SUMMER PREVIEW WITH DEIRDRE O’MAHONY • SUMMER PREVIEW WITH DEIRDRE O’MAHONY • SUMMER PREVIEW WITH DEIRDRE O’MAHONY •
The event consisted of a talk (Deirdre O’Mahony in conversation with Kate Strain), a walk (a guided foraging trail with local forager Geraldine Kavanagh), a picnic (by artist and cook Brenda Kearney following a week-long studio/kitchen residency in Aughrim), and a live rehearsal of The Song of the Farmer and the Dung Beetle (featuring the voice and sounds of Siobhán Kavanagh and Michelle Doyle). These activities were devised in an attempt to share insight into O’Mahony’s working process as an artist, by offering a glimpse into The Quickening, a major new body of work currently in development.
Schedule
11am: Artist Talk at Kunstverein Aughrim
12pm: Foraging Walk up Jim’s Way
1pm: Picnic at the Pavilion
2pm: Live Rehearsal at the Bandstand
Artist biographies
Deirdre O’Mahony is an artist with whom Kunstverein Aughrim is collaborating across 2023.
Michelle Doyle is a visual artist and musician from Wicklow, who creates work exploring culture, space and politics. For the last ten years, Doyle has worked across art, design, writing, and music. This sculptural practice includes pirate radio, performance, digital reproduction and video compositing. Doyle's work is experienced in institutional and extra-institutional spaces and questions the power dynamics found within them. Doyle's recent research centres on music communities that self-build and operate rehearsal practice spaces. Doyle is also a musician and sound artist, making work under the moniker, Rising Damp. In 2022, she developed this project into a live band with drummer Sarah Grimes and synth musician Ivan Pawle. They have played TBG+S, Electric Picnic and Feile na Greine. She plays solo under this title, in shows often improvised in nature. She also plays in bands Dreamgirls, The Healers, Bodycam and Sissy.
Siobhán Kavanagh is a multi-disciplinary vocal artist and singer working with voice, composition, songwriting, and experimental performance. As a collaborative artist working across disciplines- Siobhán has been commissioned by visual artists, filmmakers, composers, musicians, and dancers to feature on their projects as a performer and composer. Siobhán has an eclectic musical background; performing original music with bands such as - Doom Opera, Lotus-Eater, experimental cabaret with Sisters Hyde and the Pesky Magpies and The Underworld Orchestra. As a solo artist – Siobhán creates immersive music performances that combine experimental soundscapes, vocalisations, song and visual storytelling.
Geraldine Kavanagh is a Wicklow-based experienced foraging enthusiast with Wicklow Wild Foods, running seasonal foraging walks and workshops. She also works with the award-winning Glendalough Distillery as Ireland's only full-time botanical forager. In her unique role she sources wild herbs and natural ingredients from all over county Wicklow to make their gin.
Brenda Kearney is a Leitrim-based multidisciplinary artist whose work centres around domestic practices, ideas of community and collaborative care. Drawing on experiences as a cook, fishmongre, student of anthropology and ongoing ceramic work, she creates projects that prompt conversation, collaborative curiosity and exchanges of ideas. Brenda is a founding member of Fairland Collective, a socially-engaged art collective based between Ireland, the UK and France.
Summer Preview with Deirdre O'Mahony was produced by Kunstverein Aughrim. The event featured a live rehearsal of The Song of the Farmer and the Dung Beetle performed by Siobhán Kavanagh and Michelle Doyle, and commissioned by the School of Looking as part of Deirdre O’Mahony’s contribution to the Eco Showboat tour, July 2023.
If you have any questions about this event please email office@kunstverein.ie