notes from Dublin
I've been really enjoying the past few days in Dublin...while Thursday, my first day here, I was mainly a wandering and somewhat dazed tourist, yesterday and today I shifted into artist-having-an-exhibit mode with the arrival of my agent Alan Evans and his wife. Alan introduced me to Oliver Gormley, owner of Gormleys Fine Art where I will be showing (pictured above...it is much larger inside than appears from the street) and I was able to look around the gallery and hear a few details and arrangements concerning the show. Later Alan and I visited a number of other galleries including the Hugh Lane (which featured the work and actual (extremely messy and chaotic) studio of Francis Bacon) and Hillsboro Gallery, an excellent contemporary space where I discovered the work of John Noel Smith. Today we went to the Royal Hibernian Academy, where I was very drawn to the strong abstract paintings of Charles Tyrrell. We were in and out of a number of other galleries too, and I came away impressed with the thriving community of abstract Irish painters.

Dublin has, of course, much more to offer besides galleries, and I have had several great meals, a pint (or two) of Guinness in the local pub last night, and some good walks around the city--from crowded, chaotic Grafton Street to the quieter side streets and parks. I took some photos this morning, struck by the patterns of sidewalks, colorful doors and intricate tiling. It is these small details that always seem to strike me when I am in a foreign city. (Below, two views of the sidewalk.) More to come: I have another day here before leaving for Tyrone Guthrie Center on Monday, and tomorrow I am hoping to see some prehistoric sites outside the city...



  ¶ 11:49 AM