Plans for this years Zine Fair are underway. I'm expanding the fair this year, including more live music, workshops, screenings and readings. I'm really looking forward to it. If you want to find out more or are interested in booking a stall, visit the Baby BEEF website by clicking the typewriter in the left side bar of this site. Here's this years poster.
It was a great year of exhibition openings, events, millions of emails and a ton of admin work, but my time as volunteer Artistic Director at Ranelagh Arts Centre has come to a close! My last opening as AD was Gerhardt Gallagher's exhibition of drypoint etchings "A Sketchbook Diary", a really beautiful show to end the year on. All the gang from the centre came out for wine and cheese to see me off, it was lovely!
Among all the experience and achievements gained during the year I think the most obvious impact I made during my time at Ranelagh Arts is the centre's new look. I designed the new gallery front and sign. Here's a before and after. The first photo was taken by photographer Kate Horgan. So what's next for me? It's full steam ahead with my own art practice, I have so many projects to work on for festivals during the summer and the second Dublin Zine Fair to organise! Then there's a big decision to make, do I go back to college to get a diploma in photography or do I start my own web design business?! Decisions, decisions!
Yesterday I headed off to the Supafast Building for the filming of "City Secrets" the Dublin episode. The researcher from the show Aimee Johnston contacted me a few weeks ago about my Letterbox Dublin project. She asked me if I'd be interested in having the project featured on a new show called "city Secrets" on Sky Atlantic. I said yes! Aimee asked me to set up an exhibition of some of the letters for the day of filming. I had two weeks to plan it, so I thought hmmm where's a good place for a spontaneous exhibition? I had just been to a gig in the Supafast Building and thought 'I'll give them a call and see if they are up for it'! They were! I told Aimee about the building and the pop up restaurant that they run there and she thought it would make a great addition to the show. So on Friday and Saturday I hung my work in the building and put a few notes together of what I wanted to say about the project in the interview. I arrived nervously to the building at lunch time yesterday and was amazed by the beautiful banquet set up by Tom and Hugh (Supafast Founders). The place looked amazing, we settled down to enjoy a 7 course dinner by candle light while the crew of TwoFour filmed us and listened to some great tunes from the Knockanstockan Festival musicians. Tom and Hugh were interviewed about Supafast first, so I was left waiting in anticipation for my turn.
I got miked up (next time I'll know to wear more microphone friendly clothes!) my exhibition was lit and Alan Cummings the show's presenter interviewed me. It was weird to chat to someone you've seen so many time on tv and in films, but Alan was a sweetheart and I just chatted away about the project and actually enjoyed it! After the crew packed up we sat down to some more food and more music. We were lucky enough to witness a really special set from The Hot Sprockets with guest musicians playing banjo and saxophone! It was brilliant! What a day! It really was an amazing experience and I want to thank everybody at Supafast, TwoFour, Knockanstockan and the musicians themselves for making the day really special. The show is due to air in July on Sky Atlantic, here is a bit about the show:
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City Secrets -Sky Atlantic HD
Created as a guided walking tour, City Secrets takes viewers on a stunning and unique journey the length and breadth of the country, visiting a number of Britain’s most influential urban areas. Cumming, best known for his role in The Good Wife, is bursting with enthusiasm as he takes to a new city in each episode, revealing incredible stories that will entertain and surprise. Throughout the series, Cumming will be exploring the different factors which make each city world renowned.
As Cumming guides viewers through the historical evolution of each destination, he will be joined by some famous names from the city, along with local experts who will offer their views and insights on what gives their city its unique character and spirit.
"City Secrets will offer an intriguing insight into not only the iconic landmarks of the various cities, but also the hidden gems that lie off the tourist trail; it is a refreshing stretch of the legs for Sky Atlantic."
Celia Taylor, Head of Features and Factual, Sky.
"City Secrets is a series that will unearth the hidden and fascinating stories of Britain's cities. "
Dan Adamson, Executive Producer, Twofour.
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On Sunday after 8 weeks of 'Freshmeat' training, I headed out to Inchicore Community Centre to complete my Dublin Roller Girls roller derby assessment. I was quite nervous and was cursing myself for staying up late the night before drinking at my friends dinner party! It was grueling, I must have drank a gallon of water and sweated it all out! Starting off with the five minute challenge, (we had to complete at least 21 laps in 5 minutes to pass, I got 24! Yay!) and straight into suicides (a series of different safe falls) and then on to offensive and defensive drills, foot-work, skating techniques, pace lines, pulls and whips! Afterwards I was so shattered I had to take a nap on my couch! When I woke up it was time to play the waiting game for the results! The email came just after 10pm, it said "Congradulations! You are now a Dublin Roller Girl!" I am chuffed and looking forward to my first training session with the rest of the team tomorrow! Go DRG!
My friend Michelle has just started a new art project about tea and it's place in our lives. Check out her blog and fill in the tea survey to be a part of it! www.ismaithliomtae.blogspot.com
Here is some images of the Love Lomo artist book that I made to accompany the exhibition. I have included a step by step guide of how I made them, enjoy! The book is available to buy on the Baby BEEF independent art press website and my Etsy shop. (Links to both in the left side bar!)
The opening night of the Love Lomo show was great. It was lovely to meet all the lomographers in person at last and talk to them about different cameras and techniques! To launch the show, rather than make a speech I got everyone at the opening together in a group in the gallery and took a photo on my Diana F+. It was a multiple exposure, one of everyone saying "love lomo" and then another of everyone with their hands in the air! Can't wait to see how it turns out! I'll post it up when I get it developed. Here's a few photos from the exhibition that I took the day after.
Thank you to all the photographers in the show - David Bickley, Claire Burke, Hugh O' Conor, Eric Flavin, Steph Gallagher, Kasia Kaminska, Katie Kavanagh, Franky Kelly and Wayne Soper!
