brigid 1500, 2024
Open Call for National and International Artists
2024 marks the 1500th anniversary of the death of St. Brigid. SULT Artist-led Collective is organising a large-scale National and International Open Call Exhibition to reflect the traditions, customs and symbols associated with the many versions, Irish and International, Celtic, and spiritual, of Brigid, her legacy, her influences, her life.
Following the wide range and high standard of events and public interest generated both nationally and internationally at the launch of the Brigid 1500 festival in 2023, this Open Call will be an extraordinary opportunity for artists to display their work in what promises to be a memorable occasion in February 2024.
The exhibition will take the form of an Art Trail in the centre of Kildare Town during the month of February 2024. The exhibition will be accompanied by a high-quality, limited edition catalogue of the selected artwork.
This project is supported by Brigid 1500 and Kildare Co. Council Arts Service.
Informaton for Artists
Call Out Specifications
This callout specifies:
- Visual response to Brigid in any medium.
- Minimum size 30cm in any direction and maximum 150cm in any direction.
- Materials should be as sustainable as possible.
- The work must have been created from 2020 onwards and must be accompanied by 50 - 100 word account of the story or tradition influencing the work.
- The exhibition will be accompanied by a high-quality, limited edition catalogue of the selected artwork and a short account of the story or tradition accompanying the work.
Resources
A comprehensive list of research materials and resources is available to print or save .
Submissions
Submissions must be made through the dedicated submission platform which is online only and which will be live from 1st May - 15th September 2023.
Key Dates
- Open For Entry: 1st May 2023
- Entry Deadline: 15th September 2023, 11:59pm
- Selection Notification: 30th September 2023
- Artwork Delivery: 19th- 21st October 2023
- Exhibition Open To Public: 1st – 29th February 2024
- Collection of unsold work: By Saturday 9th March 2024
Brigid Unfolding, 2023
An Exhibition of Paintings, Glass, Prints and Sculpture, Brigid Unfolding was the inaugural exhibition by SULT and invited artists as part of the Brigid 1500 Programme of Events 2023 -2024. It was held in No.8 Gallery, Academy St., Kildare and was a thought- provoking exhibition celebrating the life and lore of Brigid of Kildare.
Artists approached the theme of Brigid Unfolding from various different viewpoints: Brigid as patroness of Ireland, of poetry, learning, fertility, healing, blacksmithing, livestock, among others. She shares her name and feast-date with Brigid, the Celtic goddess associated with the pre-Christian festival Imbolc. Her fame and influence are worldwide. Since there are few historical facts, debate continues as to her existence as Christian or pagan.
Whatever her origins, folklore states that she founded a monastery in Kildare and is widely associated with a variety of customs and traditions. Take, for instance, the practice of manifesting wishes or prayers using trees. This practice emerged in ancient times and continues to this day in many cultures all over the world. In Ireland it is common to find a tree growing near a holy well which has an assortment of rags or ribbons hanging from its branches. People tie these rags, known as clooties, to 'The Rag Tree' as symbols of their prayers and wishes.
Along with SULT Artists, the invited artists were Vera McEvoy, Hilary Kinahan, Mir Fitzgerald, Bríd Óg Norrby, Bríd Ní Rinn, Karen Hickey, Greg Hallahan and Angelina Foster.
