Autumn ‘11 FREE – PLEASE TAKE ONE Vol8 Iss 1

SPACE INSIDE LIVE NIGHT supports ‘FEELING GOOD’ WEEK Tues 4 October ’11 @ 8pm

Wicklow Sailing Club – FREE Admission

Phil Lynch Keith Moss Al O’Donnell

Friends of Space Inside

Win €100 per month!

-----

Check out our super-sized

new journal

Signal Arts, Bray, presents artist Brigid O‟Brien. Brigid has exhibited widely in Dublin, Wicklow and London. She has

worked with artists and people with disabilities, designing gardens and painting murals in long–term care facilities. She has

a unique, quirky view of life. Allotments were a feature of the earlier part of the last century. „I recall observing the

patterns left by them on railway banks around Dublin in the1960s. Quaint, they looked old fashioned and definitely part of

our past,‟ says Brigid.

„Allotment‟ runs from Tuesday 22 November to Sunday 4 December „11: Signal Arts Centre, 1 Albert Avenue, Bray.

Editorial

Hi all,

Welcome back to another season of the Space Inside,

our 8th journey into the creativity space and beyond.

The big news is that we have increased the size of our

journal. As we are now a quarterly publication, we

thought it only fair to give you something bigger to get

your teeth into.

In view of our expansion, we welcome a new contributor,

Chaim Factor, to the Space Inside journal. Chaim is

acquainted with journalism; indeed, he published a

successful arts magazine in the late 1990s. A profile of his

furniture design studio, Hill Picket Studio, is on page 5.

We have also introduced a new reader‟s participation

column, A Traveller‟s Tale. We are looking for articles

from our readers on „arty‟ events they have experienced

when abroad. Check out page 10 for our first tale.

We hope you enjoy our four extra pages of articles and

are also pleased to announce that, once again, we have

been awarded grants from Wicklow Arts Office and

Wicklow Town Council. However, if we want to keep

this journal in print, we must continue to conjure up with

fund-raising schemes. During the summer, we ran a

ticketed raffle and a big thank-you to all who donated

prizes, and who bought and sold tickets. A list of prize-

winners will be posted on our blog.

Another of our brilliant schemes – at least I hope you will

agree – is our Friend‟s Monthly Draw. Each month we will

hold a €100 draw for a lucky patron. Patronage is only

€40 p.a. and, with the draw limited to a 50 people, the

chances of winning are far better than a scratch card, or

the lottery. But you need to join before 31st October to

be included. Contact us now and put your name down

before the list closes at spaceinside@hotmail.com

This October, we are delighted to take part in the Feeling

Good Week run by Wicklow Mental Health. They have

organised several activities during the week, but what

could make you feel better than coming down to a Space

Inside Live Night!

I look forward to seeing all our regulars and lots of new

faces too at our Live Night on Tuesday 4th October. A

great line-up kicks off the season.

See you there.

Carol Boland

The Ulster Bank Dublin Theatre Festival is Europe‟s

oldest specialist theatre festival, appearing on the world‟s

calendar since 1957. The Festival has hosted productions by

the world‟s highly regarded artists, while also premiering

work by the giants of Irish theatre. Their programmes have

included shows by some of Ireland‟s most respected artists,

including Seamus Heaney, Roddy Doyle, and Brian Friel.

International artists who have include, Ciarán Hinds, Vanessa

Redgrave, James Cromwell and Neve Campbell.

Within the theatre festival there are many different

programme strands which incorporate everything from

music to dance, from cutting edge theatre to the biggest

shows on Broadway. The mandate is simple: if it‟s the best in

the world, it‟s coming to the Festival.

Aside from hundreds of main-stage productions, the festival

also presents Special Events which include master classes

from the world's top practitioners, artist development

programmes, schools workshops and panel discussions.

This year, the Festival showcases 29 productions from 8

different countries including Russia, UK, Switzerland and

German, with 553 performances in 25

venues. Too many to list here.

The opening show, at the Gaiety, is

Donka, A Letter to Chekhov, directed by

the Cirque du Soleil director, Daniele

Finzi Pasca. A breathtaking physical

theatre with a feat of aerial acrobatics, multi-media illusion

and circus magic.

One of the Special Events during the festival is Rewarding

Rewording with Emma Donoghue. This is a conversation with

both the renowned author and the director, Annabelle

Comyn, on translating the literary life of Maeve Brennan to

stage. A free, but ticketed, event.

The Ulster Bank Dublin Theatre Festival runs from 29

September – 16 October. You can sign up to the Festival

Ezine and book your tickets at

www.dublintheatrefestival.com

Europe’s oldest specialist

theatre festival

29 Sept – 16 Oct 2011

3

Some Things

Are Free!

Every first Saturday of the month at 1pm,

MadArt Gallery leaves a small painting or a

sketch with a note „PLEASE TAKE

ME‟ attached to a pink bike beside the door of

the Gallery. Any passerby may take the art work with no

questions asked. But there is one condition, says artist

and proprietor, Sofia Monika Swatek, „You have to like

and appreciate it.‟

MadArt Gallery and Studio is situated in Lower Gardiner

Street, Dublin. It was established as an arts studio three

years ago by Sofia and her partner Hubert Szypersky.

When, in January 2010, the ground floor of the building

became available, the two artists decided to turn it into

an art gallery space. „We want to make art available to

everyone,‟ says Sofia, who organizes the gallery

exhibitions. „We are looking for creative people with

strong passion, unique style, interesting technique and

good ideas.‟ Sofia stresses artists don‟t have to be art

college graduates but „they definitely have to be

experienced in the specific area of art.‟ A unique aspect

of the gallery is that no commission is charged on

artwork sold during the exhibition. The charge for the

space, including promotion and wine reception, is €450

for one room, or €600 for two rooms, for a one week

exhibition.

The MadArt Gallery and Studio runs courses on painting

and drawing, photography, Photoshop training and video

production. Information on their courses and future

exhibitions can be found at www.madartstudio.com

Win €100 a month!

Too good to be true? Not if you are a Friend of The

Space Inside. Starting in October, Friends of the Space

Inside - that is anyone who donates €40 before the end

of October 2011 - will be entered into a monthly €100

draw.

The draw will be held on the last day of each month for

nine months of the Space Inside season. The odds are

extremely good, as the draw will be limited to a

maximum of 50 Friends. So, do yourself a favour, join up

today and, at the same time, help us keep the Space

Inside alive and kicking.

Send your €40 to the Space Inside Arts, Grove Mill,

Hollyfort, Co, Wexford, or bring it along at our next

Live Night in the Wicklow Sailing Club on Tuesday 4th

October.

If you’re not in you can’t win!

Mealla Tarrant‟s EP „Make My

Day‟ is now out on iTunes. She

played at the Space Inside Live

Night last year.

‘Feeling Good’ Week

A week of „Feeling Good‟ events is planned

for Wicklow Town with comedy, music and dance. Organised

by Wicklow Mental Health, Monday 3rd to Monday 10th

October will be packed with events to raise the spirits –

many of the events are free.

The week kicks off with a Laughter Night in Ernies, followed

on Tuesday by the Space Inside Live Night. Wednesday is

Band Night and Thursday is comedy film night, both events

take place upstairs in Ernies. The weekend is full of family

events, including a Set Dancing evening. The Wicklow Male

Voice Choir continues to raise spirits with their music on

the Sunday night in the Grand Hotel.

Wicklow Mental Health Association (WMHA) is a local

voluntary organisation which promotes positive mental

health and actively supports persons with a mental illness,

their families and carers. On World Mental Health Day on

Monday 10th October, WMHA launch their new Wicklow

Mental Health Association Pamphlets.

For further information visit www.wicklowmentalhealth.org

3 – 10 October 2011

4

REVIEWS

Small Mercies

Barry McCormack

Michael Tinsley reviews the latest

album from Dubliner Barry McCormack

I‟ve always loved songs that refer to places I know. Maybe

that is why I fell for Barry‟s 2003 debut „We Drank Our

Tears‟ which took me on tour of Dublin, from Chancery

Place to the Coombe, over to Stoneybatter and onto

Misery Hill. And while he tones down the place-name-

checking on this album, one of the stand out tracks „Hard

is the Road‟ is set in Hazelhatch, where his train is held up

by a body on the line. The delay gives him time to reflect

on the end of a relationship and the motivation of the

recent suicide.

On most of the album he is joined by a full band. Joss

Moorken‟s deft drumming and John Hegarty‟s subtle but

apt keyboards really help to add light and shade to the

musical palette. And the chorus backing vocals, courtesy

of Gary Fitzpatrick, remind me of the Bad Seeds at times,

which can never be a bad thing.

However the real stars of the album are the stories and

characters that Barry delivers in unique Dublin drawl.

Throughout, he manages to capture the recessionary

zeitgeist without ever resorting to mawkishness or cliché.

„The Dogs on the Street‟ tells of a company on its knees

shedding staff with „Paul in the office up to his arse in P45s‟.

My favourite song, „Hard Times‟, is narrated by a

character welcomed back to the dole office like an old

friend; other than propping up the bar, the only places to

roam are ghost estates filled with rolling tumbleweed.

It‟s not all doom and gloom. „Bad Enough‟ is a jaunty and

nostalgic number; „The Ghosts of Pigtown‟ tells of

acceptance in the pub, when it is missing at home; the

final song „Spring‟ brings with it the hope of that season

„when light has returned and the darkness is gone ‟.

This album is not for everyone, but if you fancy some

contemporary stories with an alternative-folk delivery (or

„D6 Americana‟ as the Irish Times called it) you should be

grateful for „Small Mercies.‟

http://barrymccormack.com/

Grace Williams Says It Loud

Emma Henderson

The doctors said no more could be

done and advised Grace's parents to

put her away in the Briar Mental

Institute. This is her home for 30

years.

On her first day, Grace, aged eleven, meets Daniel, an

epileptic who can speak French and type with his feet. He

sees a different Grace: someone to share secrets and

canoodle with; someone to fight for.

We read Grace‟s inner life story. She is unable to

communicate with those around her other than in a

limited way but this compelling story is told in first person

and nothing is lost on her. Some staff show tenderness

and compassion, others are thoughtlessly cruel. Her tone

is upbeat and exuberant and the book is deeply affecting –

this is a spirit-soaring story of love against the odds.

Hilary

€1 off from Bridge Street Books with Hilary’s review

Bridge Street Books, Bridge Street, Wicklow. ph: + 353(0)404 62240

www.bridgestreetbooks.ie

Wexford is a charming seaside town where one of the

world‟s most remarkable festivals has taken place since

1951. The Wexford Festival prides itself in giving new life

to neglected operas and introducing audiences to

forgotten masterpieces.

Operas this year:

La cour de Celimene - 21, 27, 30 October

Maria – 22, 28, 31 October, 4 November

Gianni di Parigi – 23, 29 October, 2, 5 November

The Festival also offers a packed programme of morning

events, concerts, recitals, short operas and late night

revues. Check it out at www.wexfordopera.com

Hear Jay at Space

Inside on 5 October.

Wexford Festival Opera 21 Oct – 5 Nov 2011

The tradition of fine woodworking is fast disappearing in our

disposable society. Carol Boland visits Hill Picket Studio

where the craft is very much alive.

Hill Picket Studio is an impressive woodworking studio

set on top of a mountain, just outside Avoca Village,

commanding spectacular views of the surrounding

country. An initiative of Chaim and Carol Factor, the

unique venue is dedicated to the pursuit of expertise in

fine woodwork and design.

Designer and master

craftsman, Chaim is a

fourth generation

furniture designer and

maker, continuing a

family tradition in the

excellence of

woodworking. He has

contributed to

projects of note including

Trinity College Dublin and The Four Courts, and carvings

to the organ casework at St. Mary‟s Dublin. His work has

been widely exhibited.

Genuine Passion for his craft

Maintaining established knowledge in traditional methods

and forging new concepts, using wood as a sustainable

material, is at the heart of Hill Picket Studio. The

woodwork courses advocate the importance of fine

woodwork in furniture design and making, wood

sculpture and instrument making. Chaim shares his

genuine passion for his craft in the relaxed atmosphere of

his workshop where Mandolin Making, Violin Making,

Veneering, Working Curves, French Polish, Wood

Turning and Box Making are all on offer. All skill levels

are welcome, and clients work at their own pace, some

taking on ambitious projects with little or no experience,

often surprising

themselves with

their

achievements.

Furniture Making

courses act as

core modules,

helping participants

to progress to

other courses, such as instrument making. There is an

emphasis on the use of hand tools to create precise joint

work, very often with dramatic effect.

Musical Instruments

Music is an international language which transcends

borders. The making of any instrument will certainly

challenge the skills of a novice woodworker, but

producing a quality violin or mandolin is very possible

under Chaim‟s instruction. Individual projects may take

several weeks, and most clients say that they find the

whole experience fulfilling - in many different ways.

‘A thing of beauty is a joy forever’

The sentiment in John Keats‟ poem is no less valid as

regards crafted design pieces in quality woods. In our

throw-away society, often the crafted wood bookshelves

hold less of an appeal

than their cheaper

counterparts.

„Craft woodworking feeds

into heirdom, whereas a

disposable attitude to

furniture feeds into

consumerism,‟ suggests Chaim.

Indeed, quality items that we inherit from family are often

the things we cherish most. As more people acquire

woodworking skills, they play their part in keeping the

traditional skills alive.

A course in Furniture Making is €90 for one day, or €160

for two days. A one day course in Guitar/Mandolin/Violin

is €110. A generous lunch is included. On Monday

evenings, a beginners and intermediate woodwork and

furniture making course runs from 7pm til 9pm at €15

per night. Check them out on Facebook and their

website at www.hillpicketstudio.com.

T: 0402 30581

FEATURE

Chaim Factor in his workshop

Keepsake Box in black

walnut and maple

Heads down for fine wood work

Events that caught the Space Inside’s eye What’s On Where

Where Music

Dublin Gospel

Singers &

Inspirational Choir

of Harlem

18 Dec

8.00pm

This pre-Christmas performance is brought to St.

Kevin‟s Parish Church, Kilavaney, by The Courthouse

Arts Centre, Tinahely.

Ticket only event and advance booking essential.

Tickets: €20/€18 Concessions from The Courthouse

Arts Centre, Tinahely

T: 0402 38529 or E: info@tinahely-courthouse.ie.

www.tinahely-courthouse.ie

Music in Calary

"Anda Jaleo"

Songs of the People

6 Oct

8.00pm

Deirdre Moynihan, soprano

Alec O‟Leary, guitar

Featuring an intriguing collection of Spanish Songs arr.

by F.G. Lorca, plus Villa-Lobos, Piazzola, Dowland &

Rosseter

Calary Church, Wicklow

€15/10

T: 01 281 8146

www.newcastleparish.org/

Music

Julian Lloyd Weber

13 Nov

8.00pm

He is a passionate supporter of Leyton Orient football

club, was London Underground‟s first official busker, and

plays a seventeenth century Stradivarius cello. In his 60th

birthday year, the Mermaid are pleased to welcome

legendary cellist Julian Lloyd Webber.

Join Julian, his cello and pianist Pam Chowhan as they

journey through his musical repertoire.

Tickets: €27 / €30

Mermaid Box Office

T: 01 272 4030

www.mermaidartscentre.ie

Visual Arts

Dublin Contemporary 2011

Terrible Beauty - Art, Crisis,

Change & The Office of Non-

Compliance

6 Sept – 31 Oct

Dublin Contemporary 2011 is a city-wide cultural event

with over 90 artists from 5 continents taking part.

The main exhibition hub at Earlsfort Terrace will provide

a range of unusual spaces for mini solo exhibitions that

range from large-scale installations to smaller intimate hangings.

Exhibitions will also be sited in some of the city‟s best

known landmarks including IMMA and Dublin City Gallery

and also libraries and music venues and spaces not

normally associated with the visual arts.€10 students,

OAPs, and unwaged. One day adult tickets €15. €6

children (under 5s go free)

www.dublincontemporary.com

7

Al O'Donnell

Al O'Donnell developed his

interest in folk music while

attending Art College in

Nottingham, listening to

Ewan McColl and Peggy and

Pete Seeger. The Irish folk

scene was just developing at that time (1960's), and over

the last 40 years he has become "one of the great voices in

our singing tradition". He also was one of the members of

Sweeney's Men. If you missed him at Americana and Roots

festival, now‟s your chance to see him at the Space Inside.

Phil Lynch

Phil Lynch has been writing poetry “off

and on” for many years. His poems have

appeared in a number of publications and

magazines, some were also featured on

RTE radio.

Phil is a member of the Dalkey Writers‟

Workshop. He has performed on the

Word Stage in the Mindfield at this year‟s Electric Picnic

Festival. Earlier this year, he recorded a piece for Dublin

Poetry Week on Balcony TV and was featured in the

„Scrapbook‟ series on Liffey Sound FM.

Keith Moss

IMRO Unplugged Winner Keith

Moss will appear for the first time

at The Space Inside showcasing

songs from his critically-acclaimed

sixth studio album What Eludes You

Moves You. He has been described

by The Irish Times as „a curious

mixture of Bernard Butler and Loudon Wainwright III..An

instinctive performer...Someone to keep a judicious eye out

for.‟ His music is so unique that „influences prove difficult to

pin - a touch of acoustic REM, Smashing Pumpkins, Billy

McKenzie…Fantastically odd‟ Blank.

http://keithmoss.bandcamp.com

Erin Fornoff

Erin Fornoff hails from the

Appalachian mountains of

North Carolina and

currently lives in a cabin in

the wilds of Wicklow. After

writing a single poem in

college she decided she liked performing more than printing

and moved into spoken word.

Called a "story-telling poet," she has performed her poetry

on Electric Picnic's Word and Arts Council Stages, at

Kilmainham Arts Festival, Caca Milis Cabaret in Wexford,

Flatlakes Festival in Monaghan, as well as Brownbread

Mixtape, The Glór Sessions at the International, Speakeasy

Cabaret, and various locations in the US.

Josh Johnson

We welcome back Josh

Johnson to the Space

Inside. Josh studied Popular

Music in the University of

Salford, graduating as a

pianist, band leader and

composer. He is well-

known as a versatile musician. Josh performed on stage and

recorded with Kila, Declan O‟Rourke, Stewart Agnew, Irish

tenor Karl Scully and others. He is the resident organist at

the Unitarian Church in Dublin. His latest CD, Asylum

Harbour, is available now. He will be joined by SJ McArdle

and Keith Mullins on the night.

Would you like to perform at a Live Night? Then email

spaceinside@hotmail.com or phone 0851138367.

Donated raffle prizes keep Live Nights free and are

gratefully received. www.thespaceinside.blogspot.com

Live Night Join us around a log fire at Wicklow Sailing Club for a local

FREE night out with excellent poetry and music

1st Tuesday of the month - Doors Open 8pm

‘Feeling Good’ Tuesday 4 October ‘11 Tuesday 1 November ‘11

8

FEATURE

The basic meaning of the term ‘art’ has changed several times

over the centuries and continues to change. Chaim Factor and

Carol Boland tackle this contentious subject and consider

what exactly we understand by Art.

Art usually implies no function other than to convey or

communicate an idea. It is not unreasonable, therefore, to

suggest that art is a form of expression which stimulates a

response, whether emotional or intellectual. When you say

that you do, or do not like a painting, a song or a poem, the

artist has been successful: you have responded. Can that be

correct? Can it be as simple as that?

In the recent sense of the word, „art‟ is often seen as an

abbreviation for creative art or fine art. Here, the concept

means that skill is being used to express the artist‟s

creativity, or to engage the audience‟s aesthetic

sensibilities. If the skill is being used in a functional object,

people often consider it a craft instead of art, a suggestion

which is highly disputed by many contemporary craft

thinkers. Likewise, if the skill is being used in a commercial

or industrial way, it may be considered design instead of

art.

Cars, tractors and computers

The work of an artist is confirmed at the moment of its

expression, and the response, positive or negative, equally

validates that work. Therefore, the process of validation

requires not only the production of an artistic work but also

the acceptance and understanding of what it represents.

Art and design exists in every manmade concept and

production – for example, buildings, cars, tractors, magazines

and computers. However, there is a tendency to overlook the

artistic workmanship and instead focus on the functional and

commercial benefits of the object. In a world where consumer

marketing is so prominent, it is sometimes easy to disregard

the creative design and fail to recognise its artistic element: an

element which may be its major selling point.

Art is everywhere. Indeed, it is an important part of

product promotion. A roadside billboard may not be

immediately recognised as a piece of art, but

copywriters work hard to dream up new slogans and

images. This is where you

may say „this is not Art.‟ But if

the slogan, image or product

promotes an emotional

response, even by way of a

purchase, it has become a

valid artistic statement.

King Arthur‟s knights of

Camelot displayed emblems on their shields, pendants,

and heraldic crests. Sitting in suits of armour, they

debated across a round table seated on chairs. All of

the mentioned items began as artistic concepts, and

were designed and executed by artists of different

disciplines. You may not understand or appreciate a

particular painting, sculpture, poem or movement of

music, but an iPhone, which has gone through the

same creative process, you may consider as cool!

Eileen Gray

Eileen Gray is regarded as one of the most important

furniture designers and architects of the early 20th

century. Born in Enniscorthy, her contribution was

largely unsung before her death in 1976, but now art

connoisseurs are

paying huge sums

for her work. Her

work inspired both

modernism and Art

Deco.

The Decorative Art

and Design sale at

Christie‟s this year,

realized a record

€59.1 million.

Among items sold was

Gray‟s Dragons armchair

which fetched €21.9 million, shattering the auction

record for a 20th century decorative artwork.

‘Art is not for me’

None of this is helpful if you continue to feel „Art is

not for me‟ and „I couldn‟t draw a straight line . . .‟

There is an emotional space inside us which allows us

to enjoy art. There is no point in denying that such a

response mechanism does not exist.

If you tap your foot to a tune, cry at a sad movie or

enjoy designer cars, shoes and lipstick, you are an art

lover. Last step is to recognise your small space inside.

But is it Art?

Alexander-McQueen Shoe

Dragons armchair

by Eileen Gray

Sentiment

V

Sentimentality

Sentimentality is the only sentiment that rubs

you the wrong way

W Somerset Maugham

Great writing can move us to tears. Sometimes it's the

skillfulness of the language that evokes this response and,

sometimes, it's a combination of language and subject.

However, many pieces of writing fail to move us, despite the

emotional subject matter. The culprit in these cases is,

undoubtedly, the sentimentality of the language.

Sentiment, to put it simply, is a feeling. Love, hate, sadness,

anger and joy are all powerful sentiments. Sentimentality, on

the other hand, implies excessive, sometimes mawkish

sentiment.

Laurence Perrine, in Sound and Sense, refers to sentimentality

as: „indulgence in emotion for its own sake, or expression of

more emotion than an occasion warrants.‟ As regards

sentimental literature, he says „tear-jerking literature aims

primarily at stimulating the emotions directly rather than at

communicating experience truly and freshly; it depends on trite

and well-tried formulas for exciting emotion; it revels in old

oaken buckets, rocking chairs, mother love, and the pitter-

patter of little feet; it oversimplifies; it is unfaithful to the full

complexity of human experience.‟

But how does a writer achieve a desired feeling or emotion in

the reader without resorting to sentimentality? The answer is

almost always to keep your writing honest and sincere. Try to

avoid highly charged imagery that elicits feelings and instead try

to create a feeling that arises out of good descriptions and well

defined characters.

Another way to avoid sentimentality in your writing is to read

widely, both literature and pulp. Consider your own reactions

to the text as you read it, and work out why it succeeds or fails

in provoking your emotions.

Five possible ways to avoid sentimentality, yet elicit sentiment,

are listed on writerbug.blogspot.com

1. Use specific images and situations, not general/abstract ones.

2. Do not rely on adjectives

3. Do not rely on clichés or hackneyed subject matter

4. Do not tell the reader what to feel, let them experience

feelings along with the character

5. Use events and images that surprise your reader

Writing Exercise

To test your ability to write without sentimentality, try writing

a love poem. A love poem is unique to the people involved.

You want your piece to touch the person without being overly

sentimental.

Here is a love poem by Shakespeare to get you started:

My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;

Coral is far more red than her lips' red;

If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;

If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.

I have seen roses damasked, red and white,

But no such roses see I in her cheeks,

And in some perfumes is there more delight

Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.

I love to hear her speak, yet well I know,

That music hath a far more pleasing sound.

I grant I never saw a goddess go;

My mistress when she walks treads on the ground.

And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare

As any she belied with false compare.

This love poem succeeds in portraying the sentiment of love by

rejecting the usual clichés. At the same time, it also surprises

the reader in the final couplet. Your turn now.

Good luck!

How To . . .

Avoid Pitfalls of Sentimentality

In Profile

Thomas Flynn by Anne Graham Thomas Flynn is a

bogwood sculptor

based in Wicklow

Town. After an

injury left him out

of work nearly

three years ago, he

discovered he had a talent for sculpting.

Out of ancient bogwood, Thomas creates unusual,

haunting images and symbols. He sources the material, up

to10, 000 years old, deep from a bog located at a Bord na

Mona Power Station in Co. Offaly. The bogwood spoke

to his creative tendencies. „The shape or image is already

there, I just carve it out to make it clearer,‟ says Thomas.

While he sometimes uses Bog Yew and Bog Pine in his

work, his preference is for Black Bog Oak,

much sought after in Victorian Times as a

kind of „black gold‟ to make high quality

furniture. After he carves the wood, he

works in metals, such as bronze, to give it

a solid structure. He finishes the piece off

by using the French polish technique gleaned from

sculptors of bogwood in the West of Ireland. Other

techniques he learned there include Faux Effect and

Verdigris Patina, used to oxidise the bronze to give a „rust

effect‟.

While Thomas is greatly inspired by the naturalism of

Gaudi, he sees his work mainly from a patriotic

viewpoint. After spending many years working abroad,

he wanted to reconnect with his homeland and its rich,

vibrant history. This is seen clearly in his Celtic themes.

But it is his subtle use of intertwining roots that give his

pieces depth; it reminds one that sculptures are not

merely works of art suggesting the past, they are the past.

This eons-old wood is found after digging down through

many layers, just like our search to understand where we

come from. Arguably, Thomas‟ sculptures embody the

mystery surrounding this origins quest.

In these few years, there‟s been great interest in Thomas‟

work. This year, he reached the final of the National Arts

Competition. His work has also been used in a

professional fashion shoot, and he has exhibited at the

Wicklow Arts Festival and in Wicklow Tourist Office. In

addition, he undertakes private commissions.

His success can only continue.

Contact Thomas on T: 086 3978686

A Traveller’s Tale

A new concept in journalism

The Space Inside invites anyone who has been abroad

lately to tell us about their „arty‟ experience. The

article may be on a particularly worthy exhibition or

museum, or anything arts-related that they wish to

share. Email us at spaceinside@hotmail.com for

further details or assistance with your article.

Maximum 300 words.

To kick us off, our first Traveller’s Tale is an

installation by Cornelia Parker, visited by Carol Boland

on a recent trip to York, UK.

York St Marys is a medieval church in the centre of York.

It was de-consecrated in 1958 and, in 2004, was opened

as a contemporary art venue.

I came upon this exhibition quite by accident, on my

way to one of plethora of historical sites in York.

Thirty Pieces of Silver is a thousand silver objects,

including plates, spoons, candlesticks, trophies,

cigarette cases, teapots and trombones, which

Cornelia Parker collected and then flattened with a

steamroller – no, don‟t laugh. These objects are

suspended, almost ethereally, from the ceiling, on a

total of 32km silvery wires. A feeling of lightness

permeates the small medieval church as the objects

appear to hover above the gravestones imbedded in

the stone floor.

There is an obvious link between the church and the

title of the artist‟s work, with references to Judas‟

payment for betraying Jesus. Also, the cutlery and

dinner plates could be seen as an allusion to the Last

Supper. The artist is fascinated with silver objects,

which are often ceremonial. Through artistic

intervention, their life as particular objects is ended

and they are reborn as something else.

A moving and contemplative exhibition in a reborn

venue. Worth a trip to York itself.

Thirty

Pieces

of Silver by Cornelia

Parker

Til 30 Oct 11

Twitters

11

Photography Magazine

- let the light in

prism Photography Magazine, is

Ireland‟s new international magazine

dedicated to contemporary and fine

art photography. The latest edition

includes works by Jens Olof

Lasthein (winner of Leica Oskar

Barnack Award 2010) and gifted photography graduates

Sarah Orr and Anna Wickham.

prism collaborates with professional photographers, art

galleries and curators in order to deliver an exciting source

of never-ending inspiration. The magazine comes out every

second month in PDF format and is distributed online for

free.

If you want to contribute to the magazine, check out their

website at www.PrismPhotoMagazine.com

Creative Writing Competitions

13th Francis Ledwidge International Poetry

Award

Deadline: 5th Nov 11

Ireland's Big Issue Magazine's Short Story

Competition

Deadline: 1st Nov 11

National Poetry Competition

Deadline: 31st Oct 11

Ireland's Big Issue Magazine's Short Story

Competition

Deadline: 1st Nov 11

The Irish Writers’ Centre Novel Fair Comp

Deadline: 11th Nov 11

2011/12 Poetry Business Book & Pamphlet

Competition

Deadline: 29th Nov 11

Leaf Books Presents: Memoir Competition

Deadline: 30th Nov 11

The Ballymaloe International Poetry Prize

Deadline: 31st Dec 11

Source: www.poetryireland.ie

Lonely Voice: Short Story Introductions

This regular event takes place on the last Wednesday of every

month. Up to four short story writers will be selected and

invited to read their work as the centre is particularly interested

in providing a platform for emerging writers, who previously

may not have had the opportunity to read their work in public.

Send the short story you would like to read (max 2,500 words

and limited to one entry per person per month) and a short bio

to: thelonelyvoice@gmail.com. Please attach bios and stories

separately and make sure they are in .doc format. Your name

should not appear on the story. The reading event is free. For

the deadline for submissions for next month's competition is 27

Nov. Check out www.irishwriterscentre.ie

National Writing Resources Website

Writing.ie is a new national writing resources website that

aims to bring all the information about writing in Ireland into

one place. Arts Council backed, it provides free-to-add event

listings, space for course providers to advertise and for

writing related service providers to advertise from as little as

€5 per month.

Packed full of author interviews and writing tips, it will be

constantly updated with new content. It's already attracting

huge traffic, so add your event and let writers know what's

happening.

Contact Tel: 01 2765921/087 28353

Email: vanessa@writing.ie W: http://writing.ie

Creative Writing Workshop

On the first Saturday of each month, Vera Walsh will

run creative writing sessions at SOL Studio,

Quarantine Lane, Wicklow Town.

The workshops will guide writers in exploring their

creative abilities in a friendly atmosphere.

Sat 1 October, Sat 5 November, Sat 3 December

10.30am – 12.30pm

€10 per session

Contact: Vera Walsh

M: 086 3961555

E: veracwalsh@eircom.net

The following two poems were selected for inclusion in

Anniversary, which is available from any Wicklow Writer or

by emailing: wicklowwriters@gmail.com.

Businesses: Yoga Sacred Space, National Fire Museum of Power

(Wales) www.internalfire.com, Healthy Habits Café Wicklow,

Maltfield Riding School Ballykeane Redcross.

Groups: Wicklow Writers, Shed Poets.

Individuals: Iris Brown, Helen Duffy, Jane Clarke, Avril Young,

Charlie Burke, Mary Boland, The Graham Family, Socorro

Murphy, Anne Cavanagh, J and E Whittaker, Gerry and Betty

Sheridan, Edward Ryan, Martin Swords, James Boland, George &

Meta Whittaker, Jean McGovern, Janet Smith, Martin Essen, Liam

Walsh.

Space Inside Arts Journal is published quarterly by volunteers:

Editorial: Carol Boland, Anne Graham, Chaim Factor and Michael

Tinsely. Live Nights are run by Carol Boland, Anne Graham,

Pascal Moran, Cait Breathnach, John Graham, with help from

Kerry Gill. Distribution of magazine: Evert Beerda, Tess Doyle and

others.

Space Inside M: 085113836 E: spaceinside@hotmail.com

Become a Friend 2011/12 to enter our €100

monthly draw. Send €40 to Space Inside, Grove

Mill, Hollyfort, Co. Wexford, before 31 October

2011. Alternatively, donate €3 (or more) online at

thespaceinside.blogspot.com

The Space Inside is grateful to Wicklow Town

Council, Wicklow County Arts Office, and Friends for

making the journal and Live Nights a reality. This

project was initially assisted by Wicklow Rural

Partnership Ltd under the European Union LEADER

+/National Development Plan 2000-2006.

W: thespaceinside.blogspot.com

Friends of The Space Inside 2010/11

POET’S CORNER

Published by Boland Press Printed by Conway Media

Anniversary Wicklow Writers

Price: €10

(Boland Press)

The Wicklow Writers 10th

anniversary anthology of writing is

now available. In collaboration

with Kilmantin Arts artist, Pat

Dover, the book also includes

photographs of Wicklow Town.

Life Cait Breathnach

The tree grows crooked

roots partly exposed

from the heavy rain.

I refrain from saying

it is ugly

for the tree has life

in its twisted state.

Apples grow in abundance

tasty, juicy, tempting

to willing poachers.

I watch the branches

stretch and bloom

fed by sun and rain

and learn to know ugly is beauty too.

All-Ireland Poetry Day

All-Ireland Poetry Day this year is on Friday, 7

October. A poetry reading can be found in almost

every county across the island. For information

about events check out www.poetryireland.ie

Far From Athy Martin Swords

i.m. Pat Swords 1915 - 1978

Pat told stories of old times, living in digs

in Athy, working on the roofin‟ for aul‟ Hammond.

Me with my book-learning piped up,

„I heard of Athy:

And look! a barge comes bringing from Athy

And other far-flung towns, mythologies,’

lines from the canal-bank poet. *

„Bet he never saw it in the lashing

rain‟, Pat observed dryly.

No. Nor I had never seen it his way,

from a cold slate roof breaking galvanised

tacking nails with the long ripper

and only the price of two pints in his pocket

till Friday.

He was glad for me that I hadn‟t.

* Patrick Kavanagh

As part of Culture Night on Friday 23 September

at 8.30, Wicklow Writers will read from

Anniversary in Kilmantin Arts Gallery, Wicklow

Town.