Platform 10

louth | arts and media | opinion/analysis Friday November 05, 2004 16:45 by Sean Crudden sean.crudden at iol dot ie Jenkinstown, Dundalk, Co Louth 087 9739945

Dundalk Artists on Show

Platform 10 is the title of a new exhibition by Bridge Street Studios, Dundalk.

"Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments."
William Shakespeare

Bridge Street Studios are presenting an exhibition of new work in the Louth County Museum, Jocelyn Street, Dundalk. The exhibition opened last night (Thursday 4 November 2004) with an address by Cll. Mark Deary and it continues (including Sunday afternoon) every day until Saturday 13 November.

The artists exhibiting are Ciara Agnew, Gillian Callan, Paola Catizone, Louisa Goss, Frances Lambe, Joanne McKenna, Sarah McKenna, John O’Connor, Fiona Quigley, Fiona Thornton. The work is a robust continuation of the work I saw just before Christmas last and, in the case of John O’Connor and Paola Catizone at least, it is on a larger scale.

Last night I was able to afford the time only to race around the exhibition so I am not in a position to give you any considered view on it. In any case, I doubt if any of the readers of indymedia would be in the slightest bit interested in my opinion. However I intend to take the time to visit the exhibition again during the week and I intend to make a purchase to go with the framed tapestry by Fiona Quigley that I bought last year and which I am very pleased with.

I urge all local readers (at least) of indymedia to get along to the exhibition in a similar frame of mind and buy whether they can afford it or not. They will never have any regrets if they do.

That said some of the prices I noticed last night were, to say the least, unrealistic.

Somehow Bridge Street Studios are always associated in my mind with the idea of a dedicated arts centre (built from scratch) for Dundalk. Or maybe the artists prefer their present restricted amenity?

Amharchlann an Chú disappeared in the refurbishment of the Town Hall (replaced by a temple to the god Alcohol). It was an unpretentious space but it served usefully for many years as an intimate concert hall. Perhaps an arts centre could be planned to include a small concert hall (as well as plenty of parking facilities).

Editors of indymedia will forgive me for being old - in the sense that I have not much of a future - and so I am sure that, in connection with the arts in Dundalk, they will permit me to conclude by quoting John Milton:

"Tomorrow to fresh woods, and pastures new."