Imogen Stuart. Photograph: Amelia Stein
Congratulations to Imogen Stuart, Edna O’Brien and William Trevor, who have been elected Saoithe in Aosdána. The honour of Saoi is bestowed for singular and sustained distinction in the creative arts. The symbol of the office, a gold torc, was presented to the artists by President Michael D Higgins at the Arts Council, who said: “May I congratulate our three new Saoithe, gabhaim buíochas leo, for the profound and distinctive contribution that each of them has made to the cultural dimension of our society.’ Members of Aosdána nominate and elect the Saoithe and no more than seven artists may hold this honour at any one time. The present Saoithe are: Seoirse Bodley (music), Anthony Cronin (literature), Brian Friel (literature), Edna O’Brien (literature), Camille Souter (visual arts), Imogen Stuart (visual arts), William Trevor (literature).
To celebrate Imogen Stuart’s election to Saoi, we re-publish here Amelia Stein’s eloquent series of photographs documenting Imogen in the creation of an Angel of Peace, for St. Teresa’s Church in Johnson’s Court, Dublin from the Irish Arts Review Summer 2008 edition.
Castletown House, Ireland’s largest and finest Palladian mansion, has lain closed to the public since last September – all because of a dispute about access and parking.
At the 42nd Annual General Assembly of Aosdána, the organisation whose members are honoured for their contribution to the arts in Ireland, Sinéad Ní Mhaonaigh was the sole visual artist to join the ranks.
Representing Ireland at the 60th Venice Biennale, Eimear Walshe (they/them) presents Romantic Ireland, curated by Sara Greavu with Project Arts Centre, Dublin.