ReView – the Glass Society of Ireland’s unique two day pop-up exhibition in a garden in Wicklow, Ireland
In September 2022, I participated in ‘ReView” an eco-conscious art exhibition and gathering curated by Meadhbh McIlgorm and hosted by The Glass Society of Ireland (GSOI). The event aimed to give new perspectives to older or unresolved artworks through responsive installation in the landscape, and it took place in Hunting Brook Gardens, Wicklow.
Camaraderie and Community
The exhibition was designed with minimal additional display resources and only natural light, and it featured the work of fourteen selected artists. We spent two days in the stunning Hunting Brook Gardens, where we accompanied our respective artworks.
Upon arriving at the gardens, we walked through as a group, helping each other determine the best locations to display our work. We were fortunate to have gorgeous weather on the Saturday, which made for a delightful experience of setting up our works and spending time with them in nature.
Following that, we split into smaller groups to assist one another with setting up our artwork. I partnered with Alison Byrne and Emer O’Donnell to identify the ideal locations for our pieces.
Alison chose to exhibit her ‘Minhala Vessels‘ in a stream, where the movement of the water complemented the swirling patterns of her blown glass vessels.
After considering a precarious log that was a bit too close to the walking path, Emer discovered the ideal stump to showcase her graal blown glass piece, ‘Freedom,’ which draws inspiration from natural patterns.
My first work in a juried art exhibition: Tapu
As for my artwork, ‘Tapu,’ I perched it on a wooden fence overlooking the valley below.
‘Tapu’ (2015) is a screenprint on glass that depicts an image from my wedding in 2006. The picture portrays my husband Jon and me gazing out towards Piha Beach in New Zealand, looking towards our future together. I named this work after a passage from Jon’s wedding vows:
I’ve learned a new word while we’ve been traveling around New Zealand: tapu. I was told that it’s a Maori word meaning something akin to the Unknown and that the Maori use it when referring to anything new or unexplored; they consider the tapu to be sacred. The tapu evoke a sense of the greater universe and its inner workings; special, unique and mysterious, these attributes should be cherished and conserved, loved and honored.
Marja, I don’t know what the next hundred years will hold – they are tapu.
https://www.jonathoncolman.org/2012/08/14/my-wedding-vows-to-marja-huhta/
When I learned about ‘ReView’, I was immediately struck by the idea of displaying ‘Tapu‘ in this new setting. It presented an opportunity to give new meaning to a piece that had been collecting dust on our shelf at home. To my surprise, as I shared the story behind the artwork with visitors throughout the day on Saturday, it elicited such profound emotions. It was overwhelming to contemplate that the two newlyweds in the photograph could not have anticipated standing, ie living, in Ireland in 2022. The trees depicted in the print aligned perfectly with those in the valley, and the contrast between the black and white image on transparent glass and the lush greenery along the path was truly breathtaking. It was quite a magical experience for my first juried art exhibition.
Camaraderie and Community, Continued!
The evening was spent camping overnight in the gardens, enjoying time together offline and chatting around a fire. We even got to experience the gorgeous moonlight over Hunting Brook Gardens before the weather changed on Sunday morning.
Weather & Location Changes
The rainy Sunday turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as it prompted the relocation of ‘Tapu‘ to a new spot in the garden. The artwork joined other inspiring pieces – Rachel McDonnell‘s ‘Under the Harvest Moon‘ and Eva Kelly‘s ‘Valhalla’ – and together, they created a beautiful temporary display in a corner of the garden.
As the weekend drew to a close, a sense of exhaustion mixed with the joy of sharing the experience with others. Thanks to the wisdom of GSOI board chair and ‘ReView’ participant artist Róisín de Buitléar, the project was recorded on film, preserving a lasting heritage for this transient moment and turning it into an independent piece of art.
ReView: The Film
Jenny Keogh of Standout Films shot, directed, and edited the film, titled ‘ReView’, which chronicles the exhibition from morning to evening, revealing the stunning artwork and landscape. The poetic narration by Meadhbh McIlgorm adds an ethereal quality to the visuals.
The film was recently selected for the prestigious ‘Glass Meets The Future’ Film Festival 2023‘ (North Lands Creative in partnership with Shanghai Museum of Glass), and the GSOI held the first in person public screening at The Circular in Dublin in January 2023, marking a momentous occasion for all involved.
You can watch the beautiful film here: https://youtu.be/U2GkDDJ-jaU
Participating in the ‘ReView’ exhibition was an incredible experience, providing a supportive and community-driven way to revisit older artwork. The exhibition and accompanying film have left a lasting impact, creating a platform for artists to showcase their work and inspire others. I hope to see more exhibitions like this in the future.