DoubleTAKE exhibition begins at Rua Red

By Shannon Galloway

DoubleTAKE Supported Artists Studio has its first major public group exhibition, Independence, in Gallery 2 of Rua Red this March writes Shannon Galloway.

The group exhibition celebrates the creativity of 70 artists with disabilities who took their inspiration from the idea of independence that arose from the 2016 centenary events, an idea which they have responded to in a variety of ways.

The featuring artwork will be paintings, drawings, ceramic sculpture, textile art, collage and assemblage.

Established in 2010, the studio is a resource for individual artists from across South Dublin County and beyond.

The studio operates for 45 weeks of the year, and supported by three professional artist members; Sharon Devlin, studio co-ordinator, Caroline Hyland and Aine Kelly who foster the development and diverse needs of the artists who attend the studio on a weekly basis.

The studio provides a professional studio environment for artistic development, representation and a social atmosphere among peers for the artists.

With this initiative Tallaght Community Arts, which runs the studio, demonstrates a “steadfast commitment to providing supportive environments that promote creative expression, independence, dignity and community integration for adults with disabilities”.

According to Rowena Keaveny, Artist and Art Therapist: “Through supported engagement with the DoubleTAKE studio the artists who attend have given the viewer a rare opportunity through the images within these pages to witness lives, stories and experiences that have previously remained unseen.

“Not only does this important body of work expand the dialogue about our perceptions of artistic practice it also demonstrates that these artists and this studio are a vibrant and vital part of the Irish cultural landscape.”

The exhibition also includes the launch of a book called Journeys to Independence, which profiles work of the individual artists and demonstrates the continuing needs to integrate people with disabilities in our wider artistic culture.

The exhibition starts on March 7 at 7pm and runs through until April 22 2017.

For further information visit www.tallaght-arts.ie