image by and copyright of Kevin McMonagle Fallcarragh, Gortahork Co. Donegal, Ireland Mobile: +353 (0)87-286-3289
It’s my first day down here at Cló near Gortahork in Donegal. On Tuesday I took a spin up the road to find out where it was and to practice my very rusty driving skills. I stalled the car about twenty times and nearly went off the road once but I made it there and back in one piece. The site is miles from anywhere, deserted in the wilds of the hills and mountains. There are plenty of sheep a few buildings dotted here and there but for the most part it is isolated and quiet apart from the howling wind.
When I arrived I met Ian Gordon. He is working on a set of prints which he is making for his solo show coming up in May at the Glebe gallery. As he was busy working I decided to busy myself with some work and began to locate a suitable workstation for making paper. It took some time to organise and I had a siesta mid-day to build a small fire in the residency house. With no obvious burning material I searched outside for twigs and built a fire that lasted about half an hour. After some crackers and cheese I came back to the workshop and made a stack of paper.
Ian and I chatted while we worked and over tea breaks. He started off in conceptual land art and moved to plein air painting in the 90’s. He was making prints of embroidered fabrics which he had buried in the landscape. Although he had never documented this work by chance someone had asked to photograph a series he had done in the 70’s in London and this was the content of the prints he was making. We talked about the differences between artistic cultures in the UK compared to rural Donegal, the pros and cons of exhibiting , making a living from your art practice, having a goal however ‘childish’, foolish, far-fetched or far-flung it is and the importance of the artist to remind society that we are a collection of individuals.
After Ian left I pressed and laid out the paper for drying. I began to ponder again; why am I making paper? Is it because I feel the need to and it is my duty as an artist to fulfil the need to express and carry out activities that have no obvious practical function? Even though paper itself is a very practical material and has numerous functions the act of making it by hand with everyday resources is not at all practical and certainly not economical. Ian had asked me a lot about my work. He was perplexed as to why I did not write or make some mark on the paper. It is interesting for me to experience peoples’ responses to my act of making paper. It seems that this act inspired people to want to do something with it. Maybe some of this has rubbed off on me as I attempt to use this paper to develop images onto.
For now, although it is not yet dark I am very tired from all my new experiences today. I have just taken a phone call about another project making paper for a band’s new album. It is possible of course and it could be quite fun but for now I think I will get back to making a fire and turn in for the night.
When I arrived I met Ian Gordon. He is working on a set of prints which he is making for his solo show coming up in May at the Glebe gallery. As he was busy working I decided to busy myself with some work and began to locate a suitable workstation for making paper. It took some time to organise and I had a siesta mid-day to build a small fire in the residency house. With no obvious burning material I searched outside for twigs and built a fire that lasted about half an hour. After some crackers and cheese I came back to the workshop and made a stack of paper.
Ian and I chatted while we worked and over tea breaks. He started off in conceptual land art and moved to plein air painting in the 90’s. He was making prints of embroidered fabrics which he had buried in the landscape. Although he had never documented this work by chance someone had asked to photograph a series he had done in the 70’s in London and this was the content of the prints he was making. We talked about the differences between artistic cultures in the UK compared to rural Donegal, the pros and cons of exhibiting , making a living from your art practice, having a goal however ‘childish’, foolish, far-fetched or far-flung it is and the importance of the artist to remind society that we are a collection of individuals.
After Ian left I pressed and laid out the paper for drying. I began to ponder again; why am I making paper? Is it because I feel the need to and it is my duty as an artist to fulfil the need to express and carry out activities that have no obvious practical function? Even though paper itself is a very practical material and has numerous functions the act of making it by hand with everyday resources is not at all practical and certainly not economical. Ian had asked me a lot about my work. He was perplexed as to why I did not write or make some mark on the paper. It is interesting for me to experience peoples’ responses to my act of making paper. It seems that this act inspired people to want to do something with it. Maybe some of this has rubbed off on me as I attempt to use this paper to develop images onto.
For now, although it is not yet dark I am very tired from all my new experiences today. I have just taken a phone call about another project making paper for a band’s new album. It is possible of course and it could be quite fun but for now I think I will get back to making a fire and turn in for the night.
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