The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Mr Jimmy Deenihan TD, today launched a unique partnership between a hotel and an artist when he announced that Dublin painter, John Morris, is to be the first Artist in Residence at the city’s Gibson Hotel at Point Village.
Mr Morris, who has exhibited extensively in Ireland, is to reside in the hotel for the next 10 weeks during which time he will paint the changing landscape of Dublin’s docklands, waterfront and communities. Mr Morris is also to share his craft with students studying art from the local Larkin Community College in the north inner city.
At the launch, Minister Deenihan said the artist’s unique skill in handling light and colour will inspire a range of works that will uniquely capture a part of Dublin that has undergone major changes in recent years. “I am really looking forward to seeing the fruits of John’s work in December. He has already captured beautiful beach and sea scenes from my native Kerry during the period he lived in that region a few years ago and now he will be turning his attention to his native Dublin.”
Hotel general manager Adrian McLaughlin said the Gibson was delighted to provide a platform for Mr Morris. “This hotel is a unique building and experience and it is only fitting that an iconic artist like John has the opportunity to reside at the hotel and capture the light and shade at the Point Village and its environs. We were also delighted to have the opportunity to work with Larkin Community College under its arts scholarship programme.”
Larkin Community College Principal Aoife Kelly Gibson said: “Our school established the Learning Through Arts Scholarship Programme which has proved very successful. This project, which is independently funded, gives students from across Dublin access to our school and gives them the opportunity to learn at first hand from someone such as John. I have no doubt he will provide inspiration to the artists of the future.”
Following his residency at the hotel, Mr Morris will exhibit his work in mid December. He said: “This is a challenging and changing waterfront and I am spoiled for choice. For instance, the unfinished Anglo Irish Bank building still dominates the skyline but that will be transformed in the coming years. But I also want to paint the people in the locality.”
The hotel is to provide a live webcam of Mr Morris painting a mural of his view from his hotel suite. Guests and visitors at the hotel will have opportunities to see the artist working on his canvases and avail of his expertise.