Mayo artist takes up visual residency at Linenhall Arts Centre

Mayo artist Bryan Gerard Duffy has taken on a new four-week visual arts residency in the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar.

The residency will allow the artist to expand his practice while developing a site-specific artwork that will remain at the Linenhall indefinitely.

Duffy was selected from among ten of Mayo’s most prominent visual artists by the Linenhall’s Visual Arts Committee with unanimous approval across the board for his proposal.

The committee comprised of visual artists Alice Maher, Pat Harris, Joanna Hopkins and Anne O'Mahony along with art collector and Linenhall board member, Eamon Smith.

Distinguished artist Alice Maher said of the submission: “The Linenhall will benefit from the presence of this wonderful young artist, who seems just on the threshold of bringing his work to a whole new level.”

This is the first time that Mayo’s epicentre for art has run such a project which has been an aspiration for some years for the centre.

Director, Bernadette Greenan said: “Art Centres are where artists and art come alive and are a locus for all in the community to access the arts.

“This has proved particularly difficult in recent months.

“We are very keen to bring life back to the building after the period of lockdown and having an artist create and work in the building is an opportune way to achieve this.

“We want to support and prioritise local artists and it is important that we initiate dialogue

in the building around the visual arts and stimulate visitors and staff to consider the space in which they exist.’

Duffy’s proposal converges around a conversation on the importance of the arts as a survival (protective) mechanism during this period.

Duffy said: “I am absolutely delighted to have been awarded the inaugural Linenhall Visual Arts Residency 2020.

“As a Castlebar native, I have seen the centre evolve over the years and I am honoured to play a part in this process.

“This is a wonderful opportunity in this strong community that has consistently embraced the visual arts throughout. I hope to do this venue justice.

“A special thank you to the Linenhall Visual Arts Committee for believing in my work, and to director Bernadette Greenan for her ongoing support of the visual arts.”

The residency will run until September with a launch of the artwork set to take place later this year.