A fascinating new arts show opens in the city this week as The Glass Society of Ireland makes a public call for peace, using glass as a way of visualising this objective in three dimensions.
Following an open call to its members earlier this year, and a selection process supported by guest jurors; Guggi, Róisín Murphy, Angie Gough and Fred Curtis, the organisation presents an exhibition of Peace Bowls featuring a selection of works from twenty-six artists at the Irish Georgian Society, City Assembly House, on South William Street.
20% of sales from the exhibition will be donated to Medicines Sans Frontiers in order for them to continue their important work of helping the women, children and men of Gaza.
Speaking about the show, Project Curator and outgoing chair of GSoI, Róisín de Buitléar, says; “Bowls as food vessels and containers are some of the earliest records of human survival in Ireland. They were commonly used as receptacles with both inhumed and cremated remains as burial vessels, in wood Iron and bronze. Glass, silver and gold vessels became symbols of power and glory. Examples such as the 8th century Ardagh and Derrynaflan Chalices and later glittering cut glass bowls from the Dublin, Cork and Waterford factories which graced tables and temples of the rich and powerful, can be seen in the National Museum of Ireland.
“The bowls in this exhibition carry symbolic power and are expressions of individual responses to the challenge of creating a bowl of peace in contemporary Ireland. It is both intriguing and surprising how many different expressions of glass are used by the various artists. It shows the versatility of the material, which can capture ephemeral echoes of tranquillity while containing the tension of its natural characteristic. There is much to learn and contemplate by visiting this show.”
The exhibition will be officially opened at 6pm on Thursday 12th December 2024 by Irish academic, peace activist and human rights defender, Monica McWilliams. A groundbreaking leader and campaigner for peace in Northern Ireland, Monica was a signatory of the Good Friday Agreement on behalf of the Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition, which she co-founded. She served in Northern Ireland’s first Legislative Assembly and as Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. Dr. Chantelle Ní Chróinín, who recently returned from Palestine, will offer some words on behalf of MSF.
Participating artists include Alison Byrne, Alison MacCormac, Angela Brady, Aoife Soden, Clare Bowe, Deirdre Buckley Cairns, Derek Irwin, Donna Coogan, Eleanor Jane McCarthy, Eva Kelly, Fiona Byrne, Irene McBride, Jennifer Hackett, Jenny Mulligan, Kathryna Cuschieri, Kristina, Ligacova, Lynn O’Donovan, Madeleine Hellier, Marja Huhta, Michael Ray, Mide Quinlan Reddin, Natasha Duddy, Róisín de Buitléar, Sara Lynch, Suzanne O’Sullivan, and Trish Goodbody.
The exhibition runs at the City Assembly House from 12th – 20th December 2024. Opening hours – Mon – Sat – 10am – 5pm (plus Sunday 15th Dec 12pm – 5pm).
Feature Image: Suzanne-O-Sullivan – Peace Bowl
