COLLAGE ON VIEW
Propagated Palms
at The Ireland Institute in Dublin, Ireland
8 December 2021-28 February 2022
The artists featured in “Propagated Palms” worked in Brian Palm’s studio in The Ireland Institute, where Palm is Artist in Residence. Learning Brian Palm’s technique and working methods, sixteen “forged Palms” were created under his direct supervision. The resulting artworks, which comprise this curious exhibition, are highly original offshoots of Brian Palm’s already distinctive mixed media and collage artwork.
Throughout Brian Palm’s career as an artist in Dublin, he has maintained a studio with an open-door policy. The first of these ateliers was in a large house along Dublin’s Grand Canal on Percy Place, and it attracted artists and musicians from all around Ireland often working in collaboration. Other studios followed in Rathmines and Drumcondra where visiting artists were encouraged to participate in the art making process. The most frequent of these visitors was the distinguished Irish artist, Mick O’Dea, who often joined Palm in his work. On one particular occasion, the finished artwork looked as much like O’Dea’s work as it did Palm’s. That painting was the seed which sprouted into the idea for “Propagated Palms”.
The collage artist and film maker Joe Lee, a long-time friend and colleague of Palm’s, was the next artist to participate. He created a stunning collage, very characteristic of his own work, but using Palm’s imagery. Joe was followed closely by the sound artist STANO with whom Palm frequently works. Palm’s long-established tradition of painting with his nieces and nephews provided the exhibition with its youngest exhibitor, Zoe Stokes Smyth. With the project gathering momentum, artists Pat Pidgeon and Paul Stuart worked simultaneously in the studio during one of the most fruitful periods of the experiment. Friend and colleague Mary Louise Martin, the renowned print maker, expertly crafted an example of Palm’s work. Lockdown provided the inspiration for Rachel Ballagh to collaborate long distance. Materials were sent to her by post, she returned a beautiful piece of work in response. Between lockdowns Helen O’Dea visited the studio three times to complete a highly considered, understated piece. Printmaker and batik artist Bernadette Madden included a photograph from her family photo album, combined with several pictures by Palm, to create the highly personal piece Bus in the Snow. Sadie Stokes created a final piece for the exhibition just after Christmas, adding another young person’s vision to the show, which was extended to 28 February 2022. More ideas are currently germinating, with plans to bring the exhibition on the road to other arts centres in Ireland during 2022.
Brian Palm’s Artist Portfolio, “The Artist’s Archive”, appeared in Kolaj 34.
(text adapted from materials provided by Brian Palm)
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