News – AAEX (Art As Exchange)

AAEX Flamingo

Posted on August 6, 2020September 4, 2020 by bgxmag

A Flamingo Has Landed in Dundalk

AAEX were kindly invited to provide a contribution to the closing event of the Seek Festival 2020, planned for the 8th of August at the Spirit Store.

In the spirit of connecting to the town’s history, AAEX members decided to create an installation of an oversized flamingo sculpture with mechanical wings to commemorate the flamingo, which in 1985 took residency at Dundalk Bay and drew large crowds, even prompting a photo competition in the Argus. The AAEX Flamingo was originally meant to be installed at the small island opposite the Spirit Store, the habitat of the original one. However, as that event had to be cancelled due to the postponement of Phase 4 of the easing of Covid 19 restrictions, it was installed on the roof of the Dundalk Tourist Information on Market Square instead and became part of the attractions in town, intended to attract visitors like its original predecessor.

It managed to put a smile on many people’s faces as a lighthearted edition to all the other fantastic artworks that went up during the Seek Festival!

We enjoyed producing the flamingo as an opportunity to collaborative work coming out of lockdown and before more stringent COVID restrictions were re-introduced.

Impressions

Photo: Una Curley

Photo: Ciara Agnew

Photo: Bernhard Gaul

Photo: Catherine McCourt

Production and Installation

Cardboard Prototypes

Some photos of the original flamingo and background info

Dundalk Democrat, 12 August 2020

Main photo: Isabel Lapuyade

Photos of the original flamingo courtesy of Charley Mc Carthy and Joe Quigley from the Dundalk Northend and Friends Facebook group.

AAEX Installations (Dundalk)

Posted on January 20, 2020September 4, 2020 by bgxmag

Two Weeks of Art Installations in Dundalk

15 – 29 November – 41-42 Clanbrassil Street

Long Walk Shopping Centre – The Demesne – County Museum – Train Station / Park Street

AAEX (Art as Exchange) is a dedicated group of over 30 local artists, who over the last 3 years have provided a variety of local arts initiatives.

From 15^th -29^th November 2019 AAEX will be showing visual art installations in a central exhibition space at 41-42 Clanbrassil Street and selected locations in Dundalk.

20 AAEX artists have created a wide variety of art works including video installations, sculptures, tree wrappings, projections, hangings in public spaces and performative interactions.

Exhibiting artists: Anna Marie Savage, Bernhard Gaul, Caoimhe O’Dwyer, Caroline Duffy, Ciara Agnew, Geraldine Martin, Grainne Murphy, Heather Cassidy, James McLoughlin, Jebun Nahar, Jenny Slater, John Moloney, Michael Stafford, Niamh Gillespie, Niamh O’Connor, Omin, Petra Berntsson, Samantha Brown, Susan Farrelly, Úna Curley.

Curatorial Support: Anne Mager / the corridor

Open daily 12 – 5 pm (except Sunday 17th November)

Opening reception:

Friday 15^th November 7 pm. All welcome.

Other events:

WHERE IS THE ART IN DUNDALK? – 23^rd November 5 pm
Panel discussion hosted by the corridor

What are the working conditions for artists and creatives in County Louth and why are there not more opportunities and experimental spaces for visual artists in Dundalk to present their work? Which ways of collaborations and partnerships can lead to a vital and versatile arts scene? Together with artists and business owners from Dundalk, we want to discuss the infrastructure, needs and challenges for artists in the region.

Participants:
Tom Muckian, Roe River Books
Paraic Mc Quaid, visual artist and lecturer
Úna Curley, visual artist and AAEX member
Moderation: Anne Mager & Marcel Krueger, thecorridor.ie

Followed by:

Brochure Presentation // Meet the Artists – 23^rd November 6 pm

The exhibition is supported by Dundalk BIDS, Creative Spark, the Dundalk Credit Union, the Local Enterprise Office Louth and Ronan Halpin. AAEX would like to thank the various locations for letting them put up artworks.

Exhibition Video

Exhibition Brochure – Download as PDF

Brochure Outside

Brochure Inside

Floor Plan / Map – Download as PDF

Supported by

The Postcard Project

Posted on February 27, 2017April 15, 2019 by aaexartspark

We decided to use a postcard art project as first attempt to step out of our studio setting and find public engagement.

The idea is simple: AAEX members produce postcards using various ideas and approaches, which are pre-stamped and handed to members of the public with the request to send them back to us. People are encouraged to draw or write on the cards or otherwise alter them, if they wish to.

Once returned, the exchange is documented and the cards presented in a form to be decided on. The cards are numbered, so we know which ones didn’t come back, leaving a gap.

Cards were produced between January and April 2017.

First public hand out of cards: Drogheda Arts Festival, RollUp, Roll,up – Saturday, 29th April at Scotch Hall, Drogheda alongside the Creative Spark screen printing stall.

Second installment in the canteen of the DkIT, Dundalk, Tuesday 9th May. Other cards were handed out to acquaintances and interested.

Montage and presentation of returned cards on Saturday, 20th May at Creative Spark, 2-5pm in the context of National Drawing Day.

Stamps generously sponsored by irishstamps.ie

Photos from the installation of returned postcards at Creative Spark. All cards are numbered, gaps identifying cards that weren’t returned. Almost 200 people were involved in producing the cards on display. Overall we engaged with over 300 people.

AAEX Postcard Project – Installation of returned Postcards – Creative Spark, Dundalk, 20th May 2017 – National Drawing Day

AAEX Postcard Project – Installation of returned Postcards – Creative Spark, Dundalk, 20th May 2017 – National Drawing Day

AAEX Postcard Project – Installation of returned Postcards – Creative Spark, Dundalk, 20th May 2017 – National Drawing Day

Creating the post cards. Lino cuts by Michael Stafford, Rachel Burke, Heather Cassidy, Bernhard Gaul and Úna Curely

Lino cut by Michael Stafford

Lino cuts Michael Stafford

Postcards Rachel Burke

Lino print Heather Cassidy

Lino cuts Bernhard Gaul

Lino print by Úna Curley

Getting ready for Drogheda Arts Festival

Impressions from Drogheda Arts Festival and DkIT, Dundalk. Original cards by Thomas Brezina, Rachel Burke, Heather Cassidy, Úna Curely, Bernhard Gaul, Susan Farrelly, Anna Marie Savage and Michael Stafford