John P Quinlan launches exhibition series as guest curator at Triskel Christchurch

26th September 2014

CALLING UP THE VANGARD is an exciting curatorial programming project running in Triskel Christchurch, Cork from September 2014 to May 2015. Curator John P. Quinlan heads up the exhibition series, collectively titled Calling up the Vangard.

The series title recalls The Vangard Gallery established and run in Cork by Quinlan, which for many years showed solo and group exhibitions from many of Ireland’s most established and well-known artists until its relocation to Macroom in 2009.

Quinlan has been invited by Triskel Christchurch as a curator to run a series of nine exhibitions in the spectacularly renovated Christchurch building. The first exhibition, which launches the programme, is titled ‘SELECT’ and comprises six selected RHA artists who in turn each selected one artist each, whose work / practice they admire, to show with them.

The six RHA artists include Wicklow born Aosdana member Michael Cullen. Cullen studied at the Central School of Art and Design, London and the National College of Art and Design, Dublin. He was awarded the Independent Artists’ Major Painting Award in 1984, the National Portrait Award in 1989 and has been the recipient of several Arts Council bursaries.

Originally from Derry, Eilis O’Connell studied at the Crawford School of Art, Cork. (1970 - 77) where she received the only award for Distinction in Sculpture that year. She is a founder director of the national sculpture factory in Cork. In 2002 her large bronze, Unfold, was lent by the Cass Foundation to the Venice Biennale. Her smaller works have been shown at the Guggenheim Museum. Since moving back to Ireland she continues to work abroad alongside her home based commissions, the most notable of which being Reedpod a 13.5 meter sculpture in hand beaten copper and stainless steel located at Lapps Quay.

Vivienne Roche a member of Aosdána and a former member of the Arts Council (1993-1998). She is also a founder member and first chairperson of the National Sculpture Factory in Cork. She received an Honorary Doctorate from University College Cork (2006). She exhibits throughout Ireland as well as abroad notably in Sweden, Finland and France. She is has created many large-scale public commissions throughout Ireland.

Among the artists personally chosen by the six RHA members are Bren Smyth a recent graduate of Crawford College of Art, his work explores line and space in innovative ways. Cork native, Bernadette Cotter has been described as an artist comfortable in her own skin. Her work deals with Meditation, religion and catharsis. Peter Burns ephemeral paintings are are romantic and playful re-workings of myths, literary and musical themes.

The eclectic collection of such a diverse group of talented artists makes for an intriguing exhibition, not least because of the various career stages of the participating artists, from the recently graduated to the firmly established.
The exhibition / programme will be launched by Simon Coveney, T.D., Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Minister for Defense on Friday 12th September, 2014. ‘SELECT’ runs until October 4th and is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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