Drawn from Borders gave Artlink members the chance to look creatively on the events of 100 years ago, borders and Brexit and generate a creative output in response.
The exhibition has been produced by Artlink in association with the Nerve Centre and Tower Museum. It is part of the Decade of Commemorations project, supported by the European Union's Peace IV programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).
The exhibition is the culmination of a nine-month project, reflecting on the centenary of the partition of Ireland and the border. Over 20 artists from across the island of Ireland came together, to participate in a creative programme of presentations, discussions, visits and workshops, to inform their creative response.
The exhibition had been scheduled to be shown in galleries on both sides of the border in April and May of this year. However, when the Coronavirus crisis struck and ‘lockdown’ was announced all the artists’ work had to be shelved, with no knowing when the exhibitions would be rescheduled.
But, though the Saldanha Gallery at Fort Dunree (which had been due to exhibit Drawn From Borders in April), has had to be closed, Donegal based Arts organisation Artlink have managed to ‘open’ a virtual replica, The VSG, in its place.
The creation of this digital 3D space means that the artworks can now be installed in a virtual environment, accessible online to a global audience.
The exhibiting artists are Anna Marie Savage, Anne Loveday, Bernadette Bradley, Brenda McPherson, Caroline Kuyper, Clare Toland, Jacqui Devenney Reed, Janet Hoy, Katrina Tracuama, Marian O’Donnell, Mark Cullen, Martha McCulloch, Mary Joyce Davis, Moira McIver, Noel Connor, Orla McKeever, Paul Cairns, Paul Murray, Sally Patton, Sue Morris and Tina O’Connell.
Anyone can access the Drawn From Borders exhibition at any time by logging on to www.artlinkonline.ie to navigate the virtual gallery. You can also access a virtual tour of the gallery with Artlink here.
Photo cred: Catherine Ellis, Elephant in the Room