Pop-Up Gallery Sprouts in Athenry

Art is a ubiquitous part of our lives, whether through education, advertising or even fashion. Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is one of the most recognisable images on the planet and there are few people who can’t bring Van Gogh’s eponymous Sunflowers to mind when asked.  But despite our daily contact with art and familiarity with ‘high’ art – there can be a certain apprehension associated with getting involved in art on both a personal and local level. The people of Athenry, Co. Galway have taken the steps in breaking down that barrier. The East Galway Artist’s Network officially opened the doors of its Art Exhibition and Artist’s Trail with various exhibits around the town on Friday August 8th.

 

The Artists Trail Gallery, with a sign constructed by Donnacha Cahill

The endeavor has created an exhibition that highlights the talent available even at a local level and also the importance of fostering that talent, offering opportunities for artists to share their work. Spear-headed by Arts Officer Máire Daly and with artists such as Donnacha Cahill taking part, the exhibition opened to a packed house, with a huge number of people arriving to support the new artist’s venture . The room radiated with fun and life and passion, where camera shutters clicked and patrons admired the intense and varied works around them.

Red Riding Hood and Snow Queen by Kathy Ross

From abstract pieces that baffled and inspired conversation about their secret meanings to varied landscapes and fairytale characters, the exhibition, in the words of one impressed attendant, “Had something for everyone.” Peppered around the room were Donnacha Cahill‘s beautiful and imaginative sculptures.  Children and adults alike were entranced by the surreal figures that looked as though they were ripped straight out of dreams. Although the elephant wasn’t the only one on stilts that evening. Attended by two beautiful and ethereal stilt walkers, there was a real sense of carnival and occasion in the former Ladbrokes building. Children milled around in the company of parents and patrons who themselves wore a fabulous assortment of colour that was only outshone by the vibrancy of the characters that wore them. The invention and creativity that permeated the exhibition was full of inspiration and made me leave the exhibition wishing for a brush or a pencil to create something new myself.

Stilt walking through the crowds

The organizers called to mind the vision of the building owners who were hosting both the exhibition and the various works in the Artists Trail. Their support has made this exhibition possible, and, equally as important has paved the way for similar endeavors in the future. East Galway Artists Network aims to connect and support individuals from visual arts, theatre, music, film, and literature in the east Galway area.

Nurturing t of the arts on a local level is only ever to be encouraged. The importance of demystifying art to the wider public is just one of the the beliefs held by the East Galway Artists Network. Given the amount of people who attended the opening, they are well on the way to realizing that vision.

Dancing at Dusk

The exhibition continues in The Art Trail Gallery (beside The Square Inn, Cross Street). Exhibition open from 11am-5pm Mon-Sat. Late opening 5pm-8pm Friday 15th Aug- Sun 17th Aug & runs until Friday 22nd August. It’s well worth the drive.

Good Things Become Great Art

It’s not every day that we get to see the film stars of the future at the humble beginnings of their careers. Every once in a while we get an opportunity to peek into a crystal ball at what and who are going to be big in the movies – but I’m not talking about your traditional headlining acts, instead I’m referring to one of the jewels in the crown of Irish Film – the animation industry.

Last night I had the pleasure of attending “All Good Things”  IADT’s  2014 Animation Graduate exhibition and Screening – and although I’m just a passerby with a lifelong fondness for “cartoons” – it was a thoroughly enjoyable showcase that proved that Irish animation is in safe hands for the future.

All Good Things – IADT Animation’s Graduate Exhibition

The Irish animation industry is presently enjoying a Golden Age, with multiple studios producing both original productions and animation work for the likes of Disney and Cartoon Network. Some of the most notable names include, Boulder Media (who have won BAFTAs for their work on The Amazing World of Gumball), Brown Bag Studios (Octonauts, Hugglewugs) , JAM media (Roy) and Cartoon Saloon who created the gorgeous Secret of Kells.

These are just a fraction of the companies the graduates will be planning their futures. As Ireland steps into a future that is uncertain, one thing is sure, its visual effects and animation is on a pathway to new growth and looking at these graduates is full of potential.

The Lighthouse Cinema was full to the brim, bursting with anticipation for a screening of short films and showcases that represented – not just one year of work but four years of preparation. With viewers from the very young to the young at heart, parents, creators, friends and mentors gathered to watch what might not be the beginning of their artistic careers but certainly a significant chapter. And what an entertaining, poignant, mind-blowing, exhilarating, imaginative, funny chapter it was. The animators displayed distinctive talents with from artistic skill and inventiveness to creativity and a command of story and timing that seasoned filmmakers I’m sure would envy.

While each of the exhibits and films were commendable in their own way, there were a number of stand outs that hovered in my mind as I made the journey home. First among these was Clare Carroll’s stop-motion comedy – ‘A Girl’s Best Friend’ which kept the audience laughing throughout its run time and managed to tell one of the most convincing stories of ‘unlikely friendship’ I’ve ever seen. The stop motion puppetry was wonderful, the lighting and individual shots were beautiful and the comedic timing was unparalleled.

Melissa Malone delighted with achingly beautiful backgrounds  in ‘Lena and Gray’ which made me want to bathe in the same rich hues her characters found themselves in.

This was contrasted by Eva Kavanagh’s ‘Useless’. It told a powerful story about decommissioned robots, that had not unflattering reminders of George Orwell throughout.

Another showcase that sizzled was Katie O’ Meara’s ‘Sunlight’,  which danced through an up-beat soundtrack and melted from shot to shot, taking the audience through a medley of  beautifully animated light effects that managed to leave us with not just the image of sunlight, but what it feels like to be dancing in it too.

There is little I can say about Anita Gaughan’s ‘Vertical Horizon’s’ other than I can’t wait for the day that it becomes a feature length film – not only was it incredible to look at, it immediately brought the entire audience on a fantastic journey through the clouds on the wings of the world’s coolest eagle. My descriptions don’t do it justice.

Dee McDonnell’s ‘Tiger & Wolf’ closed the show with a sparkling tale about how even the best of friends can have disagreements that separate them. Her characters were imbued with a personality that told a story that lived in their eyes –  and was a fitting finish to what was a screening of stories that were so entertaining and professional, they could fool the audience into thinking that these creations were easily born.

But we know better, we know the work, the blood, the sweat and the proverbial tears that went into creating each of the exhibits and films. The creativity that made these stories was born of years of hard work, education and immersive art. Writing scripts, sketching storyboards, designing characters and backgrounds – not to mention creating the animation proper.

It seems like a lot to go through for a few minutes of animation. But the graduates of IADT 2014 seem to know that it’s worth it, worth the work to dream the dream, to tell the stories and to make the delighted child who sat in front of me  laugh for the whole evening long. Afterall, they are the future stars of Animation.

The IADT Animation BA (Hons) Exhibition can be viewed in IADT Dun Laoghaire, from Friday June 6th to June 10th. You won’t be sorry you had a look.

 

 

 

Directing your attention elsewhere…

If you have ever glanced nostalgically back at the books on your old bookshelf and remembered the happy times you spent together then you ought to check out my newly refurbished blog, Méabh’s Childhood Stories.

I’ve given it a going over, a new look, new content and all the nostalgia I can muster into one piece.The way I describe it to people is as a ‘retrospective diary’. What I think now about the books I read then. It’s enormous fun to write about and I hope a little bit of fun to read.

The new look.

It includes posts about my own reading experiences and what it was like growing up in the 90’s when children’s literature was just beginning to change. From Harry Potter to Nancy Drew, I’m planning on going over it all.

It exists because even though every child wants to grow up, it still never hurts to look back.

Have a look, I hope it makes you smile.

How to seize a Dragon’s jewel-meeting Cressida Cowell

Laughing children, bemused parents, and one of the most enthusiastic authors you’re ever likely to meet were the first things that greeted me when I arrived at British author Cressida Cowell’s signing in Eason, O’ Connell Street.

The author illustrator of the hugely popular How to Train Your Dragon  series was running across the stage to entertain her captive listeners, an audience of would be Vikings and Hooligans, literally jumping up and down in their seats in an effort to speak to their favourite author. With questions full of pointed specifics about the adventures of Hiccup and his dragon, Toothless their incredible interest only seemed to encourage Cressida, who answered every one of their questions with equal enthusiasm. It was enough to make the most hardend sceptic a believer in dragons and the star of the How to Train Your Dragon Series, Hiccup – Hope and Heir to the Tribe of the Hairy Hooligan’s quest against evil. Now on the tenth book in the series, How to Seize a Dragon’s Jewel  Hiccup’s journey has gone from strength to heroic strength.

Book Trailers- why wait for a movie?

So, in keeping with my new online fascination with film and fairy tale, I’ve decided to visit a topic which has been a long time fascination of mine: the not-so-humble book trailer.

Now in days of yore when a publisher wanted to advertise to me, they put up signs, posters, online notifications, and yes- occasionally- a tv advert showing me the book from every possible angle with a voice over in the  background telling me how good it is.

However, over the last few years a new sensation in book advertising has overwhelmed many publishers- both big and very tiny- and that is: The Book Trailer.

Mostly to be found in its native habitat on YouTube, the book trailer comes in many different forms. Some are simple voices, talking around the books. Across the Universe  employs this technique passably but  Miss Peregrine’s Home for Unusual Children  combines these to great effect.

Compare:

and contrast:

What I’m Reading: City of Lost Souls

After lots of recommendations I decided to venture into Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments, clearly I got sucked in quickly. I’m racing through City of Lost Souls .

Pride and Prejudice makes its way online

When one hears the word’s ‘Jane Austen adaptation’ regency dresses and empire line skirts immediately jump to mind. It is few that have modern day colleges, American accents and Hunger Games references. Even less which have done so online. The Lizzie Bennet Diaries has broken that mold to pieces. A wonderfully clever- and always opinionated- adaptation of  Austen’s Pride and Prejudice quite literally introduces the internet audience to 24 yr old Lizzie Bennet- grad student, video blogger and all around truth teller.

The Lizzie Bennet Diaries positively smashes the fourth wall in its interaction with viewers and fans. The series is told in bi-weekly episodes where Lizzie herself addresses the audience with the daily goings on of her life with her over-bearing and marriage obsessed mother and her sisters. We are introduced to the ‘practically perfect‘ Jane and loud but endearing party girl Lydia. Finally editing and producing of the video blogs lies in the capable hands of ‘best friend in chief’ Charlotte Lu.

The title page for the Lizzie Bennet Diaries

Ebooks are here to stay

It looks like eBooks are here to stay. The increase in Irish sales shows the eBook going from strength to strength and if nothing changes 2012 will be the year of the eBook in Ireland.

“There’s been a consistent increase in the sales trend of our eBooks over the last year,” said Patrick Crowley, sales manager of Mercier Press.  “All of our eBooks are available across the eReader platforms but the majority are sold over Amazon for the Kindle”.