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Applications open for Musician-In-Residence: Music Network and St. John’s Theatre and Arts Centre (Listowel)
- Closing date for applications: 14th May 2024, 12pm
- St. John’s Theatre and Arts Centre, Listowel, Co. Kerry
Aideen Barry’s new multimedia performance, moving image and sound installation inspired by the Bunting Harp Collection opens in Limerick City Gallery of Art this winter. A live manifestation of the work will be presented in The Complex, Dublin on the winter solstice December 21st. This performance is now sold out but will be livestreamed at the link below.
Music Network and the Irish Traditional Music Archive present the world premiere of Oblivion / Seachmalltacht / ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᔪᓐᓃᖅᑐᑦ, a multimedia performance, moving image and sound installation created by Aideen Barry in collaboration with internationally renowned Inuit Canadian throat singer and song-writer RIIT ᕇᑦ, Irish harper Aisling Lyons and award-winning designer and milliner Margaret O’Connor.
Inspired by the 18th century Bunting Harp Collection, Oblivion / Seachmalltacht / ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᔪᓐᓃᖅᑐᑦ was commissioned by Music Network and the Irish Traditional Music Archive under the Bunting Commission award. It will be presented as the centrepiece of Aideen Barry’s “By Slight Ligaments” exhibition at the Limerick City Gallery of Art from 16 December 2021 – 13 February 2022, and at The Source Arts Centre, Thurles from 18 March – 29 April 2022.
On the winter solstice, 21 December 2021 at 6.15pm (note revised start time), a live manifestation of Oblivion / Seachmalltacht / ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᔪᓐᓃᖅᑐᑦ will be presented in The Complex, Dublin 7. An aurora borealis of music and art on our winter solstice, this once-in-a-lifetime event will feature individual performances by Inuit Canadian electronica artist RIIT ᕇᑦ and harpist Aisling Lyons, as well as the live performance of Oblivion / Seachmalltacht / ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᔪᓐᓃᖅᑐᑦ by RIIT ᕇᑦ, Aisling Lyons and a live band.
Presented by RTÉ Radio 1’s Paula Sheilds, the event will feature a panel discussion with the artists involved in the making of this Barry’s collaborative work of music and visual art and will be livestreamed to ITMA’s Facebook, YouTube and Instagram channels, and will also be viewable at Music Network’s and Aideen Barry’s channels.
The sound-track to Oblivion / Seachmalltacht / ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᔪᓐᓃᖅᑐᑦ, which also incorporates music composed by Cathal Murphy and arranged by Stephen Shannon, will be available on vinyl as a limited edition signed artwork.
Visual artist Aideen Barry was appointed by Music Network and the Irish Traditional Music Archive to create a new artwork inspired by the Bunting Harp Collection. This collection is one of Ireland’s national treasures and was compiled by Edward Bunting in the late 18th century to preserve indigenous culture in Ireland at a time of great threat.
Barry’s response, Oblivion / Seachmalltacht / ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᔪᓐᓃᖅᑐᑦ, draws parallels between Bunting’s preservation of ancient Irish music and the existential threat to all human culture and existence. Through it she examines the role of art and artists at a time of great uncertainty, environmental collapse and the prospect of a world of ruin if we do nothing at all.
Aideen Barry, who is an Associate Member of the Royal Hibernian Academy and a member of Aosdána, was awarded the €15,000 commission for her intriguing response to an invitation for proposals issued by Music Network and ITMA.
Visual artist Aideen Barry, who is an Associate Member of the Royal Hibernian Academy and a member of Aosdána, was awarded the €15,000 commission by Music Network and the Irish Traditional Music Archive to create an original artwork inspired by the Bunting Harp Collection. This collection is one of Ireland’s national treasures and was compiled by Edward Bunting in the late 18th century to preserve indigenous culture in Ireland at a time of great threat.
Oblivion / Seachmalltacht / ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᔪᓐᓃᖅᑐᑦ draws parallels between Bunting’s preservation of ancient Irish music and the existential threat to all human culture and existence. Through it Barry examines the role of art and artists at a time of great uncertainty, environmental collapse and the prospect of a world of ruin if we do nothing at all.
Music Network is funded by the Arts Council. The Irish Traditional Music Archive is funded by the Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. The support and co-operation of Special Collections & Archives, Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) is gratefully acknowledged, as is funding from The Canada Council for the Arts and the support of Aillwee Caves and Tropical Popical.
