Play | Draíocht Blanchardstown

Curated by Mark Garry

Draíocht commissioned Mark Garry to curate an exhibition around the theme of ‘Play’, in celbration of Spréacha, Fingal’s International Arts Festival for Children 2008, hosted in Draíocht’s Ground Floor Gallery. In response to this commission Mark Garry selected five artists who were asked to create a new work exploring the theme of ‘Play’, one which would offer children an opportunity to look and understand contemporary art while at the same time stimulate and challenge an adult audience. The five artists, David Beattie, Anita Delaney, Katherine Lamb, Clare Maguire and Lee Welch all came up with very different and innovative pieces, combining animation, kinetic sculpture, video installation, sound art and a 3d comic book. This diversity is also apparent in the way that each artist has chosen to conceptually approach this brief. Works in the exhibition incorporate storytelling, science, observations of narrative structures, re-enactments of childhood memories, explorations of the sonic potential of materials and finally – magic.

David Beattie

David Beattie, graduated in 2006 with a Masters in Visual Art Practices from Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art Design and Technology. Recent exhibitions include Homemade, Dublin, Sculpture at Kells, Kilkenny, and The Important Thing Is That Tomorrow Is Not The Same As Yesterday, Pallas Contemporary Projects, Dublin.

Anita Delane

Anita Delaney graduated with a BA in Fine Art in 2006 from Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art Design and Technology and has recently shown work in the Platforma Video Festival in Athens and ISAFF Open Cinema Festival in St Petersburg, Russia.

Katharine Lamb

Katharine Lamb studied at the National College of Art and Design, receiving a degree in Glass Design and later a Masters in Fine Art in 2007. She recently exhibited in ‘Tulca’, Festival of Visual Arts, Galway and Galleri Barbara, Sunndalsora, Norway.

Claire Maguire

Claire Maguire graduated with a BA in Fine Art from the Dublin Institute of Technology, Portland Row in 2007. This is her first exhibition outside of a college situation.

Lee Welch

Lee Welch studied at the Academy of Art College, San Francisco and is currently studying at the National College of Art and Design, Dublin. Recent exhibitions include All Colours Black (next to nothing), Ashford Gallery, Dublin (2007); Pleasures & Wayward Distractions, Broadstone XL Gallery, Dublin (2007); Holga, Monster Truck, Dublin (2007); Falling Somewhere In-between, Queen Street Studios Gallery, Belfast (2006).

Mark Garry

Mark Garry is an artist, curator, writer and occasional musician.