Nils wins a national jazz award

Work by Constance Markievicz and Jack B Yeats can be viewed at the new Century exhibition in The Model.

THE Model is currently hosting ‘Century’, one of the largest exhibitions of work from The Niland Collection to take place to date. Century features more than 60 artworks in a salon style installation. It explores over 100 years’ of Irish social and political life as reflected in artistic practice since the birth of the Irish state.

Defined for the purposes of this exhibition as the long 20th century, the show incorporates a short period of time in the late 1900s when nationalist sentiment reached a coherent and organised apogee.

This body of work explores the growing politicisation of the masses, the bitterness of the Civil War and, through works by both Jack B Yeats and Constance Markievicz, we glimpse the way in which women were effected by that war.

Reflecting a century that was book-marked by conflict, the exhibition features a series of work that

deals with the civil rights movement and the Northern Irish War from the late 1960s-1990s.

This includes work by Robert Ballagh, Rita Duffy, Micheál Farrell, Brian Maguire, and Victor Sloan. Such works are juxta-positioned with paintings that depict the West as a metaphor for the true Ireland. In a range of landscapes by Paul Henry, Charles Lamb, Mary Swanzy, Norah McGuinness and others, we are reminded of the serene beauty of the Irish countryside, and also that much of rural Ireland was untouched by war throughout the century.

Jack Butler Yeats dominates two walls with works executed during the period 1895-1947.

These paintings range thematically from those that deal with societal changes, seismic political events, and the theatre of everyday life. Yeats’ love of vernacular music and entertainment is explored in

SLIGO native Nils Kavanagh has won the inaugural Young Irish Jazz Musician award.

The 20-year-old pianist was presented the award during a live competition event at University Concert Hall in Limerick earlier this month, an event organised by Limerick Jazz in association with Improvised Music Company (IMC).

Kavanagh was selected by a panel of judges, including composer Bill Whelan, Ellen Cranitch and Linley Hamilton. The competition included six finalists aged between 17 and 22 – along with the Sligo musician were Cork drummer Michael McCarthy, Dublin guitarist Matthew O’Connell, saxophonist from Clare Jamie Lundy, vocalist and guitarist from Clare, Julie Martin, and Meath drummer Miles Ronayne.

Kavanagh began playing jazz at age 16 through Sligo Jazz Project – a summer school with workshops, masterclasses and jam sessions.

Nils is currently working as a professional musician in Cardiff and studying Jazz Performance at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

As part of his prize, Kavanagh will record with a professional ensemble and perform in the University Concert Hall Rising Stars Concert alongside other young musicians in classical music and opera. He will also receive a bursary to partake in an international jazz summer school.

Speaking about the inaugural award, John Daly, Chair of Limerick Jazz, said: “Limerick Jazz are

works such as Johnny Patterson Singing Bridget Donoghue, Singing the Minstrel Boy and Entertainment on the Barge.

The visionary, romantic yet melancholic, style synonymous with his later period work is represented by paintings such as The Sea and the Lighthouse and Leaving the Far Point.

Domesticity and poverty are depicted in works by Barbara Warren, William Connor and Maurice MacGonigal.

While shifting spiritual beliefs and artistic interests are explored in abstract works by Patrick Scott, Cecil King, Mainie Jellett and George (AE) Russell.

Elsewhere, dreamy sketches of everyday life are captured by John Coyle, Eugene Higgins and John Butler Yeats.

The exhibition continues throughout 2022. Details of guided tours are available from reception.

Nils Kavanagh with his Young Irish Jazz Musician award at University Concert Hall, Limerick.

delighted with the success of the first ever Young Irish Jazz Musician event. Our feedback from the finalists and the adjudicators was very positive.

“The finalists particularly valued the opportunity to rehearse extensively with the house band over the weekend and getting to know their peers from across the country. We are delighted to have IMC as a valued partner for this event.”