Category: Graphic Studio

There is a Light That Never Goes Out
Dimensions: 46cm x 38cm
Plate size 37.7cm x 29.8cm
Etching, aquatint and chine collé on BFK Rives
Edition of 30

Urbis Felicitas: Graphic Studio Gallery 8th September – 1st October 2016
Urbis Felicitas (city of happiness) is an exhibition of fine art prints by more than 40 artists who take inspiration from Mountjoy Square and its immediate environs.
One of only five Georgian Squares in Dublin city, the square was planned in the late 18th Century by Luke Gardiner and completed in 1818. It is an obvious source of inspiration for members of Graphic Studio Dublin, many of whom pass through the square on their daily walk to work in the largest fine art print studio in Ireland, on the North Circular Road. Participating artists met local residents, visited homes, and took engaging tours of the square, which has housed many prominent characters over the years including James Joyce, WB Yeats and Séan O’Casey.
In the resulting exhibition, artists cast their critical eye on this inner city urban area, causing us to reassess our perception and appreciation of this overlooked treasure. Interior and exterior architectural features and furnishings, which express the 18th century Georgian splendour of this place, are among the depicted subjects, each perceived through a different lens.

Ribs and Boughs 
Dimensions: 32cm x 28cm
Plate size: 13cm x 12cm
Etching and aquatint on BFK Rives

Working in a beautiful old studio surrounded by a variety of old and disused windows, obsolete vitrines and historic picture glass, I am particularly drawn to how the inherent distortions formed in glass during manufacture and the subsequent creep of ageing can influence how and what we see. Such idiosyncratic textures together with additional visual patterns of rain, dust and oil provide a unique impression; a distorted reality.
The wonderful Palm House at the Botanic Gardens was an obvious draw for me. I love the way it mirrors the tall palms stretching in so many intricate patterns. The historic glass still has its patina; the accumulated dust, moss and algae perhaps though marking the glass also symbolise where the process of natural selection stems from…

 

A Natural Selection:
National Botanic Gardens, Dublin: 15 Nov. – 5 Dec. 2013
The Lavit Gallery, Cork: 18 March – 8 April 2014
Galleri Astley, Uttersberg, Sweden: 27April – 18 May 2014
Royal Dublin Society, Ballsbridge: 11 June- 4 July 2014
The Hamilton Gallery, Sligo: 13 June- 30 August 2014

An Exhibition of Fine Art Prints inspired by The National Botanic Gardens Dublin. The National Botanic Gardens were founded in 1795 in a golden age of exploration and scientific discovery. During those extraordinary times, expeditions set out from Europe to every corner of the globe, exploring, opening trade routes and seeking knowledge about the natural world.

This was a romantic era of botanist plant-hunters who journeyed, often in difficult conditions, in search of botanical specimens to carry home for study and cultivation. The naturalist Charles Darwin was one such explorer whose famous voyage around the world on the HMS Beagle and whose subsequent studies led to the publication of his seminal work On the Origin of Species, a work which radically changed our perception of the natural world. The term ‘Natural Selection’ was coined by Darwin to describe how natural forms evolve differently in different locations, to suit their specific environments.

There has always been an important link between botany and the visual arts. The desire to capture botanic images is rooted in antiquity. We find it in the Minoan palaces at Knossos, in the frescoes of Pompeii and in Egyptian tomb painting. In the 16th century, Albrecht Durer’s work displayed a new naturalism in the depiction of plants. In France, in the early 1800s, the Belgian artist Pierre-Joseph Redouté was appointed official artist by the Empress Josephine. The sumptuous images from his almost fifty publications based on the Empress’s gardens at the Chateau de Malmaison remain in reproduction to this day. For over three hundred years printmaking has been an integral part of botanical research and discovery, and vice versa.

This exhibition, organized by a group of artists who are members of Graphic Studio Dublin, unveils 100 fine art prints by 100 artists from Ireland and overseas. This ambitious project has brought together artists from Ireland, North and South, alongside artists from Finland, Germany, Israel, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Sweden and United Kingdom. In approaching their work, the participating artists were asked to consider all aspects of the National Botanic Gardens: the 170,000 different species of cultivated forms within the collection, the natural beauty of the gardens at Glasnevin in Dublin and the arboretum at Kilmacurragh Co. Wicklow, their renowned architectural features like the spectacular Curvilinear Range of Glasshouses and the Palm House, and their continuing scientific and botanical research work.

The result is an exceptional exhibition of fine art prints ranging from the figurative – beautiful botanical records, to the conceptual – exploring the shared space between the artist and the natural world. In their different and individual ways the artists have been inspired by and have paid tribute to the richness and diversity of the natural world and to the work of a great institution, an institution which is filled with treasure, and which is itself one of Ireland’s national treasures, the National Botanic Gardens.

Plant collecting and printmaking share a similar characteristic insofar as the propagation of plants mirrors the multiplicity of an edition of prints. In its turn, this shared characteristic facilitates access to people for their enjoyment and inspiration. In this spirit, all the participating artists have agreed to allow their respective works to be purchased at the unusually affordable price of €100 each. This is an opportunity for all those who appreciate art and botany to acquire an original work of art at a modest price, in the knowledge that the proceeds will go to support Graphic Studio Dublin and the participating artists.

 

 

Vestige
Dimensions: 38cm x 48cm
Plate size: 25cm x 30cm
Etching over heat transfer on Zerkall
Edition of 10

Strumpet City: Graphic Studio Gallery 11th July – 24th August 2013

In association with James Plunkett’s novel ‘Strumpet City’ being the UNESCO City of Literature 2013 Dublin: One City, One Book, Graphic Studio Gallery will be hosting an exhibition of 46 artists in connection with this epic book. The exhibition, also entitled ‘Strumpet City’, will run from the 11th of July to the 24th of August, and will feature a collection of contemporary fine art prints of various aspects of Dublin city and its history.

This year’s choice of ‘Strumpet City’ as Dublin’s One City One Book is especially appropriate as 2013 is the centenary of the Dublin Lockout around which much of the novel is centered. 2013 is also the year that Graphic Studio Gallery celebrates its 25th anniversary. To commemorate this, Graphic Studio Dublin members and gallery artists have created fine art prints that deal with many of the themes explored in Plunkett’s novel: poverty, a generation’s survival and pre-independence Dublin itself. This is a fundraiser for the studio, and the money raised in the exhibition will go towards providing more printmaking facilities for artists and graduates.

Using traditional printmaking techniques to explore Plunkett’s novel is highly apt as print would have been the method employed to communicate in the Dublin of Larkin’s time. Graphic Studio Gallery’s fine art print exhibition will offer a unique opportunity to interact with the novel in the form of visual art.

Artists: Yoko Akino, Anne Anderson, Paul Bailey, Margaret Becker, Carmel Benson, Gerard Cox, Aisling Dolan, Susan Early, Camilla Fanning, Paula Fitzpatrick, Niamh Flanagan, Gerard Greene, Mary Grey, Alice Hanratty, Marianne Heemskeek, Gavin Hogg, Siobhan Hyde, Brian Lalor, Jennifer Lane, Sharon Lee, Louise Leonard, Daniel Lipstein, Tom Macken, Brett Mac Entagart, Niamh Mac Gowan, James McCreary, Niamh McGuinne, Bernadette Madden, Susan Mannion, Fieda Meaney, Liam Ó Broin, Suzannah O’Reilly, Ruth O’Donnell, Ciara O’Hara, Gay O’Neill, Mary Plunkett, Sarah Rogers, Dermot Ryan, Joe Ryan, Deirdre Shanley, Constance Short, Adrienne Symes, Michael Timmins, Elke Thönnes, Marja Van Kampen & Marta Wakula-Mac

 

Glass Woman
Dimensions: 20 cm x 25 cm
Etching and relief print on Zerkall
Edition of 20

 

Matrix: Graphic Studio Gallery
9th December 2010 – 29 January 2011

Matrix in printmaking terms means the printing surface i.e. the stone, metal, wood etc. Matrix is also understood in mathematical terms as a rectangular array of quantities, in biological terms as the substance between cells, and in environmental terms as a material in which something develops. This theme brings together art and science, and in turn, the evolutionary and transitional nature of printmaking.

Over fifty gallery artists and studio members have responded to the theme of Matrix, producing a variety of work including etching, lithography and screenprint.

Artists involved: Sophie Aghajanian, Yoko Akino, James Allen, Margaret Arthur, Jean Bardon, Margaret Becker, Carmel Benson, Maureen Buckley, Gerard Cox, Danielle Creenaune, Gráinne Cuffe, Jean Duncan, Louise Farrelly, Paul Fitters, Mary Fitzgerald, Paula Fitzpatrick, Ivan Frew, Jo Gorner, Gerard Greene, Mary Grey, Alice Hanratty, Takahiko Hayashi, Nickie Hayden, Marianne Heemskerk, Clare Henderson, Raymond Henshaw, Gavin Hogg, Siobhan Hyde, Lilian Ingram, Fiona Joyce, John Keating, Desmond Kenny, Brian Lalor, Jennifer Lane, Stephen Lawlor, Louise Leonard, Daniel Lipstein, David Lunney, Niamh Mac Gowan, Bernadette Madden, Kelvin Mann, Andrzej Mazur, Anne Marie Mc Ardle, James McCreary, Deirdre McCrory, Niamh McGuinne, John McNulty, Margo McNulty, Frieda Meaney, Susan Morley, Niall Naessens, Liam Ó Broin, Ruth O’Donnell, Ciara O’Hara, Suzannah O Reilly, Caroline Patten, Amelia Peart, Leila Pedersen, Sioban Piercy, Alison Pilkington, Paula Pohli, Jean Paul Probani, Sarah Rogers, Piia Rossi, Robert Russell, Joe Ryan, Deirdre Shanley, Vincent Sheridan, Constance Short, Tracy Sweeney, Adrienne Symes, Elke Thönnes, Nicole Tilley, Margaret Tuffy, Valerie Vahey, Marja Van Kampen, Marta Wakula-Mac and more…

This Must be the Place
Dimensions: 24cm x 22cm
Edition of 10
Etching and aquatint on Zerkall

Home: Draíocht, Dublin 12th November 2010 – 22nd January 2011

Graphic Studio Dublin rounds off its 50th Anniversary with a Members’ Exhibition on the theme of ‘Home’. The title refers to our notions of belonging and family and is particularly relevant at this time of year, a time when we return to the places and people that create our own sense of home. All the feature prints showcase the finest skills in fine art printmaking techniques, including etching, lithography, woodblock print, linocut and a variety of mixed media techniques. All works are priced under €250.

Exhibiting Artists:
Yoko Akino, Maureen Buckley, Gerard Cox, Gráinne Cuffe, Louise Farrelly, Paul Fitters, Niamh Flanagan, Mary Grey, Nickie Hayden, Clare Henderson, Siobhan Hyde, Lilian Ingram, Desmond Kenny, Stephen Lawlor, Maev Lenaghan, Louise Leonard, Pamela Leonard, Daniel Lipstein, Niamh McGuinne, Margo McNulty, Susan Morley, Merijean Morrissey, Eilis Murphy, Deirdre Nolan, Ciara O’Hara, Geraldine O’Reilly, Caroline Patten, Sarah Rogers, Robert Russell, Joe Ryan, Adrienne Symes, Elke Thönnes, Michael Timmins, Margaret Tuffy and Marta Wakula-Mac

 

Elements
Dimensions: 30cm x 30cm
Etching and screen print on BFK Rives
Edition of 10

Gold:
Graphic Studio Gallery 4th June – 26th June 2010
Galway Arts Festival 9th July – 25th July 2010

2010 marks the 50th anniversary of Graphic Studio Dublin. To celebrate this golden anniversary studio members have contributed work based on the theme “Gold”. Artists exhibiting are: Yoko Akino, Meadhbh Arthurs, Jean Bardon, Eilbhe Brennan, Gerard Cox, Gráinne Cuffe, Caroline Donohue, Cliona Doyle, Louise Farrelly, Paul Fitters, Niamh Flanagan, Mary Grey, Nickie Hayden, Clare Henderson, Siobhan Hyde, Lillian Ingram, Desmond Kenny, Brian Lalor, Jennifer Lane, Sharon Lee, Maev Lenaghan, Louise Leonard, Pamela Leonard, Daniel Lipstein, Niamh Mac Gowan, Kelvin Mann, Niamh McGuinne, Margo McNulty, Susan Morley, Niall Naessens, Deirdre Nolan, Liam Ó Broin, Ruth O’Donnell, Geraldine O’Reilly, Caroline Patten, Marc Reilly, Robert Russell, Joe Ryan, Vincent Sheridan, Adrienne Symes, Elke Thonnes, Nicole Tilley, Michael Timmins, Margaret Tuffy, Ciaran Tuite, Katherine Van Uytrecht and Marta Wakula-Mac. Also featured are works by past chairpeople and founding members; Patrick Hickey, John Kelly, Leslie MacWeeney, Elizabeth Rivers, Anne Yeats and Mary Farl Powers.

Apart from a period in the 18th Century when Dublin became known as a centre for the manufacture of mezzotints, there has been little tradition of printmaking in Ireland. In 1960 Patrick Hickey, Leslie MacWeeney, Liam Miller, Elizabeth Rivers and Anne Yeats founded the Graphic Studio Dublin to teach traditional printmaking skills (then unavailable in Irish art colleges), and to provide studios and technical assistance to artists to make fine art prints. It was opened in a small basement in Upper Mount Street. In 1983 the Studio workshop moved to a much larger premises in the Docklands at Green Street East. The studios moved once again in 2007 to a stunning converted granary building: Distillery House, North Circular Road, Dublin 1. The workshop has facilities for etching, lithography, and woodblock printmaking. Since the studio’s beginnings in 1960 the awareness of printmaking has grown in Ireland, as has its importance as an artistic media through studio and gallery initiatives such as education and travelling exhibitions. This exhibition is due to travel to the Galway Arts Festival in July of this year.