PRECIPICE, Photographic Exhibition and Guided Walk

On Friday, 24th June, at 8.00 p.m. in Áras Inis Gluaire, Belmullet, Amelia Stein will give a talk on her most recent exhibition ‘Precipice’, a collection of black and white photographs of the sea cliffs and majestic rocky headlands of Dún Chaocháin as they meet the North Atlantic Ocean.

Stretching from Port a’ Chlóidh to Cill a’Ghallagáin, a 13km vista of spectacular rock formations, promontories, headlands, islands, sea-stacks and sheer cliffs, the artist questions our emotional response to the mesmerising dangers conjured up in placenames for example. ‘The Point of Deliverance’ and ‘The Fool’s Hollow’.

These placenames have been handed down in local oral history by the generations whose lives were spent at this junction between the North Atlantic Ocean and North West County Mayo.

Accompanied by Dr Peadar McArdle, former Director of the Geological Survey of Ireland and author of various geological books including his latest ‘The Irish Landscape – An all-Ireland Exploration through Science and Literature’, and Uinsíonn Mac Graith who has carried out extensive research and published local Irish placename maps.

Dr McArdle will highlight the geological turmoil which underlies Amelia’s stunning photographs, while Uinsíonn will describe his placename collection project.

On Saturday morning, June 25th, at 11.00 a.m. a walk will be organized from the Seanscoil community centre in Ceathrú Thaidhg, Co Mayo, to experience at first hand sections of the breath-taking and dramatic scenery which is captured in the ‘Precipice’ exhibition. The group will return to the Seanscoil at 2.30p.m. where light refreshments will be provided. (sensible walking shoes and suitable clothing recommended).

 

 

Drawing on the inspirational and ancient names of promontories, headlands and cliffs, as gathered by local historians Uinseann Mac Graith and Treasa Ní Ghearraigh, Amelia Stein has produced this body of work lending impact and emotion to the edge of the Atlantic. Stein questions our emotional response to the mesmerising dangers conjured up in placenames, (“The Point of Deliverance” and “The Fool’s Hollow “.. )

After previously exhibiting ” Erris “at the RHA, Dublin, Ireland, 2015, Stein further engages with the environment that helped shape the character of a people living on the boundary of an ocean that is a relentless backdrop to their history. The North West coast of Mayo is one of the most remote and breathtaking locations in the North Atlantic and, at close quarters, Precipice examines the concepts of fear and exhilaration inherent in the life of a small coastal community.