Cause & Effect

Can strangers collectively own a piece of artwork? Cause & Effect is a participation exhibit where 100 people are given the choice to keep or share art. I’m creating 100 stencils which fit together as four large jigsaw like works. Funders of the show will automatically own one of these pieces of work. However will they break up the larger artwork by taking their own piece or will they share it with the other owners?

Be part of this show! Fund the show and you will own one piece of work (limited to 100 people) entry to show and drink reception. Artwork signed and numbered by artist. Your name will appear on the back of the piece of the artwork. You will also get a limited edition A3 poster of one of the four completed artwork signed and numbered. Click here: http://www.fundit.ie/project/cause–effect

Mad Men

Last year, Largo Foods who produce Irish chip brand Hunky Dorys strapped models into skimpy sport gear and had them play rugby for an outdoor ad campaign. A record 300 members of the public complained about the campaign to the Advertising Standards Authority about it’s sexist nature. Using the age old rule; “there’s no such thing as bad publicity” Hunky Dorys are back again, this time the sanity clad girls are wearing GAA sports gear.

In total contrast to real GAA fans and clubs who respect women players and support openly gay players like Donal Óg, Largo Foods ad agency are stuck in a boring, predictable time wrap, with no new ideas. So I decided to create my own version of their advert.

One Day I Will Grow Wings

‘One Day I Will Grow Wings’ is a new stenciled paste-up that I created for Dublin Contemporary ‘Road Works’ project. Borrowing it’s name for Radiohead’s song Let Down I’ve wanted to produce a street art piece about homelessness for some time.

Lots of  artists  are involved in a city wide project including Mark Jenkins, D*Face, Maser, Morgan, DMC, Prefab.

Follow the project live here anewspacelivestreets.tumblr.com

Blank walls = blank minds

photo by Ian Keegan

photo by Ian Keegan

photo by Will St Leger

I recently finished my biggest street piece to date. It’s a large, blank grey wall at the end of South George’s Street, Dublin. I was thrilled when the Mercantile asked me to design a mural on their venue’s  gable end that would included the venue’s name.

I wanted something bold but fun. I decided to recreate the Mercantile’s name in an old style sign writing, but also include the sign-writer himself in a precarious situation. At 16, I was an apprentice for a talented sign- writer called Eamonn Power in my home town of Clonmel. So the ‘hanging painter’ is a homage to him.

Here’s an interview I did with Christopher Goodfellow for Totally Dublin which explains the piece more. Amazing photos too by Ian Keegan

Read the full interview here

The Secret Life of Light

This short film is about my journey from my studio to home. I’m a night owl, sometimes working till 3 or 4am and therefore my walk home is usually when most of Dublin is asleep.

The route I take is along the Liffey, past shop fronts with gratified shutters, empty offices and some nightclubs being emptied out. I became fascinated with how sodium street lights, car headlamps and neon tubes transform the surfaces of the city.

It Starts Here

During the 1980s, Ireland lost generations of young people to mass unemployment and subsequent emigration. This ‘Brain Drain’ left the country short of vibrant young people entering Irish politics. 20 years on and Ireland is facing even tougher challenges economically and socially. Now however, there are young people willing to stay and engage political, one such person is Dylan Haskins. About three years ago I got a call from a very articulate young man who invited me to be part of his forum for action, ‘Change’ I went along and was very impressed with the passion, creativity and vitality of Dylan’s projects and ideas.

Some people talk about taking action, bringing about change, Dylan does it. I’m giving my 100% support to his campaign and I’m asking you to get involved. Visit his website www.dylanhaskins.ie to find about more his plans and policies. Start by watching this video.

Irish Sreet Art on The View

If you missed The View this week here’s the review of ‘A Visual Feast – Irish Street Art’ book. You can buy the book here

Snow stencils for World AIDS Day

Fancy doing some stenciling outdoors? I’ve been messing around with Snow Stencils in the last few days and I want you to join in. Wednesday 1st Dec 2010 is World AIDS Day and traditionally people wear a red ribbon to show their support/solidarity. I’ve made a small ribbon stencil for you to download Red Ribbon Stencil <-(right click to save PDF)

It’s really easy to make.

1. Print out stencil.
2. Spray mount/glue onto card
3. Cut out (black parts) with a craft knife/scalpel
4. Place on snow and spray (red)

Disclaimer: I’m not claiming that spraying on snow is actually legal. Authorities/Jobsworths/Unimaginative types may complain if you do it – either way I don’t care. It’s ‘mindful vandalism’

Sleep Out for World Aids Day

Wednesday Dec 1st is World Aids Day. Across the globe, people will be raising money in different ways for AIDS awareness, prevention and treatment. In Dublin, Open Heart House (www.openhearthouse.ie) in partnership with MAC Cosmetics are organising a 24 hour sleep out in Dublin city centre. Una Mullally (big spoon) and myself (small spoon) will be sleeping overnight out on the streets of Dublin city centre to raise money for Open Heart House. Donate online here

Small Dail

I delivered a ‘Small Dail’ to Kildare street this morning. It contains empty wine bottles and tribunal reports in a bin bag. I also served them with an Eviction Notice on behalf of the People of Ireland. It seems like history repeating itself, when ever the Government has shortfalls in public spending, they immediately hit the poorest in society. So how about they face the chop? Why not shrink the Dáil (Irish Parliament) to a garden shed, with no heating, no junkets, no luxuries.

It’s time we evict the lot of them, take back Leinster House and turn it into a hospital.