Bealtaine Week 3

What a busy week for the Bealtaine Festival with hundreds of events taking place across the country. Thanks for all your wonderful stories so far; of communities coming together to create art in new and imaginative ways, people connecting through poetry and storytelling and one very curious incident with a snake!
 
This particular story came from Oaklodge Nursing Home in Cloyne, Co. Cork. Oaklodge have organised over ten events for the residents with children from various schools. One of the projects involved the children bringing their pets and other animals into the residents. Everyone was delighted to see the hamsters, rabbits, ponies and maybe, more surprisingly, a snake! Never having seen a snake in his life, one of the residents was keen to get up close and by the end of the session was sitting comfortably with the animal wrapped around his neck! Residents also got to showcase their Irish dancing skills at another event while the children enjoyed hearing stories of the residents’ first dances. The atmosphere was great and was attended also by the families of the residents.
 
We are also hearing great stories of the very fashionable attendees at the free concert organised by Clare County Arts Office to launch the Bealtaine festival. Buses were collecting people from nursing homes and over 80 people arrived including one resident dressed to the nines in her fur coat. She said how much she had been looking forward to the event as it gave her an opportunity to dress up nicely! We hear all the events organised by Clare County Council are going very well.
 
Last week also saw the launch of ‘Ink’ in the Original Print Gallery, Temple Bar, Dublin. Ink is an exhibition, of photographs and interviews by Aidan Kelly, which explores the tattoos of older people. The launch was a huge success with lots of people visiting the gallery to take a look. Talking about his inspiration for the project Aidan Kelly says ‘The idea of a tattoo is especially interesting to me as I never got one done. I like finding out about them and why people take that step of getting marked in such a permanent way. It's a bit of a secret society in a way, but that was the early days; it has come into focus for me more sharply as older tattoos seem more interesting than what's going on today with the widespread TV coverage and the art form becoming more of a fashion statement. I like to find out about older works; they seem to have more weight in presence and they look heavier.’ This exhibition runs until Sunday 30 May. You can find out more about Aidan’s work at www.aidan-kelly.com or see the interviews on http://bealtaine.com/node/192 .
 
 

Tea, tours and exhibitions

This Saturday 22 May, at 2.30pm, as part of their Tea and Tour programme for the Bealtaine Festival, the Irish Museum of Modern Art will be showcasing the Belgian artist Francis Alÿs’ ongoing series ‘Le Temps du Sommeil’. Come and enjoy complimentary tea or coffee while an IMMA mediator discusses the featured exhibitions in the museum followed by a free guided tour of the show.
 
The Sligo Arts Office is also hosting an exciting programme of work as part of Bealtaine 2010. This Wednesday 19 May, we will see the opening of a collaborative exhibition of work produced over the last two years by students from Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál National School and older residents of the Community Nursing Unit in Ballymote, and students from St. John’s National School and older residents from Nazareth House Nursing Home. The exhibition opens from 1.30pm to 3pm.
 

Hearth – Art for Older People at Home

This Thursday 20 May, Hearth will be launching the second phase of this new and exciting art programme in Ballina Arts Centre. Hearth is based on the idea of bringing art to older people who are isolated geographically or for other reasons; each week an artist travels to their home and facilitates a one-to-one workshop there.
 

National Drawing Day

National Drawing Day is organised by the National Gallery of Ireland and takes place on Saturday 22 May. Fifty-one cultural institutions around the country will provide an opportunity for everyone to try their hand at drawing under the guidance of professional tutors. It is an opportunity for older and younger people to draw together in an informal and enjoyable way. We have included a list of all participating institutions at the end of the newsletter.
 

Irish Playwright for Chicago Festival

Miriam Gallagher, an Irish playwright, newly turned 70, is thrilled that this month sees her work staged in Chicago. Her new play, ‘Nasturtiums and Cherry Buns’ opens in Chicago on 28 May 2010. The production is by Nightblue Theatre who previously performed the US Premiere of her play ‘Fancy Footwork.’ Miriam has given writing courses as part of Bealtaine over the years and has worked with Over-55s in Clare which led to her becoming a member of a newly formed Clare Arts Panel.
 

Bealtaine Film Tour Update

'Dean Spanley' is showing in the following locations this week:

• 17 May - Crosshaven Film Club, Cork
• 18 May – Ranelagh Film Club, Dublin; Droichead Arts Centre, Louth; Linehall Arts Centre, Mayo; Tuar Ard Arts Centre, Westmeath
• 19 May – Cloughjordan Cineclub, Tipperary
• 20 May – The Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre, Dublin; Gort Vibes Film Club, Galway; Achill Film Club, Mayo; Bunclody Library, Wexford
• 23 May – Galway Film Society, Galway

The Bealtaine Film Tour is an access>CINEMA / IFI initiative, supported by Seven Seas.
 
Also on film this week, The Friends of the Elderly Film Club, are screening ‘Bananas on the Breadboard’, at 25 Bolton Street on 20May at 2pm. This is a short film celebrating the life and traditions of women street traders from the market areas.
 
Then, in Dublin city centre, on Friday 21 May the IFI will be screening ‘The Butcher Boy’ at 11am.
 

A pick and mix from Week 3 of Bealtaine

•  The Mill Theatre, Dublin will be hosting a theatre appreciation workshop on Tuesday 18 May. Facilitated by Joe Devlin it will explore how a theatre show is put together and is open to all theatre enthusiasts. Also at the Mill theatre, there will be three free singing workshops on Mondays between the 10 and 28 May to prepare for Dawn Chorus on the 28 May.
•  In Knightsbridge Village, Trim, the Boyne Writers Group will be having an intergenerational exhibition of old school books followed by the Top 20 greatest hits of poems, from 2.30pm on Wednesday 19 May.
• Horgan’s Buildings Senior Citizens Centre, Cork will be hosting “Around the Campfire” poetry and storytelling on Thursday 20 May and Friday 21 May. The older audience are invited to dress up for the event and it is open to the public.
• Serenity Active Retirement, Donegal have just completed a patchwork quilt which will be exhibited on Friday 21 May. There will also be a dance for all the members on Sunday 23 May.
•  The Mellowchords Barbershop Harmony Chorus and the Forever Young Chorus will perform at St. Finbarr’s GAA Club, Cork City on 18 May at 2.30pm.
• Forward Steps resource centre in Tullow are holding a photography exhibition at Mount Wolesley from Thursday 20 to Sunday 23 May.
• The Active Pulse Drama Group, Tramore Road, Cork, will be performing “Those Were The Days” - five one act plays interspersed with musical performances from Thursday 20 to Saturday 22 May. The plays are open to the public and all are welcome.
• Tipping Point, a quartet dance performance by an intergenerational cast from Macushla Dance Club and Ciotóg, will be performed in Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane on 21 and 23 May at 1.30pm.
• St. Munchins Family Resource Centre, Limerick is hosting an afternoon of local arts, including painting, music and dancing on 24 May at 2.30pm. All are welcome.
• Windfield Nursing Home, Dunboyne, Meath are hosting a ‘Young at Heart Week’ X-Factor. It is open to residents and their families until Sunday.
• ‘I’ve always wanted to try’ unusual crafts workshop will take place at Clonmel Library, Tipperary from Tuesday 18 to Wednesday 26 May at 10.30am. Also as part of the arts service in Tipperary, Bealtaine dancers-in-residence Jazmin Chiodi and Alexandre Iseli are presenting workshops which use the Alexander technique and yoga. Games and exercise workshops will take place Wednesday 19 and Thursday 20 May 2-4pm, call 062 80520 to book.
• A Tea Dance, organised by the Co. Wicklow Network for older people, will take place on Sunday 23 May from 3 to 6pm at the Brockagh Resource Centre.
• Cavan County Council will be hosting a workshop and reading with Noel Monaghan on the Wednesday 19 May from 2 to 5pm at the Courthouse, Co. Cavan.
• Poetry readings will take place in Ennis and Scariff Libraries on Thursday 20 May.
• Limerick Social Services Council is hosting an exhibition of work by older people who have been taking Arts and Crafts classes since September. The exhibition is running until Thursday 20 May at Dooradoyle Library.

 National Drawing Day - Participating institutions:

1. Airfield House, Dundrum  www.airfield.ie 
2. Armagh County Museum  www.nmni.com
3. Bagenal’s Castle, Co. Down 
4. The Butler Gallery, Kilkenny www.butlergallery.com
5. Castletown House & Parklands, Celbridge, Co. Kildare
www.castletownhouse.ie
6. Coleraine Library, Derry-Londonderry www.colerainebc.gov.uk
7. The Crafts Council of Ireland, Kilkenny  www.ccoi.ie
8. Crawford Gallery of Art, Cork www.crawfordartgallery.ie
9. Draíocht, Blanchardstown  www.draiocht.ie
10. Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda  www.droichead.com
11. Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane  www.hughlane.ie
12. Farmleigh House, Dublin www.farmleigh.ie
13. F.E. McWilliam Gallery and Studio, Co. Down  www.femcwilliam.com
14. Fota House, Arboretum and Gardens, Cork  www.fotahouse.com
15. Galway City Museum www.galwaycitymuseum.ie
16. Graphic Studio Dublin www.graphicstudiodublin.com
17. The Highlanes Gallery, Drogheda www.highlanes.ie
18. The Hunt Museum, Limerick  www.huntmuseum.com
19. Knock Museum, Mayo  www.knock-shrine.ie/museum
20. The LAB, Dublin
www.dublincity.ie/RECREATIONANDCULTURE/ARTSOFFICE/THELAB/Pages/TheLAB.aspx
21. The Lewis Glucksman Gallery, Cork  www.glucksman.org
22. Lisburn City Library, Antrim www.ni-libraries.net
23. Lismore Castle Arts, Co. Waterford  www.lismorecastlearts.ie
24. Limerick City Gallery of Art  www.limerickcitygallery.ie
25. The Model, Sligo   www.themodel.ie
26. Monaghan County Museum  www.monaghan.ie
27. Muckross House & Traditional Farms, Kerry  www.muckross-house.ie
28. National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin  www.nationalgallery.ie
29. National Museum of Ireland - Country Life, Turlough Park, Co. Mayo
www.museum.ie
30. National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts and History, Collins Barracks
www.museum.ie
31. National Museum of Ireland - History and Archaeology  www.museum.ie
32. National Museum of Ireland - Natural History  www.museum.ie
33. National Print Museum, Dublin  www.nationalprintmuseum.ie
34. Naughton Gallery, Queens University, Belfast  www.naughtongallery.org
35. Number 29, Dublin
www.esb.ie/main/about-esb/numbertwentynine/default.htm  
36. Ormeau Baths Gallery, Belfast   www.ormeaubaths.co.uk
37. The Pearse Museum, Dublin
www.heritageireland.ie/en/Dublin/PearseMuseum-StEndasPark
38. Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin
www.heritageireland.ie/en/Dublin/RathfarnhamCastle
39. The Science Gallery, Dublin  www.sciencegallery.ie
40. Sheep and Wool Centre, Connemara www.sheepandwoolcentre.com.
41. Solas Gallery, Leitrim  www.solasart.ie
42. South Tipperary Arts Centre, Clonmel  www.southtipparts.com
43. South Tipperary County Museum, Clonmel www.southtippcoco.ie/museum
44. Tin Jug Studio, Offaly www.tinjugstudio.com
45. Tower Museum, Derry~Londonderry   www.derrycity.gov.uk
46. Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Cultra, Co. Down  www.nmni.com
47. Ulster Museum, Belfast  www.nmni.com
48. Waterford City Museum of Treasures  www.waterfordtreasures.ie 
49. Waterford County Museum, Dungarvan  www.dungarvanmuseum.org
50. West Cork Arts Centre, Skibbereen  www.westcorkartscentre.com
51. Wexford Arts Centre www.wexfordartscentre.ie
For information, contact: 01 661 5133 or see: www.nationalgallery.ie