Pieces sought from artists and public for "1963" exhibition
Offaly County Council Arts Office is seeking submissions from artists and members of the public alike for an online/offline exhibition based on this year's Offaly Bealtaine festival theme – 1963. The exhibition that will be curated by Rowena Keaveney will take place online through a designated website and in Aras an Chontae in Tullamore from May 20 until June 14. There will also be an e-magazine to accompany the exhibition.
Works sought include original artworks by professional artists and period objects. Anything “1963” will be considered, including record players, coffee sets, clocks, lamps, chairs, televisions, radios, movie posters, music posters, fabric swatches, dresses, suits, hats and shoes. Also of interest will be home movies or photographs showing towns, villages, homes and people as they were in 1963.
“Through the development of new cause based protest movements and diverse cultural experimentation this period was pivotal to societal change and the hard fought development of equality across race, gender, sexuality and ethnicity,” curator Rowena says. “Selected works will address the cultural and political vibrancy of the time and ask if those fundamental structural changes in society still have a resonance today.”
1963 was the year of the big freeze, with Ireland and Western Europe experiencing its coldeststart to the year since records began. It was the year when Sean Lemass was Taoiseach and Eamon Devalera was President. JFK visited his ancestral home in New Ross, the Clancy brothers took America by storm and everyone wanted a hula hoop.
Culturally, Alfred Hitchcock was terrifying movies goers with his “Birds” film, American writer Slyvia Plath died, and so did country singer Patsy Cline. The Beatles released their debut album “Please, Please Me”, while Andy Warhol opened his first exhibition in New York.
Internationally US President John F Kennedy was assassinated, the British Government was being rocked by the “Profumo” scandal and Martin Luther King delivered his landmark “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington DC.
The exhibition call for 1963 is open to artists working in all media and the public alike. Everyone submitting is responsible for their own transportation costs. Notification of selection will be by email or phone.
All works should be delivered with completed application form where applicable to Arás an Chontae, Charelville Road, Tullamore, Co.Offaly on May 8 between 10am and 3pm. Where this is not possible email submissions will be accepted to bealtaine1963@gmail.com . For further information and application forms please contact Arts Office Offaly County Council 057 9357400.