'Spectacular Vernacular' outdoor project kicks off later this month

In The Open/Faoin Speir - Offaly County Council and Birr Theatre & Arts Centre presents 'Spectacular Vernacular - Making the Ordinary Extraordinary'.

Taking place between the towns of Birr, Tullamore, and Lough Boora Parklands 'Spectacular Vernacular' is a series of outdoor events, workshops, performances, and happenings that focus on developing new creative networks and unique opportunities for artists to engage with our community.

'Spectacular Vernacular' is bred from the black earth of the bog and celebrates the local, the ordinary and the mysteries of the colloquial. Much like vernacular architecture depends on utilising the phenomenon in its environs, Spectacular Vernacular emerges from the foundations of artistic cultures that already exist between our towns and in Offaly.

This six-month project sees a host of community-based projects taking place. To kick off, 'Putting Down Roots' sees artist Steven Doody, assisted by Amanda Nyoni, attempting to plant over 8,000 trees in Offaly - representing the number of persons currently seeking asylum in Ireland.

Breda Mayock is working with the African diaspora in the county and surrounds on a project focused on hair and all of the cultural significance it holds. Other project artists include Alan Phelan, Joe Caslin, Caroline Conway, Michael Fortune, Veronica Nicholson, Diana Bamimeke, Augustine O’Donohue, Hannah Tiernan, and Monica De Bath.

This unique project is a collaboration between the Museum of Everyone, Birr Festivals Collective, Offaly County Council, Birr Theatre & Arts Centre, Tullamore Arts Centre and Lough Boora Parklands.

'Spectacular Vernacular' will be launched on November 12th with a screening of Nigel Rolfe’s performance in Lough Boora Bog in Birr Theatre & Arts Centre from 2pm with an artist talk at 7pm.

To launch 'Spectacular Vernacular', renowned performance artist Nigel Rolfe will return to perform at Lough Boora Parklands ten years after his first residency in the boglands.

Nigel Rolfe has been performing as a live artist for the last four decades. He has also worked extensively as an artist, curator and lecturer. Since 2008, performance has become his primary form of artistic expression.

Major retrospectives of his work have been held at the Irish Museum Of Modern Art in Dublin and at the Musee D’Art Moderne de la Ville De Paris. He has exhibited in Dublin, Paris, São Paulo, Busan, Kwangju, and Venice Biennales and presented in numerous international art fairs.

He is Performance Pathway Program Leader and Professor Of Performance at the Royal College of Art In London. Rolfe is concerned with art being a live and vital engagement. His performances are bodily acts and reminders of our presence in the here and now.

For full details of all upcoming workshops, projects and events visit:

intheopenoffaly.ie or offaly.ie/eng/Services/Arts-and-Culture/

If you would like to get involved or volunteer have any questions regarding this project email: museumofeveryone@gmail.com