Bealtaine celebration of art
THE internationally-renowned Wexford artist Alanna O’Kelly was commissioned to work with communities in Counties Wexford and Waterford as part of the Bealtaine Festival organised by South East Age and Opportunity.
The initiative which was carried out in association with the Arts Offices of Wexford County Council and Waterford City and County Council, is called ‘Liminal States’ and was developed over the last year through an immersive collaborative creative process, building on earlier bodies of work.
Alanna who is known for experimental, cross-disciplinary projects, worked closely with people living in Direct Provision Centre in County Waterford and also with members of the Quay Notes Choir in Kilmore Quay to explore the themes of ‘Hospitality, Hosting and Belonging’.
The process included intensive research, fine art printmaking workshops, audio and sound workshops, discussions, debates and story sessions involving south east based practitioners including the artist Anthony Lyttle, the artist and writer Brian Garvey, choreographer and movement artist Libby Seward, musician and composer Pol Brennan, director of the Qquay Notes Choir Elaine Winch and the artist Pavlina Kubelkova.
As part of the commission by the three organisations, two live public events will take place during this year’s Bealtaine Festival in May.
A performance event will take place on Saturday, May 18, at 8 p.m. to coincide with the full moon in Hook Lighthouse, and a multi-media installation, will be screened on Saturday, May 25 at 7.30 p.m. in St. Patrick’s Gateway Centre in Waterford City.
‘ This project is a central part of Bealtaine’s national remit and intention to work with every local authority in Ireland,’ said Age & Opportunity’s Arts Programme Manager and Bealtaine Festival Director, Tara Byrne
‘ Through it we want to celebrate the work of older artists working in every corner of Ireland and offer them the chance to develop a new work with communities in those localities over a two-year period.’
‘ We are thrilled to be working with Waterford and Wexford Arts Offices and to have commissioned an artist of the stature of Alanna O Kelly’, said Tara.
County Wexford Arts Officer Liz Burns said: ‘ We’re delighted to be partnering with the Bealtaine Festival and our neighbours in Waterford on this exciting commission which supports new work by Wexford artist Alanna O’Kelly’.
One of Ireland’s internationally known multimedia artists, Alanna is a graduate of the National College of Art and Design and the Slade School of Art in London.
Based in Bannow, she works in video,film, sound, photo-montage, text and performance. Her practice incorporates sculpture, performance, slide installation and film.
Her work has featured in major group and solo exhibibitions.
Age & Opportunity is the national organisation that provides a range of opportunities for older people who want to get more involved in arts and culture, sport and physical activity, education and personal development.