A Drawing A Day
Els Borghart
25th July – 22nd August 2020
A Drawing a Day focusses on the idea of journaling through drawing in response to the Covid-19 crisis. Artist Els Borghart lives and works in Drogheda and her drawings are a creative response to the impact of social distancing and isolation as the new normal. During the artist’s An Táin Arts Centre Instagram take-over in May 2020, quick one hour drawings explored visually how this narrative evolved over the course of 31 days. This exhibition of work marks An Táin Arts Centre’s return to the Basement Gallery following the closure of the building on March the 12th 2020.
Els is a founding member, co-director and curator with ELS + DECLAN and EDDE Art. She exhibits regularly in Ireland and Belgium. Her work was shortlisted for the renowned Zürich Portrait Prize 2019 by the National Gallery of Ireland and subsequently became part of the Belgian State Art Collection.
Artist Zoom Talk: Friday 24th June at 8pm: Join us for an online launch with the exhibiting artist in discussion with Director/CEO Paul Hayes. Full details here.
Artist in Residence Exhibition
Etaoin O’Reilly
3rd – 26th September 2020
Ceramic artist and facilitator Etaoin O’Reilly is An Táin Arts Centre’s artist in residence for 2020. Etaoin is a graduate of NCAD (2014), and of the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland’s Ceramics Skills and Design Course (2016). She is also a former artist in residence at NCAD (2016) and LSAD (2018). Etaoin hopes to explore the fading industry and skills of bone china factory workers, with an exhibition of new works planned for the month of September.
Hold Steady
Creative Spark
8th October – 7th November 2020
The exhibition will bring together new works completed during the residency programme 2019-2020 in the medium of printmaking, weaving, mixed media and painting. The artists involved in the 2019 – 2020 Programme at Creative Spark were Naoimh Larkin (Down); Annie June Callaghan (Fermanagh); Riley Waite (California); Jane Campbell (Louth); Niamh Hannaford and Tara Carroll(Dublin)
Hold Steady is Creative Spark’s sixth residency programme exhibition at An Táin Arts Centre. Residency programmes are established to support artists through offering studio space, research time, resources and creative opportunities they may not otherwise have in their own studio or practice. To date the residency has supported 35 artists over six years.
A supporting exhibition of work by Creative Spark Print Studio members will also open at the gallery on the same evening.
Together – Apart
St Brigid’s School
11th – 21st November 2020
St Brigid’s School community have been apart yet together during the COVID crisis. Creativity flourished in kitchens, gardens and living rooms. Sharing creativity in virtual spaces, we stayed together. Celebrating our success and keeping safe apart we were as always together, a community of talented resourceful leaners.
POSTPONED
Sweeney’s Descent
Various artists
19th March – 25th April 2020
A contemporary take on the legend of Buile Shuibhne (Mad King Sweeney), who was driven insane by a monk’s curse. Orbiting around Sweeney King ‘a digital poem’ that incorporates words, images and an ambient soundtrack, the exhibition includes 2D and 3D work, painting, textiles, installation, film and performance. The digital poem is a collaboration between poet Tony Bailie, artist Maurice Burns and musician Mark Skillen and the exhibition features work from the Co. Armagh-based Shore Collective.
Preview reception: Wednesday 18th March at 7pm
POSTPONED
Dundalk Photographic Society 2020
Various artists
2nd – 16th May 2020
‘Causeway Sunset’, David Martin, 2018
Dundalk Photographic Society is 40 years old this year and very proud to be able to display a variety of work from their current members at their annual exhibition. This exhibition, which doubles as an end-of-year competition, has evolved into a real highlight in their annual calendar. This year DPS welcome Les Forrester as judge from the UK to give his expert opinion in determining the best images on show. The club, over the last 40 years, has gone from strength to strength and consistently continues to compete at the highest international standard in amateur photography in Ireland, Europe and across the world. As enthusiasts, we embrace all genres of photography and have a cross-section of members that excel in many disciplines, from landscapes, to portraiture, travel photography and architecture to name a few. A healthy love for this, our own type of art, brings us together week after week, year after year, within Dundalk and it’s environs where they reach in to the community and help to bring talent and imagery to life for all to enjoy.
Preview reception: Friday 1st May at 7pm
Book Online