ON THE MAP . . . Tim Robinson's map of the Aran Islands, projected on the playground of one of the former South Parish schools at Sullivan's Quay, acts as an introduction to The Vinyl Project, which includes a host of practitioners.
The many items are described by curator Simon Cutts as coming together textually and graphically as if for "an expanded book of parts, an anthology using the nooks and crevices of a building in a certain state of decay, instead of the page. The new work is layered onto existing surfaces, prominent features, and other facets of a building that remains unaltered by these additions."
A book room, selling publications by contributing artists, is another element of the project which continues to August 13th and which incorporated Sound Eye, the festival of international poetry which ended yesterday. This included the world premiere of The Unmaking by Wendy Mulford, performed by Angharad Davies with music composed by Michael Parsons.
More than 50 writers were involved in this week-long event, coming from China and America, Britain, Australia, Israel and Ireland to explore the possibilities of extended linguistic boundaries in speech and in song.
INTO THE WEST . . . The Festival of Music at St Barrahane's church in Castletownshend begins with Hugh Tinney and the RTÉ Vanbrugh String Quartet on Thursday, July 21st (and continuing on Thursdays to August 18th). "Music Among the Mosaics" at the Church of the Ascension in Timoleague continues with a recital on the restored organ by Pierre Farago of Paris next Saturday (July 16th, with two more concerts on July 24th and July 30th). Both are beautiful and unusual places, with Timoleague Castle offering its gardens for picnics before the concerts.
CHANGES AFOOT . . . The John Berger exhibition at the Vanguard Gallery is now scheduled for December 5th next, while due to complications with their Spike Island venue the Fiona Shaw/Dorothy Cross "Monte Notte" project is postponed so indefinitely as to seem cancelled.
