MAD ART GALLERY
56 LOWER GARDINER ST.
DUBLIN 1 (OPP CUSTOM HOUSE)

ATLAS OF MEMORY
AN EXHIBITION OF NEW WORK By Jennifer Cunningham

OPENING RECEPTION
THURSDAY OCTOBER 13TH. 6 - 8PM
TO BE OPENED BY MICK O DEA RHA

EXHIBITION
THURS 13TH - WEDS 19TH OCT. 10.30AM - 5.30PM
CLOSED SUNDAY, MONDAY

Galway artist, Jennifer Cunningham embarks on her first Dublin solo exhibition at The Mad Art Gallery in October. Atlas of Memory will feature a selection of new prints together with complementary paintings and a film piece. The MadArt Gallery is an independent exhibition space in central Dublin. A very convenient location (close to the LUAS and Connolly DART station) and an open and friendly space makes it an ideal place for any art exhibition.

See http://www.madartstudio.com/index.php/about-us/ for more information.

 Artist Statement

“ Children are much closer to the unconscious than are adults; fantasy and reality are less clearly separated for them.”
The sociology of Childhood, Essential readings edited by Chris Jenks

Childhood and leaving it, is about the move from the imaginary to social spaces and learning how to perform in the latter.
Jennifer uses the media of painting, print and film to explore the inner psychological struggle of her subjects. Central to her work is an ongoing exploration of identity, liminal space and personal subjectivity.
Significant in these processes is a creation of an anxious narrative which foregrounds issues of longing and belonging to the contemporary world and the loss of innocence and youth.

Cunningham completed a Masters in Fine Art at NCAD in 2008 and has just commenced a Royal Hibernian Academy studio residency. She has won several awards including the RDS Taylor Award and the Thomas Damann travel award. Recent years have seen her exhibit regularly at the RHA annual exhibition and also at EVA and Monster Truck amongst others. Her work has been purchased by the OPW and the ESB and is held in many private and public collections.

CURATED BY TONY STRICKLAND
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www.jennifercunningham.ie
www.madartstudio.com

Parking at Irish Life Mall car park

 Above: producing work for the show.

The exhibition will be opened by Mick O Dea

Born in Ennis, County Clare, in 1958, Mick O’Dea studied at the National College of Art & Design (NCAD) and the University of Massachusetts from 1976 to 1981. In 1997 he was awarded an MA in European Fine Art from the Winchester School of Art, having studied in Barcelona and Winchester. He has exhibited widely in Ireland and abroad and his work is included in many private and public collections
He has received numerous awards for his work including the K.M.P.G award, Taylor De Vere Award for a Work of Distinction and a prize at the Claremorris open in 1990. In 1996 he was elected an R.H.A. and a member of Aosdána.

Above: Black and Tans exhibition by Mick O Dea at the Kevin Kavanagh Gallery 2010.

O Dea has been principal of the recently established R.H.A school for the past few years and under him, an atelier programme has grown organically, through a series of scheduled activities and in response to demand from artists. Invited artists regulary occupy the studios, with drawing marathons and lectures run on frequent basis.

 Having a studio in the R.H.A has been very benefical to me, in developing this show. The studios are large, warm and light filled so there is plenty of space to lay work.

The atmosphere is good there too, with life drawing taking place there each Wednesday and Thursday, one has a chance to network and socialize with other artists. There is often a cross pollination of ideas going on.
The models hold poses for an entire day, so that one has an extended period of time to produce a piece, although frequently it is like an emergency situation, with only an limited timespan to get your hand, eye and brain working in unison.

Although I treat life drawing as an exercise, like doing scales on the piano, it is very important to me. I find it clears my thoughts and allows me to process information more effectively, for example although the two are not related, I will often get ideas for a video piece or painting while drawing.

Drawings provide a record of decision making, tracing the route of ones thoughts.
I always start off every painting, etching and video piece with working drawings This is where the gem of an idea begins to take shape and become a reality. Creative curosity comes into play here as the viability of a possible piece is tested. These working drawings are valuable in their own right but they are never intended to function as finished pieces.I always start off  every painting, etching and video piece with working drawing.  This is where the gem of an idea begins to take shape and become a reality. Creative curosity comes into play here as the viability of a possible piece is tested.  These working drawings are valuable in their own right but they are never intended to function as finished pieces. 

Below: Banners for show on Georges Street, Dublin