally Deirdre at N.C.A.D. Each member of the group has been and still are working on individual projects as well as regular ‘Artspace’ group shows. Many members of the group also take an active part in the Earagail Arts Festivals such as co-ordination, puppet shows, street performances and the like. An Gaileari is delighted to close this year’s programme of exhibitions with a county-based quality show.