Wishing Won’t Make It So

‘Excuse me sir – you’re in the way. I can’t see the blackboard’.
He didn’t think his teacher could ignore him. That was what he thought. But that was where he was wrong. For that was exactly what Malachy did. He could be just as smart as Stephen when he wanted. That’s what Webb forgot you see.
The Dead School – Patrick McCabe

Catherine Ellis has produced a sculptural installation the focus of which is on darker tales gleaned from conversations, of memories of experiences from school days past.
The title Wishing Won’t Make It So, alludes to past times with a nostalgic view of the classroom. The wishbone used as a metaphor to describe this tug of war between right versus wrong, black versus white, where the balance was always heavily weighted, no room for a middle ground.
Catherine sourced objects and used materials, burnt wood, insulating tape, wire wool and chalk to present her thoughts and findings over the four-week residency.

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.

Wishing Won’t Make It So opens on Culture Night 2020 Friday 18th September 7:00-9:00pm and continues Tuesday 22nd to Saturday 26th 11:00am-5:00pm.