It's Very New School: exhibition at Rua Red

March 4 – April 22

Rua Red

South Dublin Arts Centre

Tallaght

Co. Dublin

A group exhibition at RUA RED exploring how art can impact education, featuring work from John Beattie, Sarah Browne, Ella de Búrca, Priscila Fernandes, Mark O’Kelly, Maria McKinney, and Sarah Pierce. Curated by Jennie Guy.

This exhibition addresses a crisis.

The arts component of the Irish Leaving Certificate curriculum has remained largely unchanged for over 30 years. Students emerging from this program are effectively isolated from the language, modalities and potential of contemporary art. Thinking outwards from the parameters specific to this isolation, this exhibition advocates for change within much broader sites of education, producing a contagious effect that forces us to reconsider larger institutional deficiencies.

Participating artists have been asked to create work that considers these themes within the context of this gallery exhibition. The Art School platform often functions by staging artists within schools, so that the school itself becomes the site of production. It’s Very New School is different: We are working outside of the school, bringing these themes from the school into the gallery.

Some of the goals of It’s Very New School are:

To provide sites for artists to explore their relationship (in some cases as yet unchartered) with non-tertiary education.
To demonstrate to children and young people (both directly and indirectly) that there are different perspectives about how (and what) we learn.
To create a sharp focus on artistic research in order to encourage more active involvement from young audiences.
To create a multi-faceted ‘project’ that is legible in longer-term international dialogues about art and education.

For audiences of all ages.

Events

March 3rd, 18:00 – 20:00
Exhibition preview and opening introduced by Ruairí Ó Cuív, Public Art Manager, Dublin City Councilf and Maoliosa Boyle, Director of Rua Red. The event will feature a performance by Sarah Pierce and actors from Tallaght Community Arts.

March 4th, 15:00 – 16:00
Artist Talks with John Beattie and Priscila Fernandes and Curator jennie Guy.
Join artists John Beattie and Priscila Fernandes for a walk through of the exhibition where they will discuss their individual works and the themes that the exhibition addresses. Guy will also discuss her longer-term project Art School. Open to all ages. Tickets are free but booking is essential.

April 6th, all day
Artist Lectures with Mark O’Kelly and Sarah Browne
Throughout the day, Artists Mark O’Kelly and Sarah Browne will deliver lectures and workshop-sessions to South County Dublin Schools that participated in the residency. These sessions are directed towards participating schools but the Galleries remain open to the public.

April 8th, 14:00 – 15:30
Artist Talks with Maria McKinney, Mark O’Kelly and Sarah Pierce.
A three part discussion with the artists who have contributed works to the exhibition, followed by an open Q&A. Open to all ages. Tickets are free, but booking is essential.

April 8th, 15:00 – 16:00
Performance of The Square
A Performance by actors from Tallaght Community Arts, working with artist Sarah Pierce. Open to all ages. Tickets are free, but booking is essential.