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James Hayes
TWO Kerry based artists, Bláithín MacDonnell and James Hayes, completed Kerry County Council sponsored residencies at the nationally and internationally acclaimed Cill Rialaig artist retreat in Ballinskelligs recently.
Each artist was awarded a two week residency in a cottage studio on the spectacular Bolus Head rent free with utilities paid by the Arts Office at Kerry County Council.
“We were delighted to work with Cill Rialaig to help this residency happen,” says Hannah Pinckheard, Assistant Arts Officer with Kerry County Council. “Artists need time and space to make their work. Investment in the arts is always richly rewarded.”
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James Hayes is a free-lance visual artist, illustrator and qualified architect based in Kerry. He is skilled in the disciplines of painting, illustration, and architecture. Hayes’ arts practice is primarily based in oil painting, but also extends to encompass hand drawing and a form of hybrid digital image making.
Bláithín Mac Donnell work incorporates performances in unexpected locations and mediums and is concerned with how we share and retell stories in the digital age. Her work seeks through narrative to bring seemingly abstract events closer to the viewers experience.
Bláithín Mac Donnell
“The residency at Cill Rialaig provided much needed time and space to focus and reflect on my practice,” says Bláithín. “I had a very productive time making new work inspired by the locality. It was a wonderful experience and I hope to be able to return one day. Thanks to the council for their support.”
“Cill Rialaig offers ideal conditions to think and create,” agrees James. “This visit afforded me the opportunity to progress various paintings in building my next body of work for exhibition, whilst also to develop the design of a large-scale public mural project currently underway in Kerry.”
The Cill Rialaig Project, founded by Dr Noelle Campbell Sharp, is a voluntary body whose main aim is to develop and maintain a retreat for artists and writers from Ireland and abroad. It involved the redevelopment of the pre-famine village of Cill Rialaig as a retreat for artists, poets, writers, film makers and composers.
Seven studios, a meeting house and library and a utility house have been completed at the village. More than 5000 Irish and international artists have completed residencies there.
