Venues and streets throughout the capital are currently embracing the influence of art as Dublin Gallery Weekend unfolds across the city center. The festival is organised by the Contemporary Art Gallery Association.
The festival’s opening events include the announcement of renowned artist Patrick Graham as the first-ever winner of the Francis Bacon Lifetime Achievement Award. Inside the Francis Bacon studio at the Hugh Lane Gallery located on Dublin’s Parnell square, Mr Graham characterized the honor as “fantastic”.
He said he was “stunned as it’s very difficult to accept in a way that you’re worthy of an award”. Mr Graham explained that he was “not being over modest, but it was really stunning” as Francis Bacon is a real hero of his adding that “I’m still kind of in shock in a way”.
The victory of Mr Graham is significant to Dr Barbara Dawson, who serves as the gallery’s Director and acted as an awards judge. “We have great prizes for literature, but the visual arts need their own awards and their own recognition which is now happening with this marvellous prize,” she said.
Referring to the Hugh Lane Gallery refurbishment, Ms Dawson described the team there as “excited” now the hoarding is up and building works are continuing. “It’s going to be a fantastic project with what we call the 1930s wing in the Hugh Lane Gallery going to be refurbished with environmental controls and lighting to 21st century standards,” she said.
Ms Dawson added that the building works will comprise “a new city library beside us here and there is going to be a link between the two so when this is over, it will be a game changer for Parnell Square”.
Numerous urban galleries are taking part in Dublin Gallery weekend, featuring venues such as the Taylor Galleries, The Solomon Gallery, Green on Red, and Hillsboro, positioned right beside the Hugh Lane. Members of the Contemporary Art Gallery Association CAGA, including Jessica Taylor of the Taylor Galleries, consider this weekend a major event for themselves and their peers.
“It really is a celebration of art, in all its form and we are so excited that people will be coming into the city centre for four days with events happening everywhere!” she said.
“We know that knocking on the door of one of the Georgian buildings galleries can seem daunting, but we are so welcoming and so pleased to invite everyone in, so just come on in and say hi.”
Dr John Daly, Chair of CAGA and owner of the Hillsboro Gallery, echoed her message. “When you enter any of the galleries in Dublin, you will always be met with a warm welcome friendly face,” he said, adding that “there is nothing more we love than talking about art, introducing people to artists and letting them explore the city through the visual arts”.
This weekend’s schedule features talks, walking tours, and exhibitions of original pieces across the capital, ensuring Dublin Gallery weekend enlivens the urban landscape.
