Genevieve Harden

Genevieve Harden has been a community artist in Dublin since 1997. Her practice has been primarily in art processes involving community development and regeneration and has resulted in exhibitions, events and public sculpture. During the period 2001-2003, Genevieve lead many of Draíocht's outreach programmes with both children and adults. Genevieve's community practice informs her own studio work and she used her time at Draíocht to further develop this.

"The six months I spent as Artist in Residence in Draíocht was an opportunity for me to take time out of community art for a while and concentrate on producing a series of paintings based on the demolition and construction of houses. I found the studio a brilliant place to work. Great lighting and heating, and plenty of space and privacy when I wanted. In conjunction with my studio work I facilitated evening classes in painting for beginners as part of Draíocht’s workshop programme and also workshops for the Draíocht Dabblers group, an older people’s art group. This work gave me a deeper level of involvement with the Arts Centre. The six months at Draíocht was the most productive time in terms of my own painting that I have ever had. Hopefully it will continue to do the same for many artists."
(June 2005)