Art on the Farm 2011 :: Session 1 :: Critique 1

Art on the Farm 2011 :: Session 1 :: Dublin

There are two excursions during each Art on the Farm session. Each group goes to Dublin for an overnight trip during their first week of camp, then we'll go to a different destination during the second week, depending on the session: Galway & the Aran Islands, The Ring of Kerry, Cork & Cape Clear Island. Here are a few photos from our trip to Dublin last week....

We went on a walking tour, led by Lorcan Collins, co-author of The Easter Rising: A Guide to Dublin in 1916. This is in St. Stephen's Green, at the top of Grafton Street.

Our fearless leaders Rosie (left) and Frank (right). Zsofia (middle) is also a Visiting Artist this summer.

We went to the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) and saw work by Barry Cooke, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. And we met with resident artist John Beattie in his studio:

Then we walked across town to the Ormund Studios: a visual arts initiative...founded by a group of 2009 graduates as a self-managed, centrally situated, affordable working space for emerging visual artists. The space comprises of artists studios and an project space which are spread over two floors of a georgian building.

We saw video work by Jackie Gray and Alan James Burns.

There are a bunch more photos from Session 1 :: Week 1 here.

Pigs at Cow House Studios

A week ago, I tagged along on an adventure to purchase 2 pigs. We drove to a farm about an hour away, on the east coast, right by the shore. There were 2 goats, a bunch of pigs and chickens, and vegetable plants.

These are the 2 pigs we brought back to the Cow House, all snuggled up together in the barrel when we arrived.

Their new home in the woods at Cow House Studios:

Art on the Farm 2011 :: Session 1 :: Day 2

Yesterday the students had a bookmaking workshop. They created journals which will be filled with ideas and observations during their stay in Ireland. I joined the fun and made a journal inspired from a page in an old art magazine - "The Colour Wheel."

Stitching:

Gluing the Cover:

Finished Product:

Art on the Farm 2011 :: Session 1 :: Day 1

The first group of Art on the Farm students arrived at Cow House Studios today and we took them on a walk around the farm. Enthusiasm is high; we're all looking forward to spending the next three weeks together, making art!

Rain from the Studio Window

Back in the Darkroom

I arrived at Cow House Studios on Wednesday and was greeted by three adorable kittens and four friendly dogs. In addition to the cows, there are also quail, peacocks, ducks, and soon two pigs will make their appearance! The last few days have been cold and rainy - the perfect weather for getting some work done in the studio and preparing for the first group of students (they arrive tomorrow!). On Wednesday I went for a walk, shooting a roll of B/W 35mm film along the way. I processed the film on Thursday and yesterday I made this print. I haven't worked in the darkroom since undergrad ('07), so it's been really nice to revisit the analog photographic process. I'm also shooting color film with my Hasselblad, but that will take a little longer to process.

Kittens at Cow House

Greetings from Ireland!

I arrived in Dublin last Wednesday and I've been sightseeing for the last week. I'll be in Wexford for the remainder of the summer, as a Visiting Artist at Cow House Studios - a teen summer art program on a farm! I'll be taking pictures along the way and posting here as often as I can.

Before traveling to Ireland, I was hearing excellent things regarding the "Grow It Yourself" movement here. I've already noticed many locavore buzz words in restaurant menus and grocery stores, including "corn fed chicken," "free range eggs," "locally sourced produce," "organic," etc. And the food experience has been amazing! It's so refreshing to be able to walk into just about any establishment and find real food, that's delicious and healthy, without all the unnecessary additives and preservatives.

Here are a few quick cellphone snaps of food highlights so far:

Butternut Squash Soup and Goat Cheese Salad

at Avoca Cafe in Dublin City Center:

A statement from the menu at The Farm Restaurant

in Dublin City Center:

"the farm is about...affordable, tasty, homemade, locally sourced, as much organic and/or free range as we can, healthy vegetables + fresh herbs. All of our food is freshly prepared and cooked to order - this may take a little longer, we believe it's worth it! ps - the farm is owned and operated by a locally sourced Irish family!"

And Murphy's Ice Cream in Dingle:

"Murphy's Ice Cream uses milk from the rare, indigenous breed of Kerry cow in a bid to support it and because the milk is so wonderful."

stay tuned for many more posts from my summer adventures in Ireland!