Response to Beauty 4th October 2014

Dowra Court House, Dowra

10.30-11am    Coffee/Registration - Dowra Court House

11.00-11.30    Anne Marie Ward - welcome.

                         Heather Brett - Relevant Project issues.

11.30-1.00       Alice Bentley, M.R.I.A.I Conservation Architect. Presentation.                                                                 ‘                        

‘A Place in the World’ A consideration of the evolution of building in the Irish                                     landscape, exploring our responses to, and requirements of, buildings and places.

Alice would like to invite participants to bring an image of a building, or settlement, in its context.     It may be rural or urban. What it is about the example that inspires you? Why do you consider it beautiful, appropriate, or important; or alternatively, inappropriate or of poor quality? 

Alice Bentley has lived and worked in Ireland since 1998, working initially for Shaffrey Associates and latterly for Blackwood Associates. Her experience includes work in Glasgow, Shetland, Uganda and Kenya. Alice’s work in Cavan has included the Johnston Central Library, Arva Market House & holiday accommodation and recently, a feasibility study for the Market House in Ballyconnell.

1.30-3.00pm   Walk/Talk in Doobally with Bee Smith on local folklore and pagan sites in Dowra.   Bee is a Geo Park Tour Guide and provides workshops on HAIKU poetry.

Heather Brett  0870534737

A description of the project:             

Cultural discussions & workshops to encourage artistic response to the landscape of the Cavan Burren and the wider Geopark.

Talks to date have included included a guided tour of Marble Arch Caves Fermanagh; a walk in the Cladagh Glen & a talk on the Arts & Biodiversity.   A photographic presentation by Milca Gabb.  

Artist Elena Duff gave an illustrated talk on her own work in particular looking at texture in visual arts practice.   Noel Monahan spoke a response to the landscape and referenced other literary giants and how they respond to landscape in their work.

The Culture Night event at Jampa Ling was an opporutnity for the participating artists, musicians and storytellers to share their work.   The evening was very well received and artists and audience had a great time at the Buddhist Retreat Centre.

This project is a joint initiative of the Arts and Heritage offices of Cavan County Council.   Cavan County Council acknowledges core funding from the Arts Council.

To contact Heather Brett call: 0870534737 or email: heatherbrett22@hotmail.com

‘This project will reconnect us to our landscape, to celebrate through art and word

this amazing history. The Earth has shaped who we are; our mythology, folklore and traditions.

These areas (Global Geoparks) have strong links to the arts communities where the synergy

released by bringing science and the arts together can yield surprising results’