ELSEWHERE
Collaborative Exhibition with the Backwater Artists Group curated by Dr Helen Farrell
CIT Wandesford Quay Gallery and Elizabeth Fort, Cork City
April 28th – May 20th 2017
“There is an ambiguity about the word ‘elsewhere’ – it suggests somewhere else but nowhere in particular; a place as yet unknown or a place that no longer exists” – Backwater Artists Studio https://backwaterartists.ie/programme/past/elsewhere-2017/
This point was made in relation to the ambiguity of visual art exhibitions – art is made ‘elsewhere’, in a private space that is not usually identified, and then transported to the public arena. In this exhibition, however, artists exhibited in sites within close proximity to their own studios. To bring further exposure to these creative spaces, Backwater Artists Studios collaborated with MTU Crawford College of Art & Design through an interactive project with undergraduate students from the college. These third year students paired with the exhibiting artists, and met on a regular basis in the lead up to the exhibition.
One particular piece within this exhibition by twin artists Megan and Cassandra Eustace represented the area of contemporary drawing. Anne-May Tabb, a third year student at the time with a passion for drawing was paired with the Eustace twins to shadow their process. Chatting with Anne-May she recalls on aspects of her experience ‘The twin’s approach to creating work was extremely playful. Every time we met they had some type of material ready on the table along with some tea and cakes. While we chatted we messed about with the material in front of us allowing creative ideas to flow.’ She continues, ‘It was a really special time for me and I remember the informal discussions we shared had a great effect on my studio work… to be a part of the entire creative process really put the knowledge I had gained in Crawford into context’. More visual information on this collaboration can be found on the Engagement page of the CCAD website: engagement/
Image 1-5: Images taken by Mike Hannon of Wandesford Quay Gallery and sketchbooks by Anne-May Tabb
Image 6 & 7: Work by Megan and Cassandra Eustace taken by Darn Thorn