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Muintir
​​Curated by Simon Fennessy Corcoran
Sep 16th 2016 – January 31st 2017
 
Muintir is an expression of the Permanent Collection through the eyes of the people of Limerick. Running alongside Cumann by Michael McLoughlin, participants of McLoughlin’s audio map of Limerick where invited to select works from the permanent collection; The result of this collaboration focuses on the unique perspective each group has in relation to their interests and backgrounds, with a very important thing in common, a singular community of Luimnigh (Limerick).
 
Often it is difficult to express a personal opinion or perspective on art especially when you consider yourself to be outside the “art world”, this exhibition highlights these valuable, fascinating and deeply personal perspectives which have emerged from the participating groups. Muintir has be selected by Adapt house, Contact studios, Limerick Roller Derby, Shannon rowing club, Social Democrats, Landsdown Active Retirement Association, Chomhaltas Ceoltoiri Éireann, Garraí Eóin, LGBTI Limerick and Ormston House. Shinnors scholar, Simon Fennessy Corcoran has selected further works from the Collection which he believes will add to and enhance the ideas and feelings being expressed by the group’s selections.
 
As a municipal gallery, L.C.G.A. is charged with the development of the arts in Limerick for every citizen, for the purposes of this we have a powerful tool at our disposal which we see can be employed for the improvement of socially charged engagements and building accessibility to the culture of Limerick; Our Permanent Collection. Limerick City Gallery of Art is one of the leading contemporary art galleries in Ireland and home to a very important collection of Irish 18th to 21st century art in all media, amounting to over 831 works. LCGA also holds the National Collection of Contemporary Drawing and the Michael O’Connor International Poster Collection consisting of over 2800 works of international design.
 
For further information visit: Gallery.limerick.ie
Selections:
Adapt house: Jeannette Doyle, David Jason       
For our first choice we selected the blue eye by Doyle Jeanette, We saw this piece as symbolic or representational, as thought it might, be about seeing how things really are the in a relationship, more often than not both the victim and the perpetrator are in denial!
 
Adapt house: Joanna Fursman, Glass Book
We choose this piece as it relates to and evokes issues which we see everyday, the story of an abusive relationship is a very delicate one where the victim is very fragile. Like the book with an unbroken front layer of toughened glass, in these situations everything seems ok on the outside but very often in reality something very different is happening inside.
 
Contact studios: Laura McMorrow, Chess Tournament (diptych)              
As a group we decided upon the works of Carl Doran (Untitled) and Laura McMorrow Chess Tournament (diptych) from the permanent collection. These selection’s reflects our members’ position and on-going contribution to the Arts in Limerick.
 
Contact studios: St. George Hare, Still Life Herring
This work was the inspiration for the creation of Carl Doran’s Still Life Deconstructed Part 1 which responded to the Permanent Collection of Limerick City Gallery of Art.
 
Contact studios, Carl Doran, Still Life Deconstructed Part 1         
As a group we decided upon the works of Carl Doran (Untitled) and Laura McMorrow Chess Tournament (diptych) from the permanent collection. The selection reflects our members’ position and on-going contribution to the Arts in Limerick.
 
Contact studios: Desmond Stephenson Still Life No. 3  
This work was the inspiration for the creation of Carl Doran’s Still Life Deconstructed Part 2 which responded to the Permanent Collection of Limerick City Gallery of Art.
 
Contact studios: Carl Doran, Still Life Deconstructed part 2         
As a group we decided upon the works of Carl Doran (Untitled) and Laura McMorrow Chess Tournament (diptych) from the permanent collection. The selection reflects our members’ position and on-going contribution to the Arts in Limerick.
 
Limerick Roller Derby:  Patrick Pye, Transfiguration       
You go through a lot of transformations during derby, some are physical, mental or emotional but there are a lot of ups and downs and achievements. At the end of it all you put yourself through a lot to transform into a better person.
 
Limerick Roller Derby: Brian O'Doherty, Siege of Limerick
This to us kind of looks like the limerick bridges, which we found relatable to our new logo and we liked that it signified our hometown that we are proud to represent.
 
Shannon rowing club: Jim Sheehy, Rain
Rain doesn’t stop play when you are a rower; especially if you are an Irish rower.  Rain comes in many guises out on the water. It can be soothing and damp, cooling and gently misting or driving in your face as you pull upstream. Rowing is tough, out in all weathers training hard. But when it rains, once you are dry again you feel even better for having been out in it -  Just about ready for the steak and the spuds!
Shannon rowing club: Jim Sheehy, Water and Reflection            
Water and Reflection represents how as rowers we are at one with the river upon which we row. Whether “going with the flow” or “pulling against the tide” (two sayings which actually apply literally in rowing), we are working with the river and the vagaries of weather, currents and the peculiarities particular to each stretch of water. When training, we can’t ignore the beauty all around us. We are experiencing being at one with nature. Trees, birds, fish, the river and the land; but most of all reflections of a vast sky, as our dipping oars make rippling circles on the water.
 
Shannon rowing club: Nigel Rolfe, Blue Chevrons           
Chevrons are a v shaped line or stripe such as that on the sleeve of a uniform indicating rank or length of service. We didn’t know this when we picked this print but Blue Chevrons seemed to represent flags or bunting, indicating festivity and good times. However, aside from the fun side of rowing, an almost military discipline is always an asset if one wants to succeed at our wonderful but demanding sport.
 
We wear our rowing colours with pride whether as competitors in the rowing one-piece, supporters on the side-line, or wearing the official Shannon Rowing Club jacket and tie which members traditionally all wore once upon a time. Many of our members will don these again on the 24th of September for our 150th Anniversary Ball. Blue Chevrons represents this pride in our club blue and perhaps also the freedom of being out on the water. It was the piece from the collection that was chosen by most.
 
Social Democrats:  Carmel Flynn Painting of Arthurs Quay          
'We chose this painting because it’s always amazing to look at old images of our city. The majority of our group are quite young, and some times looking at snapshots like this reminds us of the history behind places that are so familiar, and how far we have come.'
 
Social Democrats: Jack  Donovan, Jim Kemmy
'Kemmy set a new standard for politicians in Limerick and beyond. He was conscientious, inclusive and unique. His socialist principles and ideals on how people should be treated resonate a lot with our own. We hope to follow through on the vision he had for this city and its people."
 
Landsdown active retirement:  Walter Verling, Dóilín (1999)
Since he has such a long connection with Limerick and in particular the students of the city I thought it would be fitting to have him represented in the exhibition.  This painting holds promise for the future while still connecting with the past.  The bright sunny day and the seaside setting resonate with everyone and each of us can identify with memories of past times and happy days.
 
Ormston House:  Unknown, Analog Devices: Die Name, V31     
This artist is unknown; this piece depicts technology, a part of the machine typically hidden behind the scenes. The anonymity of the artist and subject speaks to the blurring lines between creativity and production, tools and makers – could the LCGA collection someday feature an artwork credited to an algorithm, to an A.I.?
 
LGBTI Limerick:  Peter Morgan, Don’t Kick Just Lick         
The LGBT community has adopted certain symbols for self-identification which demonstrate unity, pride, shared values, and allegiance to one another. LGBTQ symbols communicate ideas, concepts, and identity both within their communities and to mainstream culture. These three choices reminded us of the personality, freedom and diversity that exists within the community through their use of colour, humour and symbolism.
 
LGBTI Limerick: Gillian Kenny, Italian Riviera    
The LGBT community has adopted certain symbols for self-identification which demonstrate unity, pride, shared values, and allegiance to one another. LGBTQ symbols communicate ideas, concepts, and identity both within their communities and to mainstream culture. These three choices reminded us of the personality, freedom and diversity that exists within the community through their use of colour, humour and symbolism.
 
LGBTI Limerick: H. D. Hamilton, Lady Lanesboro               
The LGBT community has adopted certain symbols for self-identification which demonstrate unity, pride, shared values, and allegiance to one another. LGBTQ symbols communicate ideas, concepts, and identity both within their communities and to mainstream culture. These three choices reminded us of the personality, freedom and diversity that exist within the community through their use of colour, humour and symbolism.
               
Chomhaltas Ceoltoiri Éireann Garraí Eóin:
John Behan: Angel with Trumpet, Eoin McHugh: Piano Man, Paki Smith: The Wounded King
I was asked by Chomhaltas to select works which represented their passion, which of course is music, I chose these three pieces as they are the only depictions of musical instruments in play.
 
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  1. Charles Harper, Citizens
  2. Jeannette  Doyle, David Jason
  3. Alan Phelan, Critical Success Factor in Achieving Enthalpic Everything, 2 parts
  4. Jeremiah Hodges Mulcahy, A Waterside Castle
  5. Tom O'Brien, Certainly Not Australia
  6. Michael McLoughlin, Untitled
  7. Carmel Flynn, Painting of Arthurs Quay
  8. Jim Sheehy, Rain
  9. Jim Sheehy, Water and Reflection
  10. Patrick Pye, Transfiguration
  11. Patrick Pye, Homage Betray of the City
  12. Peter Morgan, Don’t Kick Just Lick
  13. Blaise Drummond, With Nothing But a Compass and a Canteen
  14. Nigel Rolfe, Blue Chevrons
  15. Donald Teskey, Blue Cromwell Point
  16. Walter Verling, Dóilín
  17. Gillian Kenny, Italian Riviera
  18. St George Hare, Still Life Herring
  19. Carl Doran, Still Life Deconstructed part 1, Mackerel
  20. Cecil King, Breakaway
  21. Cecil King, Intrusion
  22. Fehilly Fergus Jr.  Blind
  23. Carl Doran, Still Life Deconstructed part 2, Still Life​
  24. Desmond Stephenson, Still Life No. 3
  25. Melanie O'Rourke, Desire to Aquire II
  26. Alice Maher, Shadow Etching
  27. Alice Maher, Sleep
  28. Jack Donovan, The Head of Princess Orlaith
  29. Nick Miller, Female Head
  30. H. D. Hamilton, Portrait of Lady Lanesboro
  31. Grace Henry, Portrait of Stephen Gwynn
  32. Anna MacLeod, Thinking
  33. Jack Donovan, Portrait of Jim Kemmy
  34. Paul Henry, Portrait of A.O.G Lalor
  35. Miller Nick, Male Head
  36. Breon O'Casey, Copper Figure and Silver Figure
  37. Maura Sheehan, Glass book
  38. Nolan Colette, Growing Pains
  39. Sean Mulcahy, Memoirs
  40. Laura McMorrow, Chess Tournament 2 parts
  41. Paki Smith, The Wounded King
  42. John Behan, Angel With Trumpet
  43. Eoin McHugh, Piano Man
  44. Chris Boland,  Untitled
  45. Unknown Analog Devices: Die Name: D15
  46. Unknown, Analog Devices: Die Name: V31
  47. Konenyykb, Kyd & Kyde, Untitled
  48. Brian O'Doherty, Siege of Limerick,