Peter Richards

Peter Richards

And things left undone…

And things left undone…

artist residency: July - August 2021

exhibition: 20 August - 5 September

Peter Richards

And things left undone… the latest solo exhibition by Peter Richards created whilst Artist in Residence with Art Arcadia at St. Augustine’s in the Old Schoolhouse, July/August 2021. Drawn to visually exploring observed contradictions and conundrums Richards has engaged with perspective/s and a question of his container... For the exhibition he brings together a grouping of new works in an attempt to share his thinking out and into the space.

During his time on the Art Arcadia residency, Richards developed a project starting with the proposition that through time… things change… how we see things change…  Changes to things and changes to how we see things inevitably impact on an understanding of the other. Employing himself as both the subject and observer, he attempted to depict: how his portrayal was beyond his control; how he could see the back of himself; and, how he could redact his appearance. It transpired that he ended up working with ways to disappear and being brought back to attempting to break a truth that he currently subscribes to - a square only exists as a square from a single point view - and failing.

Richards often engages with interactions between re-presentation, time and referencing. His works can be seen as artistic enquiries into subjects, such as: how understanding is formed and truth is subscribed to; how we each have the capacity to suspend disbelief in order to continue believing in our chosen truths. In 2020 Richards participated in the Art Arcadia Lockdown Residency and grappled with how his image of self appeared inadequate under scrutiny. Since the early 1990s he has presented work nationally and internationally. Further details about his artistic practise can be found at https://richardspeter.co.uk/

This project is in partnership with St Augustine's Heritage Site and is funded by Derry City & Strabane District Council, Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Community Foundation NI.

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Catherine Ellis

Catherine Ellis

Wishing Won't Make It So

Wishing Won't Make It So

artist residency: February - March 2020

exhibition: Culture Night 18 September

Catherine Ellis

Inspired by the fact that St Augustine’s Old Schoolhouse was originally a school, Catherine Ellis decided to create a fictitious ‘school room’. Harking back to a time when school for many was something to be endured, not enjoyed, a notion now long dead.

The title of the work, Wishing Won’t Make It So, alludes to a darker narrative which is inspired from an eclectic source of reference material. Initial intentions referenced from The Dead School, by Patrick McCabe still infuse the exhibition.

 

‘Excuse me sir – you’re in the way.  I can’t see the blackboard’.

He did’nt think his teacher could ignore him.  That was what he thought.  

But that was where he was wrong………….

His teacher could be just as smart as Stephen when he wanted. 

The Dead School – Patrick McCabe

Twice destroyed by fire and re-built in the 18th Century the Old Schoolhouse and St. Augustine’s Church are now listed buildings. A conversation with the current caretakers confirmed that in more recent years the room was still being used as a Sunday School for children.

Catherine is interested in materials and objects and how our reading of such ‘stuff’ can be informed by its construction. Originally due to open at the end of the residency in March, the full-stop of the lockdown has allowed for new sensibilities to creep into the final exhibition.

Catherine Ellis was born in Derry, where she now lives and works. Process and materials are at the centre of Catherine’s practice. She is a Visual Communications and Fine Art graduate from University of Ulster, and works across media: Installation, sculpture, photography, video and sound. Referenced from literature, film, political and social contexts, her work explores material and the transformational potential within. She has exhibited locally and nationally.

Recent solo exhibitions include Elephants in the Room at Saldanha Gallery, Fort Dunree, Inishowen and So It Goes at Social Gallery, Derry. Most recent collaborative project with artists Amanda Walker, Steve Lewis and Janet Hoy, The Stone Tapes a sound installation funded by Derry City and Strabane Council for The Walls 400 Years Project. Group exhibitions have included work selected for the Royal Ulster Academy, Belfast and the Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin.

This project is in partnership with St Augustine's Heritage Site and is kindly funded by Derry City & Strabane District Council, Arts Council of Northern Ireland and The Ireland Funds.

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