RHA's 183rd annual exhibition

I was at the Varnishing Day of the annual Royal Hibernian Academy's exhibition this afternoon.  The Varnishing Day is an old term and today means something like a preview does in the theatre.  The official opening is tomorrow and the exhibition continues until 17th August.

If you know nothing about the RHA, then let me give you a potted history.  They were founded by royal charter in 1821 with the express purpose of holding an annual exhibition of works by members of the Society of Artists.  William Ashford, probably still today counted amongst the finest painters we ever produced, was their first president and he is commemorated by having a room named for him in the purpose-built gallery, which now stands on Ely Place, the original premises on Abbey St having been destroyed in the Rising.  The RHA engages in education for both children and adults, and maintains a large art library and archive.

Over half the works being shown are selected through open submission, for which anyone may apply.  Other works are selected by the committee and you will see many artists with the initials "RHA" after their names.  The current list includes some of the foremost Irish artists today.

Entry to the exhibition is entirely free and most of the works on show are for sale, though many will be bought today, and tomorrow at the official opening.  I liked a lot of what I saw today, as well as engaging in a healthy amount of "I could have done that myself".  One prominently placed painting looked like a slice of toast to me but when I read the label discovered it was an open space and field.  That's me told!

Uberfest Malahide

A new music festival is taking place in Malahide over the coming weekend.  Situated in Bridgefield, which is very close to the DART station, it will feature top acts every night.  Ryan Sheridan will be playing this evening but the big event is on Sunday when the stars of the Commitments as well as the Dublin Gospel Choir take to the stage.  Tickets are available for all events here.  Here's hoping the weather will be dry.

People's Art Exhibition

The next People's Art Exhibition takes place from 10th - 12th May around the railings of St. Stephen's Green.  This long established event features amateur artists from all over the country.  It's an excellent way to pick up some original and unique art and not as pricey as you might imagine.  Here's hoping for no rain, if not actual decent weather!

Freshly Squeezed

If you're looking for something to do over the weekend, the next couple of posts should be of interest.

Freshly Squeezed is a student film festival running on 12th May in the Sugar Club.  They are an international not-for-profit organisation setup to showcase the work of student and newly graduated students.  They'll be featuring 25 short films throughout the day and best of all, entry is free!

Review: 'The Man From Earth'

Guest review of 'The Man From Earth' by reader Kevin B:

The Man From Earth is a thought-provoking play based on an awarding-winning screenplay and low-budget indie-movie of the same name. The play has been brought to Dublin by the theatre group No Drama and is on until the 11th May 2013 in the Sean O'Casey Theatre in East Wall.

Though technically in the genre of science fiction, it has more in common with the excellent sub-genre of alternative history. This is not a genre of play commonly accessible in Dublin so the chance should not be missed to sample it. Without giving the plot away, if you enjoy reasonably deep conversations with friends about history, science and philosophy, then you should enjoy this.

Of particular note was the lead actor, Daniel O'Brien, who delivers a compelling performance from a demanding role and lead actress Aisling Morgan who handles the understated subtleties of her role admirably.

Though one hour twenty minutes long with no interval, it has enough plot twists to keep the audience stimulated.

Tickets cost €12 / €10 and are available here. Perhaps it's a sign of the play's merits that we received a second guest review, a review of the opening night performance by Padraig McAuliffe, who comments: "This adaptation of a screen-play by [Jerome] Bixby, who wrote screenplays for the Twilight Zone and Star Trek, does what the best of these series excelled in, namely speculate about the limits of science and man’s place within its laws. ... Highly recommended."

'The Man From Earth' - No Drama Theatre

No Drama Theatre's latest production starts today, Tuesday 7th May, in the Sean O'Casey Theatre in East Wall. The play is an adaptation of Jerome Bixby's The Man From Earth and is described by No Drama as "a philosophical drama with a science fiction core". (Bixby also wrote several episodes of Star Trek and The Twilight Zone.) Tickets cost €12 / €10 and are available here.

City Intersections - Community & Food

City Intersections is back on Tuesday May 7th 2013. This month their topic is "Community & Food", discussing DIY urban food production, food markets, localism, communal gardens and allotments.

The event starts at 7 pm in the Workman's Club on Wellington Quay and entry is free of charge.

Upcoming exhibition in White Lady Art opening on 3rd May

From White Lady Art:

"Third World"
Marca Mix and Kathrina "KIN" Rupit dual exhibition
Street Art on mixed media
Affordable and collectable art

This exhibition will be a showcase of new work from street artists Marca Mix (South Africa) and Kathrina "KIN" Rupit (Mexico). These two artists will explore what it means to be from a third world country - or in the case of Mexico, a former third world country - and the impact street art can have on the lives and culture of its people.
It will run for the first three weeks in May, with the usual craic at the opening with music from CAUSE and EFFECT, free booze and BYOB.

https://www.facebook.com/marcamixmedia

https://www.facebook.com/KINMEX?fref=ts

'Bankers' in the New Theatre

You might recall that a few years ago a well-known media commentator suggested that Irish theatre failed to address the economic (and moral, political, etc.) crisis facing the country. I think it's fair to say that since then matters have changed and there've been many artistic and theatrical works produced about economic and political issues. One banker friend of mine has wondered if crisis-fatigue has set in: are people tired of hearing of gloom and doom? My guess is that many people do indeed want to move on; but on the other hand, some can't do so whether they want to or not.

In any case, the New Theatre in Temple Bar has a new production starting soon, Bankers by Brian McAvera:

"What happens if you have lost everything? If you have nothing more to lose?
What happens if you are a decent man, an ex-teacher, who has been destroyed by the banks? What would you do to change the system?

A well-known banker, a CEO, wakes up to find himself blindfolded and bound. His wife and his sixteen year old daughter are in the same position. Then the kidnapper enters: quiet, determined, organised. This is no spur-of-the-moment action. They are in a small disused theatre which he has soundproofed. And he has a plan...

And no, this man isn’t a psychopath, but he is motivated, terminally, and as such he is very, very dangerous… "

Previews start on April 29th 2013 and tickets cost €15/€12.

GPO museum

The GPO Museum is open for free tomorrow.  See here for more.

I reviewed it a couple of years ago when it first opened - it's a fantastic little museum.  Can't believe it's nearly 3 years old!