FALLING BACK INTO ROUTINE
There’s something about autumn… the awakening of the mind and spirit after a long, hazy summer. Ignite your creative side by absorbing as many arts happenings as you can.
The culture picks on our radar
Autumn heralds the start of an inspiring season of arts happenings. Meg Walker highlights just some of the phenomenal films, exhibitions, festivals and releases. Get ready to get out again.
There’s something about autumn… the awakening of the mind and spirit after a long, hazy summer. Ignite your creative side by absorbing as many arts happenings as you can possibly fit into your diary (without overdoing it, of course – we’ve all learned a thing or two over the last year-and-a-half about how over-hectic our schedules used to be)... 1 The 20th annual Imagine Arts Festival hits Waterford October 15-24 with an exciting programme of Irish acts, both online and in person, including comedian Colm O’Regan, singersongwriter Aoife Nessa Frances (pictured), rapper Nealo, singer-songwriter Junior Brother, and multi-instrumentalist Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin. It coincides with the Waterford Writers Weekend, October 21-24, so get ready to be inspired, imagineartsfestival.com. 2 The National Gallery of Ireland and Gaisce – The President’s Award presents Queer Mind, Body and Soul, an exhibition exploring the experiences and perspectives of a group of young LGBTQIA+, gender non-conforming people and allies in the Gallery’s Millennium Wing Studio. Among the works is “Acceptance” by Béibhinn Collins (pictured). It runs until October 17, nationalgallery.ie. 3 Residency project Shul (a Tibetan word for “track”, meaning “a mark that remains after that which made it has passed by”), September 3 to October 16 at South Tipperary Arts Centre, sees artists Martina O’Brien and Christine Mackey respond specifically to Co Tipperary: to sites/areas where humans have left our mark on, or in, the landscape, southtippartscentre.ie. 4 Following the release of EPs “Freckle Season” and “Why Am I Like This?”, Irish singer-songwriter Orla Gartland’s anticipated debut album, Woman on the Internet, lands on August 20 featuring singles “More Like You”, “Zombie!” and “Pretending”. Expect to love every second. 5 Light Moves Festival returns September 23-26 in venues across Limerick presenting a cutting-edge fusion of dance, film, and new media across indoor and outdoor venues, as well as online. The programme includes screenings, live performances across city spaces, and talks and interviews with Irish and international voices (pictured: Sonder by Simona Deaconescu), lightmoves.ie. 6 The Irish Georgian Society celebrates the Country House Garden with two exhibitions this autumn, Stepping Through the Gate: Inside Ireland’s Walled Gardens and In Harmony with Nature: The Irish Country House Garden, September 23 to November 26 at City Assembly House, Dublin, curated by Robert O’Byrne. On view will be paintings by four leading artists: Lesley Fennell, Andrea Jameson, Maria Levinge and Alison Rosse (pictured: Bellfield, Shinrone, Co Offaly by Alison Rosse), igs.ie.
7 Herself, co-written by and starring Irish actor Clare Dunne as a single mother who with the support of a community of friends decides to build a home for her and her two young daughters from scratch, nally gets its cinematic release on September 10. De nitely one for the must-watch list. 8 Dublin Fringe Festival returns September 11-26 with a spectacular line-up of new works and live performances, all made on the theme Super ux, a surging ow of possibility brought about by the energy of change. Among the 160+ performances will be future-afro soul vocalist and multiinstrumentalist Fehdah (pictured) performing live at Project Arts Centre, outdoor musical comedy Tonic by Fionn Foley and Rough Magic, comedy by Joanne McNally, dance artist Isabella Oberländer’s rst solo work Glisten, theatre- lm hybrid Heave by Belfast artists Orla Graham and Seón Simpson, and dance theatre production e Veiled Ones by Junk Ensemble, fringefest.com. 9 We’re super-excited for the return of Culture Night on September 17, with an exceptional mix of nationwide arts events both online and o , culturenight.ie. 10 Singer-songwriter and multiinstrumentalist Sharon Corr releases her third studio album, The Fool and the Scorpion on September 24, featuring ten new compositions including the already released title single.