Sirius Arts at Roches Point
FOUNDED IN 1988, the Sirius Arts Centre serves Cobh and the
Cork Harbour area. Over the past ten years Sirius has developed a
flourishing programme of exhibitions, concerts, workshops,
seminars, and lectures. Since 1994 the Sirius Artist in Residence
scheme has been an important part of this programme.
In June 1998, as an extension of the facilities available to
visiting artists, the Sirius Arts Centre entered into an agreement
with the Commissioners of Irish Lights to lease a lighthouse
dwelling at Roches Point. As the programme of automating
lighthouses in Ireland is complete the dwelling was surplus to
requirements. It now serves as a residence and studio for visiting
artists. The dwelling is in a splendid location which affords the
artist space and freedom to work in this magnificent setting.
Roches Point Lighthouse with the Arts Centre dwelling in the foreground (photo: Werner Berthold)
Byron Kim from New York was the first artist to avail of the space at Roches Point. His work has appeared in a number of group exhibitions including Face to Face: Recent Abstract Painting, (List Visual Arts Centre, 1996); The Figure/The Body, American Art 1945-1995, (Museum of American Art, Philadelphia, 1995); and the 1993 Whitney Biennial.
Kim says 'The lighthouse site has been perfect and amazing. The isolation has given me the mental space to reassess what I was doing in my work and to make strides towards a next phase. . . . I think the residency at Roches Point will similarly help artists who need time to think, away from the pressures of their usual life.'
Kim's prediction has proved totally correct as subsequent residents at the dwelling have been inspired by the surroundings. The current artist is Clare Langan, a photographer and film maker, whose work over the years has been inspired by the interaction of sea and land. The position of Roches Point has been inspirational in developing her new work. The Commissioners of Irish Lights have also been helpful to Clare, obtaining prismatic lenses which are of assistance to her in developing her new work.
In the future, the Sirius Arts Centre will invite writers as well as visual artists to further expand the arts programme.
Artists in residence at Roches Point in 1999 will include Dorothy Cross, Anne Tallentine & John Seth, Elizabeth McGill, and Liadin Cooke.
Roches Point Lighthouse with the Arts Centre dwelling in the foreground (photo: Werner Berthold)
Byron Kim from New York was the first artist to avail of the space at Roches Point. His work has appeared in a number of group exhibitions including Face to Face: Recent Abstract Painting, (List Visual Arts Centre, 1996); The Figure/The Body, American Art 1945-1995, (Museum of American Art, Philadelphia, 1995); and the 1993 Whitney Biennial.
Kim says 'The lighthouse site has been perfect and amazing. The isolation has given me the mental space to reassess what I was doing in my work and to make strides towards a next phase. . . . I think the residency at Roches Point will similarly help artists who need time to think, away from the pressures of their usual life.'
Kim's prediction has proved totally correct as subsequent residents at the dwelling have been inspired by the surroundings. The current artist is Clare Langan, a photographer and film maker, whose work over the years has been inspired by the interaction of sea and land. The position of Roches Point has been inspirational in developing her new work. The Commissioners of Irish Lights have also been helpful to Clare, obtaining prismatic lenses which are of assistance to her in developing her new work.
In the future, the Sirius Arts Centre will invite writers as well as visual artists to further expand the arts programme.
Artists in residence at Roches Point in 1999 will include Dorothy Cross, Anne Tallentine & John Seth, Elizabeth McGill, and Liadin Cooke.