Sundays are a day of rest!  Students are given the day off to do whatever they need to do; food shop, rest, sleep late, or they can work in the studio, make photographs or do absolutely nothing.

This gave me an opportunity to set off on my own to make photographs.  I re-visited places I had been before and I discovered new areas that were absolutely gorgeous.  The reason we chose this area in the first place is because it is rich in visual material. The weather changed from sunny to rainy and every possibility in between, so between raindrops I made a few photographs that I would like to share with you.  Tomorrow you will see some of the in- progress work that students have been doing and then again at the end I’ll show you the completed projects.  So, in the mean time:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This coming week promises to be busier than last week.  We will be travelling to the Aran Islands for three days, wednesday through friday.  Students will be away from their studios gathering new resource material and inspiration.  They have already been told that it will be necessary to double up on their efforts before and after the trip in order to complete their projects.

That’s all for now.  I’d love to hear from you if there is anything you would like to know about what we’re doing that I’m not telling you.  

We’re all safe and feeling very accomplished.  Thanks Wheaton, for your support.

 

Andy

 

Today we left Ballyvaughan for Galway and spent most of the day there.  This trip provided our students with a little much needed and deserved R and R.  We have asked a great deal of them over the past week and we needed to provide an opportunity for the creative juices to regenerate.

Galway is a great little city with a very long and rich history.  One of the things that hasn’t changed over the centuries is the farmer’s market.  Each saturday in summer, vendors come to the city from all over to sell fresh produce, hand made items, and almost anything else you can imagine :  from cheese to incense, to fresh seafood to clothing.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the other things that has lasted through the centuries in Galway is the abundance of street performers.  You never know what you might find.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For my last two photographs of the evening, I want to leave you with flowers and a rainbow!

Work begins again tomorrow, and the next week will bring a big push to shape everyone’s projects.  We’ll also be going to the Aran Islands for three days.  So for now, enjoy the last two images, and stay tuned for more from the Burren. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As a teacher you occasionally have the kind of day that confirms that you have chosen the right profession.  Today was that kind of day.  In the past 10 hours in the studio, I have witnessed that sacred golden time of self realization and complete joy in my students as they successfully reached beyond what they thought possible.  I could spend the next hour on this blog trying to explain to you how special this opportunity is, but instead I think I’ll let the students do it for me.  I asked two of them to write a very short paragraph expressing what this has been like for them.  They are Rosemary Liss, a painter, and Jackie Presutti, photographer.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 ”The structure of formal studio classes is important, but only up to a certain point.  By getting the chance to go to Ireland, I have been lucky enough to have been removed from the comfort of the classroom and it’s assignments and to be put in a position where I have to create my own thematic body of work. It’s daunting having no guidelines or boundaries, but at the same time it is hard not to be inspired by the location.  For me, the Burren is the perfect place to begin the process of self realization.  It is a place where the environment is invigorating and complemented by a rich culture filled with fantastic story telling and a warm community.  I see the “Arts In Ireland” program as a graduate level course where the professors have as much input as the students and the students each translate what they have been experiencing in a unique way.  I am so lucky to be producing art in this way.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jackie Presutti has been working on a portrait series.  Her final portfolio will probably be a collection of images reflecting her impressions of the area.  Sometimes the students experience so much in such a short time that it can be overwhelming.  She’s doing a great job sorting it all out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Being in the Burren is very inspiring.  I turn my camera on and try my hardest to capture the essence of my subject but it seems that the beauty of the landscape cannot be fully captured within the frame.  For my project, I have decided to photograph the women of the Burren.  I have met quite a few strong and independent women here and I decided to photograph them to bring them to the forefront of this culture which is often occupied by the men.  I also plan to incorporate this beautiful landscape. I will keep my mind and my eyes open as I learn more about this place and about my self.”

 

I think the last thing Jackie said is key to how this program works.  We begin with the idea that we go to make art, and we end with the realization that what we learned the most was about ourselves. Students learn that they are capable of exceeding their own expectations.

I have heard the term, “art boot camp” tossed around more than a few times.  It works for me………

My last photograph is a picture of Meredith Hanson. Not the entire Meredith, just her hands.  She is a wonderful example of how a few short days of intense work can mature a style.  Her pastels of the Burren landscape are amazing!  I’ll include photographs of them in a future blog.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s getting late and I’m in my 13th hour of the day.  We have been power walking every morning for about an hour ( a few, some, sometimes a couple) Makes for a long but productive day.  I heard from my wife Sharon this morning(I miss you) that the Red Sox swept the Yankees!  Go big Poppi!

Many of you have sent me e-mails asking how to comment on the blog entries.

 

Click on the Arts in Ireland section on the home page.

In the upper left hand corner you will see the archives section.

Click on June 2009

Click on the entry title on which you would like to comment.

At the bottom of the page you will see a comment box.

Make your comment and then click on the submit comment button.

Thats all there is to it!

We hope to hear from many of you.  What would you like to know?

More later…

Andy

The last two days have been very hectic. I suppose that comes with the territory of trying to compress into three weeks what we normally accomplish in an entire semester. Our students are proving to us that they are up to the task. Yesterday we walked through the hills of the Burren for 5 hours. We were led by Shane Connelly, a local tour guide, who is an expert on just about everything to do with the Burren. I’m not sure which is more difficult: walking up hill or down hill! At the very top of the hill at Black Head, we rested in a ring fort that was built many centuries ago. Ring forts were used to house and protect an extended family in their own time but are now places loaded with superstition and legend.

We spent five hours today in our first serious group critique of this course. These are really talented students who are also very good at helping each other improve. It is really a source of great satisfaction watching them grow and develop. Absolutely everyone is rising to the challenge.

Click on the photos below to view larger versions:

I’m going to provide you with a photo diary this evening that includes photographs from our walk and from a shooting session just a few hours ago. You are watching the sun set from across the Atlantic within one hour of it actually happening…. This is a new format for me so here goes!

I hope you have enjoyed our journey thus far. We’re all pretty exhausted and some are going to bed. Actually, about half the group is still in the studio and it’s 10:20. This is the kind of dedication that we have begun to expect from these folks. It’s a great teaching experience.

We miss you, we wish you were here to share this. Good night for now….

Andy

Tuesday began with the assignment of studio space in a cavernous studio/art gallery display space.  I’ll try and photograph the space at some point because this space is one of the strongest features of the Burren College of Art.  Each student has been assigned a space approximately 12 feet square and they have pretty much moved all of their materials there.

We met as a group to discuss project concepts and critique individual ideas.  This process is necessary to help define and refine the student’s concept before production begins.  And indeed production has begun!  I’ll share some works in progress with you once the work has progressed to a point where it can be shared.

The next scheduled event of the day was a meeting with Mary Hawkes-Green, the President of the BCA.  We have developed a terrific relationship with her over the past three years.  She has actually visited Wheaton, met with our students, and been tremendously supportive.  I would like to add that the entire staff at the BCA could not be more helpful.  They have embraced us and have been very welcoming.  This is a pretty terrific place.

The afternoon was spent working in the studio and going on location to photograph, draw and gather materials.  You would be amazed at how quickly our students have adapted and begun working.

Here are a few photographs of the Burren that were made yesterday.  The stone walls are always fascinating because of their age and different configurations.

The combination of weather and rock is what defines this area visually.  Every day a little bit different.

The day ended at 8:30 with Edie Lenihan, a very well known Irish story teller.  Mr. Lenihan has spent a good part of his professional life recording ancient stories as told by the older folk in Ireland.  This is his attempt to save these stories for future generations so they won’t be lost with the passing of the older generation.  The session took place on the top floor of the tower of Newtown Castle, complete with a peat fire and candlelight.  He was fascinating!

Thats it for today. I hope you’re enjoying sharing this with all of us.

Andy

Hello from Ballyvaughan!  We arrived safely after an uneventful flight that actually departed on time, and arrived early.  Kudos to Aer Lingus.  I have now flown with them on three occasions and they are batting 1000.  It can be done.

Our students are all settled in, stocked with provisions, getting the rest they need to counteract jet lag, and have begun to explore the area.  They are staying in Orchard House.  This is a private home that the Burren College of Art uses to house students.  It is actually quite beautiful and meets our needs perfectly.  The house is approximately a mile from town in one direction, and 3/4 of a mile in the opposite direction to the college.

The first thing that I would like to do is introduce you to our group.  Please be patient with me as I learn to navigate this blogging format.  I’m not sure I quite have the format down as it is a bit different than the last time I did this.

This is a terrific group of hard working, talented and dedicated young men and woman who we know will live up to our expectations.

Today we travelled many miles by bus through the region known as the Burren.  The Burren is a unique part of Ireland that covers roughly 300 square miles, located on the west coast in Co. Clare.  The bus tour was necessary to help our students understand where they are so that they can integrate this experience into their art.  The entire concept of this course is to create a body of work that somehow relates to this experience, with the geology, flora, fauna, history, music, and overall physical appearance of the area serving as the inspiration for their projects.

We made many stops along the way: we visited Poulnabrun, the 5000 year old burial site that has become one of the best know images of Ireland.  We continued on to the Cliffs of Mohr, (in driving rain and high wind), several towns and villages, the Famine Memorial, and basically learned as much as is possible in a six our bus tour.

Here are a few images of the day:

Storm approaching at the Cliffs……

We made another stop at St. Bridget’s Well.  This is a Holy well, there are many in Ireland, that is said have some sort of restorative powers.  People leave all kinds of personal remembrances at the well hoping that there visit will benefit them in some positive way.  This is a photo of some of the things that people leave behind:

Tonight, Professor Gordon D’Arcy, an expert on the Burren, and a Professor at the Burren College of Art, lectured on the Burren and shared many facts and interesting pieces of information that will be very useful for the students as they develop their projects. His talk was accompanied by slides and through his presentation we were able to gain better sense of the area and the delicate balance that exists here between current day farming practices and it’s ecological impact.

Here are a few more images to complete tonight’s blog. I hope you will enjoy sharing this experience with us and will comment on what you read here..

Maggie and Jackie at the Cliffs.  The wind is beginning to pick up!

I want to leave you with the sunset that ended our day.  Every sunset here is amazing..

We miss you all… these sunsets are for you.

Please visit again tomorrow.

Andy Howard

I was sorting through all of my pre-departure e-mail yesterday when a new message appeared in my inbox. I want to share this with you.  The message is from Hailey O’Donnell, a member of the class of 07,  and a double major in both studio art and art history.  Hailey was a member of the first group to participate in the “Arts In Ireland” program in June, 2006.  She sent this message to me with the hope that I would forward it to this years participants.  I did.  I now want to share it with you to help you gain insight into just how valuable and life changing these international programs can be.

 

“Hi Everyone,

My name is Hailey.  I graduated in 07 and was part of the first Burren College of Art trip.  All I can say is that this experience will follow you throughout your life.  What you discover about yourself in the process of adapting to a new place and responding to it visually is priceless.  Each of you will find something that speaks to you, some will do so faster, others may struggle to find it initially, but you will all produce something that you will be proud of and will be amazed at what you achieve in a short time with hard work and dedication.  To capture my experience in words fails to do justice to it and would only lead to a long rambling message, but what I will say is that I look upon the time I spent there as the only time I have truly had the chance to be just an artist.  There was no marketing yourself to galleries and museums, no full time job to pay the bills, no distractions to take your mind off of what is at hand.  For that reason alone, I got to know what I was capable of if I put my mind to it, and to this day, the body of work I produced there is the one I treasure most.  I wish you all the best in exploring your creative self and finding a way to express your artistic soul.  Have a safe and truly wonderful trip!”

Best, Hailey

I believe that Hailey has found a way to state the essence of what this program is all about.  The making of art is important, but the process is the core of why we do this.  

I said that I would not be blogging again until the 7th or 8th, but when I receive something like this, I can’t help but share it with you. So for now, thats it.  ( no promises that you won’t hear from me again until we land.)

Andy Howard

Final arrangements have been made, suit cases are open, arts supplies have been purchased and currency converted.  We sincerely hope that you will follow along and share our experience.  The first blog from the Burren should be posted on June 7th or 8th, or as soon as we can settle in a bit.  We welcome your comments.

Ballyvaughan is located on the west coast of Ireland in Co. Clare. Find Galway and follow the coast south and you will find Ballyvaughan.