The Dublin Community Blog

I’m a bit late but you may find this useful if you have to heave heavy shopping across the city like I did today, fair play to Clearwire for the Christmas shuttle:

The free Clearwire Christmas shuttle will be running between O’Connell Street and Grafton street on Thursday, Friday and Saturday this week to save the weary shopping feet of the people of Dublin.

The shuttle will be running tomorrow from 10am till 4pm and you can hop on outside Topshop at the top of Grafton Street or outside Cleary’s. You can hop off outside Penny’s on O’Connell Street, at the bottom of Grafton Street outside Trinity or outside Topshop. So if you are in town be sure to check it out!

 

I spotted this lot, three busloads worth, making their way around town in one of the open-top sightseeing buses. Well when I said I spotted them I heard them long before I saw them and managed to grab my camera because I could feel a photograph coming on. It appears to be a fundraiser for St Catherines. And that is all I know. If you were one of the Santas and can tell us more, or indeed know anything and can tell us more, please do. Meanwhile enjoy the pics. The pic at the bottom was a gift-wrapped door I passed by this morning. I am telling you always carry your camera cos you never know. You can see more on my Flickr account later on.

Finally my chance to give a little something back  

My little radio show is having our Christmas Party OB this Wednesday in the window of Marks & Spencer, Grafton Street from 6 to 9… Yes, you’re invited to pop along at any time, no, you don’t need a ticket!

Already due in are Des Bishop, The Stunning, Keith Barry, PJ Gallagher and The Blizzards with more to follow…

R

Tonight, over the skies of Dublin and Ireland, if the weather allows for it, I suggest that you look up. The largest meteor shower of the year, the Geminids meteor shower, will result in shooting stars being visible every 20 – 30 seconds to the naked eye. Astronomy Ireland have arranged a number of events nationwide, with The Dublin Geminids Watch at the Papal Cross Car Park in the Phoenix Park starting at 8pm.

More details can also be found here.

During an article on yesterday’s traffic nightmare on Dublin’s M50 on RTE News last night, they referred to the fact that tolls at the M50 West Link Toll Bridge were going to be increased by EUR 0.10 from January 1st next. I have not been able to find any refrence to this on RTE, AA Roadwatch or the NRA’s website. Has anyone got any further word on this, or confirmation that this is the case?

I met a very nice taxi driver the other evening and we were chatting about all sorts, you know the kinds of conversations, property prices, mad drivers, the weather, when he asked me did I watch You’re A Star. At first I said no then I remembered I had actually watched it the night before with my Mum who is currently staying with me. So we chatted about that and about Brendan O’Connor and his credentials that enable him to judge musicians (oh yeah that’s right it is the pretty ones he likes) before he told me his daughter is on this week’s show.

I should have gotten more details from him but her name is Stacey, she’s a Dubliner and as the Dublin auditions for the show were full she travelled to Monaghan and will be on this Sunday’s show singing an old Canadian song. A poster urging his customers to vote for his daughter is prominently displayed in the front of his cab, and he even gave me one.
So this is for the proud Daddy taxi man, vote Stacey cos according to her Dad she has a beautiful voice and people should keep her in the show.

Blood supplies are down to a 4 day supply when normally at Christmas there should be a 10 day supply available. If you have a free hour one of the days why not drop into the Blood clinic on d’Olier St. Donors are entitled to 2 hours free parking in Fleet St carpark.

Opening hours and further details can be found here.

What is it about wearing pyjamas out and about? Is it the comfort factor? Or just pure laziness? I don’t so much notice it in town but in the suburbs I’ve seen girls standing at bus stops in pj’s and this morning on the way into work I saw a girl walking down Thomas St with her pink flannel pyjamas. I must admit I would have preferred to be in my pink pj’s at that time this morning, but in bed rather than walking down the street!

is this just a Dublin fashion craze?

Breaking News.ie is reporting that the water supply cut off which was taking place this weekend is to be reconnected this evening. No doubt to the delight of the 35,000 households affected if it is actually restored.
I called to a pal’s house last night in Kilbarrack where there was much flurrying around looking for containters not to mention the phonecalls to all her relatives to make sure they also knew. More details can be read here .

 

The artists studio is an exhibition at the Hugh Lane Gallery which investigates the role of the studio in the making and production of art.
It’s inspired by the studio of Irish painter Francis Bacon which is housed at the gallery. The show features work by Andy Warhol, John Baldessari, Thomas Demand, Urs Fischer, Martin Kippenberger, Paul McCarthy, Bruce Nauman, Dieter Roth and Wolfgang Tillmans.

A symposium on the role of the studio in creative production, will take place on February 8 and 9, 2007.
Speakers include internationally active artists, curators and critics such as: Sara Arrhenius, Iwona Blazwick, Daniel Buren, Thomas Demand.

Full details are available at:
http://www.hughlane.ie/exhibitions/exhibc.asp

And Cool Hunting have a good post on the exhibition here:
http://www.coolhunting.com/archives/2006/11/dublin_city_gal.php

From the Hugh Lane site:

The concept of the studio has long captivated audiences with its associations of unbridled creativity, freedom from convention, bohemian lifestyle and struggle for success. THE STUDIO wants to offer an indepth examination of the historic and contemporary role and function of the studio for artists. What does the studio mean for artists today whose creative production is based on ideas and process and for whom the notion of the permanency of the artwork is often redundant? Addressing this subject provides fascinating insights into art in the contemporary environment and the role and activities of the artist within those structures, social, economic and political, which inform society locally and globally.

LECTURES AND SCREENINGS
Sunday 3 December 2006 3pm
Lecture: The Studio as Spectrum
Christina Kennedy, Head of Exhibitions and co-curator of THE STUDIO, will give a lecture and walk-through of the exhibition.

Sunday 7 January 2007 3pm
Film screening: Kippenberger-Der Film
Jörg Kobel, Germany 2005, 75’
This documentary features film footage and rare interviews with German artist Martin Kippenberger and looks at his connections with the Berlin art and punk scenes of the 1970s and 80s.

Sunday 28 January 2007 3pm
Artist’s Talk: Andrew Grassie
London based painter Andrew Grassie, who is currently using the gallery as a studio, will discuss his work in the context of the exhibition.

Sunday 4 February 2007 3pm
Lecture: Sean Shanahan in conversation with Aidan Dunne.
Artist Sean Shanahan will discuss his studio in relation to the exhibition with the Irish Times’ art critic Aidan Dunne.

Sunday 11 February 2007 3pm
Film Screening: Buren and the Guggenheim
Stan Neuman, France 2005, 54‘
Made during the installation of Daniel Buren’s 2005 exhibition at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, this film provides a background to Buren’s work and longstanding history with the museum. Produced by Les Poissons Volants

Sunday 25 February 2007 3pm
Lecture: “What’s all the fuss about? Artists just have studios, don’t they?�
Mick Wilson, Head of Research Postgraduate Studies at the National College of Art and Design, will discuss the artist’s studio in context with the exhibition.

The Studio
1 December 2006–25 February 2006
Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane
Charlemont House
Parnell Square North, Dublin 1
Ireland
Tel. +1 +353 1 222 5550