Summer 2011 Vol 28 No 2

About face
With portraits on exhibition in London, Dublin, and Belfast this summer, former cityscape artist Colin Davidson is building on his new obsession, writes Brian McAvera

Reciprocal arrangements
Sue Hubbard visits Caroline McCarthy’s studio in London as she prepares for a site-specific show in Dublin’s Green on Red Gallery in June

Together, apart
Isabella Evangelisti appraises Una Sealy’s ambiguous dual portrait Neighbours; winner of this year’s Ireland-US Council/Irish Arts Review portrait award at the RHA

Some Time
New work from Katherine Boucher Beug combines richly expressive painting with three-dimensional objects, writes Alannah Hopkin in anticipation of her exhibition at Oliver Sears Gallery in June

Darkside chronicles
Donal Maguire seeks out the dark inspiration for Sheila Rennick’s current suite of paintings at Hillsboro Fine Art, Dublin on view at the gallery in July

From California to Fota Island
Nigel Monaghan examines the portfolio of botanical artist Patrick O’Hara, whose research trips to capture the ‘Wild Flowers of California’ are on view at the Boole Library, UCC

Changing the guard at the National Cultural Institutions
Surely the directors of our National Cultural Institutions should first and foremost be imbued with a deep understanding of our cultural heritage, argues John Mulcahy

Maud Cotter, mind over matter
Ahead of the USA-based show, ‘Imagine Ireland 2011’, Maud Cotter talks to Brian McAvera about her early interest in materials and how this preoccupation has shaped her practice

The Elements of Cooke
Barrie Cooke’s retrospective at IMMA, beginning in June, reveals an artist who has continuously enlarged the boundaries of his practice, argues Gerry Walker

Ink Stained Hands
Hilary Pyle reviews a history of Graphic Studio Dublin that has been published to mark their 50th anniversary

Seeing Things
Fionnuala Croke welcomes Sir Denis Mahon’s bequest to the National Gallery of Ireland and pays tribute to a distinguished art historian on his 100th birthday

Parity of form
Emily Mark-FitzGerald elucidates the design principles behind the art books of Henri Matisse, on display at the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin, until September

Reflections on Modernism
S B Kennedy discusses some highlights from the AVA Gallery’s summer show ‘A Celebration of Irish Art and Modernism’ drawn exclusively from private collections

Separating Mahony and Mahoney
Julian Campbell untangles the mystery surrounding the life and career of 19th-century Irish artist James Mahony

Patrick Pollen: metaphysician in glass
Nicola Gordon Bowe pays tribute to the late Patrick Pollen whose chosen medium perfectly reflected his concept of religious art

The Treasury: content and context
Unique Irish treasures from the Iron Age to the 12th century have been assembled at the National Museum in Dublin to showcase the recently conserved Faddan More Psalter which takes centre stage at the exhibition, writes Eamonn P Kelly

Lisselan, Clonakilty, Co Cork
Nigel Everett looks at the fashion for horticultural variety initiated by William Robinson’s The Wild Garden and seen to good effect in the gardens of Lisselan, Co Cork

Obelisks & eye-catchers
‘Folly is the generalized term applied to such structures, despite many being entirely functional and far from foolish’ writes James Howley of three recently repaired historic obelisks in County Dublin

The Lyric’s Third Act
From humble origins in the home of their founder, Mary O’Malley, the Belfast Lyric Players finally have a theatre building equal to their reputation, reports Paul Larmour

Un esprit sauvage
Frances Ruane looks at themes and influences in Cormac Boydell’s new ceramic collection on exhibition at the Irish College, Paris this summer

Regular Features

Contributors
The IAR Summer Diary
Under the Hammer
Editor’s Letter
Design Portfolio
Books
POMP AND POVERTY: A HISTORY OF SILK IN IRELAND
reviewed by John J O’Connell
BY THE WAY: A SELECTION OF PUBLIC ART IN IRELAND
reviewed by Patrick J Murphy
SURGEONS’ HALLS: BUILDING THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS
IN IRELAND 1810-2010
reviewed by Frederick O’Dwyer
IRELAND, DESIGN AND VISUAL CULTURE: NEGOTIATING
MODERNITY, 1922-1992
reviewed by Joseph McBrinn
IRISH CERAMICS: THE BEST OF IRISH CERAMIC SCULPTURE
reviewed by Peter Lamb
INTERIOR LANDSCAPE: ALDBOROUGH HOUSE
reviewed by Christopher Clarke
REDRAWING DUBLIN
reviewed by Seán O’Laoire

Catalogues
Curator’s choice