Projects - Carlisle Pier
Carlisle Pier an exhhibition by Julie Merriman Brochure
The Arts Council, Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company, Dun Laoghaire - Rathdown County Council Logos
Julie Merriman
Visual art residency 2006 - 2010
Dún laoghaire-rathdown county council is committed to high quality arts and cultural programming and since 1994 has developed an exciting range of festivals, exhibitions, initiatives and educational programmes. dlr arts residency Programme creates opportunities for artists from all disciplines to develop their own work over a period of time and in so doing to engage with the broader community of dún laoghaire-rathdown.
in 2006 dlr arts and dún laoghaire Harbour company supported by the arts council commissioned Julie Merriman to map changes and developments at dún laoghaire's carlisle Pier over the course of five years. Midway through her residency this exhibition is the first opportunity to view the artworks produced during the last two and a half years. the residency sees a new departure in Julie's work with carbon drawings of the sea and poignant commemorative works inspired by her surroundings and the history of the harbour as well as her more recognisable exquisitely executed linear images of buildings and architectural environs. i am delighted to welcome you to this exhibition by Julie Merriman and i hope that you will enjoy the beautiful artworks.
An Cathaoirleach Councillor Tom Joyce Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council October 2008
Dún laoghaire Harbour company is delighted to support Julie Merriman in her important work to record change and development in the Harbour through her art. Widely recognised as one of the finest artificial harbours in the world, Julie's talent has added new perspectives to its immense and well-documented historic legacy.
the wonderful images she has created will stimulate further thought and interest in the Harbour, its past and future. Julie challenges us to look anew at some of the most familiar buildings and views around us.
the Harbour is a continuously changing environment as the company invests in the restoration of some of its most important features and manages its commercial potential to generate the finance needed to carry out these works.
it is of paramount importance that while we conserve the historic character of the Harbour we do not treat it as a static museum. it must be open to sensitive development and adaption to meet the changing needs of succeeding generations of Harbour users.
Julie's unique perspectives of the Harbour over the last few years allow us to reflect through art on the enormous heritage we enjoy and the challenges of the future.
Michael Hanahoe Chief Executive, Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company October 2008 Artist's Statement
"the act of drawing is at the centre of my practice and it reflects an interest i have in architecture, in particular the phases of construction and demolition. i am interested in the idea of shadowing an architect's work, in bringing a building back to the drawing board.
the residency began at the carlisle Pier in 2006, initially focusing on the exterior of the building as viewed from the road. i then began studying its interior, in particular the 'shed' building, where the trains would have terminated. the history of the building was central as i wanted to acknowledge and explore its role in the social dimension of the region. From the outset of this residency there was an intention to produce a set of commemorative drawings, drawing in the form of offering. this has developed into a group of works entitled 'Bringing them...' in 2007/08 my focus shifted towards the sea; i began to observe the carlisle Pier from the perspective of the boat passenger. this evolved into drawings where the sea became an increasingly important factor, with its shifting motion and its relationship to the Pier building.
the long-term nature of this residency has made it possible for my work to digress into other aspects related to the carlisle Pier. it has given me the flexibility to explore, allowing each drawing to become an open-ended inquiry, backwards and forwards, within my method of drawing. the support i have received, practical, financial and administrative, has been invaluable, not just in the development of this work but also in my development as an artist."
Julie Merriman October 2008 Biography
Julie Merriman lives and works in dublin. she studied fine art in Falmouth school of art, england. she has exhibited in ireland and england, including a solo show in the West cork arts centre in 2006. Group shows include 178th exhibition rHa, and 127th exhibition, rua, 2008; let'go, Monster truck, 2008; as Built -drawings, Wicklow county council, 2008; eigse, carlow in 2008 and 2006; eurojet Futures, the anthology '05 and eurojet Futures '04, rHa; eV+a, limerick (winning an open award in '03); the Mostyn Gallery, Wales and the norwich Gallery, norwich. she has also participated in numerous residencies and symposiums in ireland and the uK.
End: Carlisle Pier acrylic and carbon on board, 25 x 30 cm, 2008
Terminal: building to be demolished, Carlisle Pier carbon on paper, 150 x 180 cm, 2006 Sea carbon on paper, 150 x 185 cm, 2007
Bringing them eggshells carbon on paper, 120 x 150 cm, 2006 Soundings: building to be demolished, Carlisle Pier carbon on paper, 120 x 160 cm, 2006
Acknowledgements
the artist would like to thank the following individuals and organisations:
Dún Laoghaire Harbour Board and Company, including; Michael Hanahoe, Margaret Madigan, Ken O'sullivan, James Carter, Tom Byrne and David Redmond, Sarah Searson, the Arts Office, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, the Arts Council of Ireland, Pavilion Theatre, Dún Laoghaire: Gillian Buckley, Photographer: Clare Pocock, Photographer: Padhraig Nolan, Design
Julie Merriman Carlisle Pier
Pavilion Theatre Thursday 6th - Saturday 22nd November 2008 10am - 6pm Monday - Saturday Admission Free
Supported by The Arts Council
For further information:
The Arts Office,
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council
County Hall
Marine Road,
Dún Laoghaire,
Co. Dublin
Phone: (01) 271 9531
E-mail: arts@dlrcoco.ie
Website: www.dlrcoco.ie/arts
