We Must Follow The Circle
5 June – 10 July 2007
Triskel, Tobin St. Cork

Artists: Valerie Gleeson, Sarah Iremonger, Leo Mc Cann and Maureen O'Connor
Curated by Kitty Anderson and Gavin Delahunty

It is frequently suggested that there is a hierarchy of certain artistic practices and regions over others, and the invitation to curate an exhibition in Cork with a local organisation such as Backwater Artists Group provoked such a discussion. The work selected for this exhibition refutes such an argument and is instead guided by the artworks themselves. Presented across galleries 3 & 6 at Triskel ‘We Must Follow the Circle’ is an attempt to represent and interpret the diverse activity at Backwater Artists Group: a non-commercial community, a meeting place a place to exchange ideas. Although the painting, photography, sculpture, and video presented in this exhibition have been produced in relative isolation, a common thread will lead the viewer through them all. Central to the exhibition will be its structural and lighting design in partnership with artist/architect Essicka Kimberly.

Valerie Gleeson
Born Cork
Completed her postgraduate degree in Fine Art at Crawford College of Art & Design in 1998. She received Arts Council Travel Awards in 2002, 2003 and 2004, and the Thomas Damann Junior Scholarship in 1997 her work is held in public and private collections in both Ireland and aboard. Valerie has undertaken several residency programmes and exhibits regularly across Europe. Recent exhibitions include ‘The future Past’ at Rhondda Heritage Park Gallery, near Pontypridd, Wales in association with Sculpture Cymru and Sculpture Bretagne.

Sarah Iremonger
Born Dublin
Completed her postgraduate degree in European Fine Art at Winchester School of Art, England in 1998. She has since received several awards including Arts Council Project and Bursary awards in 2002, 2004, & 2005, a CRC Cultural Relations Committee award from the Department of Arts, Sport, and Tourism in 2003 and an artist in residence fellowship at the Kunstlerhaus Schloss Wiepersdorf in Germany in 2002. Sarah has exhibited both in Ireland and across Europe. Recent projects include the ‘Research and Process Room’ for the George Petrie exhibition at the Crawford Municipal Art Gallery in Cork 2004 and ‘Lumpy Art History’ at the Turku Art Museum in Finland 2003 and at The Temple Bar Gallery in Dublin in 2001. Sarah recently ran as a Green Party Candidate for the 2007 local elections.

Leo McCann
Born Belfast
Completed his postgraduate degree in Sculpture at Belfast College of art in 1977 and has since held several teaching positions in England and Ireland. Leo has exhibited widely across Ireland. Solo shows include ‘The Human Contract’, Fenton Gallery, Cork, 2001 and ‘Allowance and Investment’, Triskel, Cork and Project, Dublin in 1992. Leo’s work is held in several collections including that of Northern Ireland Arts Council, U.C.C. and Crawford Municipal Art Gallery, Cork.

Maureen O'Connor
Born Tipperary
Completed her MA Fine Art Birmingham Institute of Art & Design in 1991. Current Exhibitions Include ‘Almost Uncertain Cavan County Museum, 2007 ‘Contemporary Counterparts Part 1’ Beltable, Limerick, 2005 ‘EV+A`99 (curator Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn) Limerick City Gallery ‘EV+A`98 (curator Paul O`Reilly) Limerick City Gallery ‘EV+A`95 (curator Maria de Corral) Limerick City Gallery. Maureen has one several major awards and is held in several Public and Private collections including Office of Public Works, Department of Finance, Department of Defence and National Collection of Contemporary Drawing.

Essicka Kimberly
Born Mexico City
Trained as an artist at the Cranbrook School and Williams College in the United States and as an architect at the AA in England. In her architectural work in Cork and Berlin, she focuses on the reinterpretation of project briefs based on the found conditions of each site. Recent projects include a pedestrian bridge in Clonakilty that addresses the lack of pedestrian access to the riverfront; proposals for underutilised public spaces in Cork; and a series of designs meant to viewed underfoot.

Kitty Anderson is Associate Curator of Frieze Projects, London.Gavin Delahunty is Assistant Curator at Modern Art Oxford and Associate Lecturer University of the Arts London, Central St. Martins.

Backwater Artists Group
Located in Wandesford Quay, Backwater Artists Group was founded in 1990 by graduates of the Crawford College of Art and Design. It is dedicated to providing studios of a professional standard for Visual Artists and is committed to addressing issues concerning the practice of Visual Arts and to promoting improved conditions for Artists.

Triskel
Triskel is the leading arts centre in Cork, Ireland. Combined with use of its own building Triskel initiates projects and partnerships throughout the city including: public art events, exhibitions, performances, residencies, film screenings, and literature events.