Wrapping Up

My artist-in-residence is coming to an end, so it is time to revisit the three main goals I laid out for both my sabbatical and time in Ireland.

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 My first goal was to connect with and gain knowledge of the local and regional community. As you saw in the earlier blog posts, I was exposed to a number of individuals who informed my sensibility for creating work in Ireland. Some were formal interactions such as with the Burren BeoTrust or historians at some of the archeological locations I visited. Many connections, however, were with the local population who told stories, histories and various topographical considerations relevant to a location. Achieving this goal was critical to inform the photographs I made and formulate the idea for the installation.

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The second goal was to foster an exchange of ideas, practices and methodologies with other artists and educators. During the residency, I was exposed to a number of artists who work in various mediums at the Burren College of Art, the Galway Mayo Technical Institute, Gallery 126 and at different locations during my travels. Many of these artists also work within the educational field.  These interactions and discussions have resonated with my own approach to teaching and art. I have gained a wealth of knowledge that will impact my future classes and projects.

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Finally, my primary goal was to complete a site-specific body of work that culminated in an exhibition. I gained a greater appreciation for what my advanced students encounter when formulating, developing and completing a series in a short timeframe. While I also experienced this during college, it was again challenging and exhilarating to visually present a concept in just a few short weeks. The history, folklore, weather, people, locations and Irish light all played major roles in this endeavor. I look forward to exhibiting this work when I return to the United States.

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