Encompass, March 2004 Ardgillan Castle Balbriggan
Exhibition by 38 Artists from USA, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland

Welcome to Ardgillan Castle

This exhibition is the continuation of two arts exchange programs, Irish Arts Exchange and the GreenGrass BlueGrass NewGrass Project which have been on-going for the last six years – they are artistic and cultural exchanges between professional artists in Ireland and their counterparts in Northern Ireland and USA . The first exhibition was held in Louisville and thereafter has followed a number of visits to America , Belfast and Dublin by a group of very committed artists to participate in different events. Many Irish artists have been given the chance to exhibit in professional galleries and have been recognized by that city, by the granting of ‘the freedom of the city’ by Mayor Armstrong of Louisville .

The projects have been diverse, such as the ‘Links that connect us’ collaboration in Castlereagh, from which the work was presented in the Belfast Waterfront Hall and recognized as an important cultural event by government representation at the opening, as has been the case in each country. This support has been gratifying for those of us who have been there from the start and watched events unfold… there are now many key players, most of whom, are represented in this exhibition and I would take this opportunity to thank them and to welcome those who will be able to join us in Dublin on this occasion.

As Ardgillan Castle ’s resident international artist I’ve had the privilege of curating and hanging the exhibition. Nine American artists will travel to Dublin to be present at the opening of the exhibition along with artists from Belfast , Donegal, Limerick , Cork , Galway , and Tipperary . The style and eloquence of the work is of the highest quality and visitors will be enthralled with the paintings, sculpture, and pottery.

Maura O’Rourke

This international art exhibition marks the 15 th formal showing by artists participating in the GreenGrass BlueGrass NewGrass Project – an artist-led cultural exchange between Kentucky and Ireland that was initiated in 1998. The pivotal component of this cultural exchange has been its success in enabling artists to travel internationally, develop professionally and personally through being hosted and by hosting other artists.

I’ve been privileged alongside 11 other American artists and 14 Irish artists to cross the Atlantic both ways and to develop this exchange project alongside my friendship with Maura O’Rourke and her family in Dublin and Ian Fleming, his family and the other members of the ‘GBN’ project team in Northern Ireland .

I’d like to pay tribute to all the organisations and individuals in USA and Ireland whose support of GBN projects have allowed it to flourish. Among them are Louisville Visual Arts Association (LVAA), Artopia, Erin Devine Gallery, PYRO Gallery, Zephyr Gallery, BankONE Gallery in Louisville , Creative Exchange, Castlereagh Borough Council, Castlereagh College and Belfast Waterfront Hall in Northern Ireland . Particular thanks to the staff and management of Ardgillan Castle as it hosts its 3 rd International Exhibition under the umbrella of the GreenGrass BlueGrass NewGrass Project and the Irish Art Exchange programmes.

Susan Gorsen

In the USA , the GreenGrass BlueGrass NewGrass Project was begun by Louisville artist Susan Gorsen in 1998. My involvement with the project began in that year when Ms. Gorsen made an exhibition proposal on behalf of M. O’Rourke for a show in my commercial gallery space in downtown Louisville .

The resulting offshoot of the project ‘Irish Art Now’ began with a show of Maura’s work and has led to exhibitions of contemporary Irish artists work in the subsequent six years. Many Irish artists have benefited, included Brian Hegarty, Ann Mulrooney, Mairead Laher, Eamon O’Kane, Christopher Banahan, Paul D’Arcy, and the list continues to grow – a two person show on the theme of Tara – entitled ‘Threads of Power’ has just closed at PYRO gallery featuring the work of Maura O’Rourke and Ian Fleming.

Over 50 Louisville/Kentucky artists have also benefited from these exchanges, with exhibiting and workshop opportunities in Louisville , Dublin and Belfast . Support for the project has been overwhelming from local government, their cultural councils and the network of professional artists and supporters who’ve been involved.

I’d like to pay tribute to all who’ve taken part and forged strong bonds of friendship and developed artistic collaborations through these wonderful exchanges.

Erin Devine

‘Audience’ and ‘Participants’ alike owe a special debt of gratitude to the main players in the “symphony” that is the GreenGrass BlueGrass NewGrass Project. It has been truly artist-led and has numerous facets and perspectives from which it can be viewed… and as such has become many things to many people. We are all guardians of its diversity and independence – in allowing the project to ‘lead where it will’… there is a fine balance between allowing it to loose direction and stifling it.

As Chairperson of the Northern Ireland ‘wing’ of the project I’d like to thank the other board members; Colin McGookin, Deirdre Robb and Billy Coulter for the contributions they’ve made to this process and all the artists, individuals and organisations who’ve been involved in this and previous projects on both sides of ‘the pond’. I’ve been enriched through the friendships I’ve formed – firstly with Susan, whose “dream” for this project closely resembles its reality and with Maura, who’s generosity of spirit and dogged determination we are all beneficiaries of in this exhibition. To the several dozen ‘kindred spirits’ I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with – personally and creatively I would say thank you for taking part in the ‘whole’ which has indeed become greater that the sum of its parts.

I trust that the “NewGrass” will continue to be fresh and inclusive - and that all who are involved will understand that ‘encompass’ is a type of verb – an action that in this instance, when performed will result in the surrounding, containment and preservation of something valuable to enable its growth.

Ian Fleming