Catalyst Arts logo designed by David Shrigley

New Ecologies of Practice: A short season of projects by
Catalyst Arts [Belfast] / Occupy Space [Limerick] / The Good Hatchery [Offaly] / Basic Space [Dublin]

Exhibition: Thursday 9th February – Friday 13th April 2012.
Opening view Monday 13th February 2012, 6pm

NCAD Gallery is presenting a series of new projects which will represent the work of a number of artist led initiatives, working throughout Ireland, which embodies a new approach and a challenge to institutional visual arts programming. In this programme NCAD Gallery would also like to highlight the National Visual Arts Library (NIVAL) housed at NCAD Library.

In recent years, and pre-dating recession in some cases, Catalyst Arts [Belfast]; Occupy Space [Limerick]; The Good Hatchery [Offaly] and Basic Space [Dublin] have established strong, coherent and critically significant presences in the Irish visual arts context and, in their strategic ideologies, argue for a reconfiguration of inherited thinking about the nature and purpose of art and the nature and purpose of art institutional practice. This aligns with other transnational artist led initiatives and ideologies which respond to ‘situations’.

For this project artist-led Catalyst Arts presents ‘Director’s Cut’ a selection of work sourced from the organisation’s archive symbolising a legacy of commitment from past members and directors. Transforming the gallery ‘Director’s Cut’ will display artefacts, past publications, a selection of posters, the re-exhibit of Art Rebels, a selection of slides with notes by the current Catalyst directors and the original Catalyst Arts neon sign designed by David Shrigley. In addition, a number of archive posters will be fly-posted in proximity to NCAD, re-contextualising them in light of this exhibition.
Catalyst Arts ‘Director’s Cut’ is open from 9th- 25th February at NCAD Gallery celebrated by an opening view on Monday 13th February 6pm. *Catalyst directors Rob Hilken and Alissa Kleist will give a talk on the Catalyst Arts archive to its present day function on 13th February 5pm in the Harry Clarke Lecture Theatre, NCAD.

Occupy Space is a non-commercial gallery in the heart of Limerick City, established through the Creative Limerick Scheme in 2009. As part of the programme at NCAD Gallery they have invited Art Links Limerick (ALL) present their on-going research about Irish water to the public in the form of an Interactive Public Studio (IPS). ALL will disseminate their research to date while continuing to use the gallery as an open studio space over a three day period, encouraging interaction and dialogue within the space.
Occupy Space at NCAD Gallery is open to the public for participation from 27th February – 3rd March 2012. * Presentations by Aoife Madden, Creative Limerick Coordinator and by Noelle Collins and Kevin O’Keeffe of Occupy Space on Tuesday 28th February, 12 – 2pm, NCAD Gallery. * Presentations by Creative Limerick Spaces: Faber Studios; Ormston House and Raggle Taggle on Friday 2nd March 12pm – 2pm, NCAD Gallery.

The Good Hatchery is an artist-led initiative and space based in the remote bog lands of North Offaly. In its development, large portions of The Good Hatchery have been constructed from recycled artworks and salvaged materials from the exhibitions that its members have been involved in throughout the years. Its development is on-going. Through a series of collaborations, curated projects and free residencies it challenges methodologies of contemporary art making and often investigates relationships between site and resource.
A new installation, Good Hatchery, will be presented at NCAD Gallery. Opening view Monday 12th March 6-8pm. Exhibition continues until 21st March 2012. * The Good Hatchery directors Carl Giffney and Ruth E.Lyons will host a seminar on Thursday 29th March at 5pm Harry Clarke Lecture Theatre, NCAD.

BASIC SPACE located on Vicar Street, across the road from the NCAD Gallery has been running since August 2010 and during this time has existed as a space for exhibitions and projects. For the duration of a week BASIC SPACE Shop will open at the NCAD Gallery. Mementoes from artworks and performances, limited edition collectables and memorabilia from exhibitions, and the opportunity to be involved in “Sq Foot of BASIC SPACE” scheme, will all be up for grabs. Avoiding romantisization of BASIC SPACE while outlining the physical and ideological elements that structure the space, the visitor can ‘browse’ the shop, but will be immediately involved in accumulating a knowledge of BASIC SPACE that is recognisably estranged from the memorabilia.
* BASIC SPACE Shop opening view Monday 26th March 6-9 pm, it is open to the public from 26th–30th March from 10am-9pm and remains in situ at NCAD Gallery from Thursday 22nd March–Friday 13th April 2012. BASIC SPACE Artist talk Wednesday 28th March at 5pm Harry Clarke Lecture Theatre, NCAD. * Refreshments & Discounts available on the opening view night.

In addition to work by the artist-led initiatives the exhibition programme includes The Artist-led Archive – Sustainable Activism and the Embrace of Flux open to the public to view by appointment at the National Visual Arts Library (NIVAL) housed at NCAD Library. The archive was initiated by the artist and curator Megs Morley in 2006 as part of an on-going investigation into artist-led initiatives in Ireland. The project aimed to decipher the kind of cultural conditions that led to artist-led initiative’s birth, their economic independence (or lack of), their organizational structures and how all of these factors effected their activities and life spans.
For more information on The Artist-led Archive please see www.theartistledarchive.com. *NIVAL is open Monday-Friday 10am– 5pm Contact: +353 (0)1 636 4347 or +353 (0)1 636 1102 and romanod@ncad.ie.
For more information on NIVAL please see www.nival.ie

To coincide with New Ecologies of Practice exhibition What Do You Stand For Now? is a public seminar and discussion that looks at some artistic and curatorial practices from the last few decades in Ireland. In particular, they all proposed methods and models of display and distribution as alternatives to established mainstream and institutional practices. What Do You Stand For Now? is chaired by Francis Halsall and Vaari Claffey, speakers include Valerie Connor; Mark Garry; Garrett Phelan; Sarah Pierce; members of The Enquiry, Gradcam and others.
What Do You Stand For Now? Saturday 31st March, 2012, 12.30-5pm at the National College of Art and Design, (Harry Clarke Lecture Theatre), Dublin.

In currently redesigning its own provision, NCAD is an appropriate context in which to explore aspects of this increasingly visible dynamic in the visual arts, as articulated in the NCAD Gallery space and the accompanying events and discussions.

The National College of Art and Design Gallery, 100 Thomas Street, Dublin 8. NCAD Gallery opening hours 10am–5pm, Monday-Saturday. For more information please see gallery.ncad.ie or contact +353 (0) 1 6364390, gallery@ncad.ie

Artist websites
www.catalystarts.org.uk
www.occupyspace.com
The Good Hatchery
Basic Space
www.carlgiffney.com
www.ruth.ie
The Artist-Led Archive

Proposals will be accepted from individual artists/makers, curators, writers or those wishing to organise a group exhibition. In the case of group or curated exhibitions, the curator/organiser and all proposed artists must have graduated from NCAD within the designated time frame 2009, 2010 or 2011.

All proposals must be accompanied by a CV and relevant visual support material including digital or printed photographs and should indicate clearly the nature of 
the work[s] and a rationale for showing in the context of NCAD Gallery.

Proposals must reach NCAD Gallery by Monday 15 January 2012.

Please post your proposal to Anne Kelly, NCAD Gallery, 100 Thomas Street, Dublin 8.
If you require further information please email gallery[AT]ncad.i

Preview on Thursday 24th November 2011 at 6pm at The National College of Art and Design Gallery. Exhibition continues 25th November 2011 – 21st January 2012.

NCAD Gallery presents the work of Xiaowei Zhuang, Professor of Glass at the Fine Arts College of the University of Shanghai, as part of a touring exhibition from the CIT/Crawford College of Art, Cork. The exhibition is an opportunity for a Dublin audience to see outstanding and inventive sculptural work in glass, by a lead practitioner and to experience a different sensibility at work.

Professor Zhuang was appointed Director of the Glass Museum of Shanghai in 2008. He is also a member of the International Committee for Museums and Collections of Glass of the International Council of Museums. His work is in private and public collections both nationally and internationally.

The exhibition, curated by CIT Crawford College of Art & Design lecturer Debbie Dawson, will continue at NCAD Gallery until 21st January 2012, as part of Year of Craft 2011, supported by the Crafts Council of Ireland

Prof. Xiaowei Zhuang is professor of glass at the University. He runs the Glass studio MA programme and is also opening a new Glass Museum in Shanghai next year. Prof. Xiao Wei Zhuang’s work can be found at:

http://www.glassart-studio.com/intro-en.htm

The Gallery remains open until 11pm for Culture Night 2011, Friday September 23rd.

The Institute of Designers in Ireland present

Best of Graduate Design 2011
Design work by graduates from over twenty two 3rd Level design courses in Ireland

16 September – 5 November 2011, NCAD Gallery

The Institute of Designers in Ireland is pleased to announce the Best of Graduate Design Exhibition 2011 which open at the NCAD Gallery on September 15th and run through November 5th.The exhibition will showcase a selection of the very best design work from graduates from more than 22 third level design courses in Ireland.The exhibition will promote the most innovative thinking and highest quality making skill in seven design disciplines, including craft, product, fashion, textiles, interior and architectural design, visual communication and new media.

Many of the exhibits are short listed for Institute of Designers in Ireland graduate design awards having been selected by design industry experts.The seven category winners, as well as the Grand Prix winner, will be announced at the Institute of Designers in Ireland annual awards night in late October.

The Best of Graduate Design Exhibition has been organised by Derek McGarry, Chair of the judging committee and Immediate Past-President of the Institute of Designers in Ireland.

Maurice MacGonigal

Harry Clarke

Noel Sheridan

Campbell Bruce

Robert Armstrong

Helen McAllister

Rob Smith

T.P. Flanagan

William Scott

William Orpen

Ollie Whelan

Darragh Hogan

Carey Clarke

Domhnall O Murchadha

E.C. Hayes

This exhibition presents a selection of works from the Collection of the National College of Art and Design. The Collection has been assembled over many years and reflects aspects of the history of art in Ireland by artists who have taught or are currently teaching at NCAD.

This particular selection of works focuses on painting with an emphasis on the historical, including a significant stained glass work by Harry Clarke.

Traditional skills predominate across the figurative and abstract languages of painting in works by important historical figures and in works produced in the recent past by artists on the College’s staff. The three dimensional works represent different approaches to object making.

The NCAD Gallery presents a mix of exhibitions and projects which reflect activity in the College by staff and students, but also activity in Dublin/Ireland and the international art context in one person and group exhibitions and themed retrospectives as well as site specific projects.

For further information contact:

NCAD Gallery

100 Thomas Street

Dublin 8

Telephone: 353 (0)1 6364390

Selected works from The NCAD Collection 8^th July – 10^th September, 2011

Maurice MacGonigal

Harry Clarke

Noel Sheridan

Campbell Bruce

Robert Armstrong

Helen McAllister

Rob Smith

T.P. Flanagan

William Scott

William Orpen

Ollie Whelan

Darragh Hogan

Carey Clarke

Domhnall O Murchadha

E.C. Hayes

This exhibition presents a selection of works from the Collection of the National College of Art and Design. The Collection has been assembled over many years and reflects aspects of the history of art in Ireland by artists who have taught or are currently teaching at NCAD.

This particular selection of works focuses on painting with an emphasis on the historical, including a significant stained glass work by Harry Clarke.

Traditional skills predominate across the figurative and abstract languages of painting in works by important historical figures and in works produced in the recent past by artists on the College’s staff. The three dimensional works represent different approaches to object making.

The NCAD Gallery presents a mix of exhibitions and projects which reflect activity in the College by staff and students, but also activity in Dublin/Ireland and the international art context in one person and group exhibitions and themed retrospectives as well as site specific projects.

For further information contact:

NCAD Gallery

100 Thomas Street

Dublin 8

Telephone: 353 (0)1 6364390

Archimedes Last Drawing

Francis Quinn and Fintan Ryan

Dates: 7th – 25th June
Launch: Friday 10th June (alongside NCAD degree show)

‘Archimedes’ Last Drawing’ is a collaborative drawing project and exhibition by recent graduates of NCAD Francis Quinn and Fintan Ryan. The project will take place over two weeks at the NCAD Gallery, 100 Thomas Street, Dublin 8. The project will be centred around a monumental drawing, which will be created throughout the run of the exhibition. Five recent graduates of the National college of Art and Design have been invited to take part in the project. Each artist will spend a day working on the drawing and all seven artist will return to work together on the final day of the project. The gallery will be open to the public during the entire project, giving visitors the oportunity to see the artists at work and witness the development of the drawing over time.

The subject of the drawing will be drawing itself, its history, development and current position within the contemporary worlds of art, craft and design.

Francis Quinn graduated from Fine Art (painting) at NCAD in 2008. Since then he has been developing his practice in drawing and painting, and has exhibited in Dublin and around the country.

Fintan Ryan Graduated from Fine art (media) at NCAD in 2008. He has exhibited in Dublin and Cologne. He works predominently in video, sometimes augmented with performative and /or interactive elements. His work focuses on the processes that go into the making of an artwork.

This is the third in the ongoing series of exhibitions by recent NCAD graduates since the NCAD Gallery opened in 2009, selected from open submission proposals.

Gone to the Dogs
Nigel Graham Cheney

At: NCAD Gallery, National College of Art and Design,100 Thomas st, Dublin 8
Dates: Friday 6th May -  Saturday 28th May 2011
Opening hours: Monday – Saturday, 10am – 5pm. Admission Free.
Opening View: Thursday 5th May, 6-8pm

In the context of the 2011 National Year of Craft, the National College of Art and Design Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of new work by textile designer and lecturer in Textiles at NCAD, Nigel Graham Cheney. ‘Gone to the Dogs’ brings together Cheney’s most recent work, a group of intricately embroidered and quilted textile prints. These richly coloured works feature images of decommissioned banknotes and purebred dogs, reflecting upon associations of value and speculation and playing on notions of the counterfeit. While celebrating the beauty and detail of the imagery of these, decommissioned banknotes, Cheney’s heavily hand-worked surfaces also invest a new value into the objects.

This body of work comprises of 6 large, wall-hung quilts. Approx 1.5 metre sq each. The bold, images which form part of the complex surfaces are digitally printed on Panama Cotton fabric before being hand and machine embroidered. The textile is then sandwiched in a layer of polyester wadding and a woven, woolen tweed lining before being free machine quilted.

This exhibition showcases a body of work that treads a line between craft, fine art and design. The work exploits both hand operated and computer driven machinery, placing it at the centre of current debates around the role of technology in contemporary craft practice. However, The ‘hand-made’ is also an essential element in this work, with the hundreds of hours spent stitching each piece clearly in evidence.

Nigel Graham Cheney completed his MA in textiles at Manchester Metropolitain University in 1991. He has worked as an embroidery designer, forcaster and illustrator as well as in academia in a number of lecturing roles. He had been full time lecturer in embroidery at the National College of Art and Design since 1993.  He is the Republic of Ireland Selector for Lódz Tapestry Triennale, Poland, and has exhibited his work widely.

Friday 8^th April, 11am
Harry Clarke Lecture Hall
National College of Art and Design
All welcome!

Hans Thyge Raunkjaër  will discuss his work with his design studio Hans Thyge & Co in product, visual and concept design. Hans Thyge  Raunkjaër ‘s exhibition ‘CHAIRS: The Sketch and the Chair’ is currently on show at the National College of Art and Design Gallery.

In the context of  2011 – Year of Craft [Craft Council of Ireland], the NCAD Gallery is pleased to present CHAIRS: The Sketch and the Chair, an exhibition by Danish furniture designer Hans Thyge Raunkjaër, opening at the NCAD Gallery on February 25th  and running until April 16th 2011. Raunkjaër ‘s design company Hans Thyge and Co, have put together this touring exhibition showcasing the creative process of furniture design, from initial concept sketch through to the finished product. The exhibition combines largescale sketches and working drawings with the finished product; the chairs themselves, covering all aspects of the process, from concept to making.

The exhibition focuses on the sketch as the starting point and gives a back story of the inspiration and ideas behind each design.  Raunkjaërs  work focuses on the field between design and art, design and space and design and language. He is especially interested in the chair as a significant cultural object, and as a sculpture that relates directly to the human body, therefore one of the ultimate challenges for a designer.

Raunkjaër’s company Hans Thyge & Co working mainly within the field of furniture, householdware and other design articles, for manufacturers worldwide. The studio is divided in 2 main areas: product design and visual communication. The ethos is that a strong dialogue between the product and the way it communicates is the essence of good design. In short, Good design communicates!

Hans Thyge & Co takes part in a wide range of activities as well as commercial product design, including teaching lecturing, exhibiting, publishing in order to be an active part of  creative society. Hans Thyge Raunkjaer will be involved in teaching and learning activities in the College for periods during the exhibition’s run.