DAY-TRIP TO IMMA

Took a little trip to IMMA yesterday to see the Graphic Studio 50 years exhibition. As it was all print editions, I was in my element, although did compound my blog entry below, as not one single lino-cut appeared, and even more disappointing, only one woodcut; if  you were new to printmaking you might only think there were 3 techniques. Ah well, it was still an interesting show, some really great pieces. I did almost bankrupt myself and walk away with a piece... thankfully my good friend dragged me away before I had a chance to do anything really silly.

There was also a piece my Norah McGuiness. Lithographs, I have been told will make a grown man cry, and to see this level of detail... jeese, I would almost be tempted to cut off my right hand to be able to do half of what she did... I'd even cut off my right hand to own a piece.

Apart from the Graphic Studio exhibition, we saw The Moderns - some Robert Ballagh Pop Art was ... pop-arty, you know big and bold-more substantial to the American pop-arts; for me it was the Mainie Jellet and Evie Hone paintings on the upper levels that were the stand-outs (can't remember which one is which... one is Mainie Jennett anyway... and the other one is Evie Hone). A lot of Picasso influence in there, but also very religious - you can really tell they were female painters, there's a delicacy that counterbalances the harder cubist elements - me likey! Definitely worth a look, it's just seems there's a lack of energy and cohesion to the place. It would be nice to walk into IMMA and feel like you were going somewhere really special - either they are down-playing the exhibition (why?), or there really is a depression setting in (having said that, I haven't been to IMMA for several years, and my regular visits have been to the Tate Modern)... could this be the start of the downturn effecting the arts... I hope not, and hopefully it's just a short-term blip.