A Taste of Old Dublin
Ellen Braende was born in Oslo, Norway in 1959, but has been living in Dingle, Co. Kerry for the last ten years. Most of her working life was spent as an illustrator and graphic designer, leaving her little time for canvas and pallet. Some years ago, while holidaying in Dingle, however, she decided to take time out and try painting full-time. Her new show at The Bad Art Gallery was inspired by a visit to the monthly horse fair at Dublin's Smithfield – a timely memoir. Ellen Braende: 7 August – 4 September
 
Cutting Edge Imagery
The first showing here of the slide-tape installation 'Background, 1991-94' by James Coleman is an August highlight at the Irish Museum of Modern Art. This is the final work in a trilogy in the IMMA Great Hall. The Roscommon-born artist uses the photograph, the projected film still, the transparency, the slide show with sound track and film as powerful means of conveying his reflections on the meaning of image/language. Communication, subjectivity and the use of media are central concerns in the latest show. Also at IMMA until October is 'Order. Desire. Light' including some 250 works on paper by a wide range of contemporary international artists. Drawn from the collection of a single private owner, this exhibition brings together many different approaches, while focusing on the experimental nature of the medium of drawing and its closeness to poetry. Order, Desire, Light: 23 July – 19 October James Coleman: 1 – 31 August
 
Westward-Ho
The Gate Gallery with galleries in Skibbereen, West Cork and Kenmare, Co Kerry has a busy exhibition programme this summer. The season starts with 'Sailing from West Cork to Byzantium', Maurice Henderson's first major solo exhibition for some time and reflecting his travels between Istanbul and Cork, folowed by Christine Thery with 'Waking The Land'. Watch out, too, for shows by Deirdre Burke of Wicklow and West Cork artist Eadaoin Harding Kemp. Last but by no means least, there is an exhibition by John Kingerlee, his only major solo show in Ireland this year, with American and Chinese museum tours taking up most of this artist's time. Gate Gallery: throughout the summer
 
Out in the Wild
Eric Doggett is originally from Slane, Co Meath and now lives in Dublin. He photographs a wide range of different subjects, but has a particular passion for wildlife. A member of Meath Arts Group, his exhibition 'Out There' at the Signal Arts Centre reflects dedicated hours of early rising and patiently waiting from dawn to dusk. Eric Dogett: 5 – 17 August
 
Young Art Springboard
Graduate shows around the country will showcase the cream of our emerging arts talent again this summer. Lemonstreet Gallery is showing a select group show of paintings by graduates from the NCAD, DIADT, and DIT (14–15 August). Winning installations by three third level fine art students – Grace O'Neill, Leigh San Juan and Niamh O'Beirne – are on view at the Black Church Print Studio Curiosity Cabinet in Dublin's Temple Bar (until 1 September). Meanwhile, the Student of the Year 2008 exhibition at the Lavit Gallery in Cork can be viewed from 19–30 August.
 
Hard Rain
The 'Hard Rain' Exhibition at the National Botanic Gardens will run until the end of August, before moving to Kilmacurragh Arboretum in Co Wicklow. Devised by photographer Mark Edwards, the 'Hard Rain' exhibition features photographs illustrating the lyrics of Bob Dylan's 'A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall. The exhibition has toured internationally and includes work by Edwards, Sabastiˆo Salgado and others, creating a compelling commentary on climate change, poverty, habitat loss, and human rights. An accompanying book, Hard Rain: Our Headlong Collision with Nature has also been published. National Botanic Gardens: until end August; Kilmacurragh Arboretum, Co Wicklow: autumn 2008