Visiting Artists, Art on the Farm 2012
20/03/12 23:26
We are pleased to announce our 2012 visiting artists Devra Fox, Nora Rodriguez, Rachael MacFarlane and Sarah Hearn. During the programme they will run workshops, give individual tutorials and speak about their own creative process. This provides our students for Art on the Farm a great opportunity to work with and learn from dedicated and talented artists. For more examples of their work please click here.
Devra will receive her BFA from Bard college this year. A common theme that emerges in her practice is growth and deterioration in connection with the human body and nature. She seeks parallels, such as the correlation between the stemming of human veins and branches of a tree, and an overarching connectedness present between our bodies and nature.
Nora received her BA in Visual Art and Art History from Columbia University in 2011. She has taught at the Oxbow School in Napa, CA, Philips Academy, Andover MA and the De Young Museum in San Francisco, CA. Her recent work has been on paper in ink and pencil, and addresses sign systems, primarily personal and cultural symbols which express subjectivity.
Rachel received her BA from the Ontario College of Art and Design in 2008. She has been working as a technician and mentor at her alma mater, offering technical demonstrations, artist talks and individual critiques.Her work uses maquettes made of found refuse to serve as references for painted worlds that fall somewhere between mimetic representation and abstraction.
Sarah received her BFA from the College of Santa Fe in 2001 and her MFA from Rochester Institute of Technology in 2010, and currently lives and teaches in Oklahoma City. Her recent work, An Unnatural History, is an installation that inhabits the space between the continuously shifting realms of science, pseudoscience and science fiction, documenting the (fictional) discovery of a taxonomy of marine life.
NFAA Honorable Mention
28/12/11 16:56
Two of our former students Jordana Gluckow and Allegra Sussman have been recognized by the National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts for their outstanding photography. The photograph above is from Jordana’s series exploring the people and places in our local community.
The NFAA YoungArts program is the signature national organization that recognizes and supports America’s most talented 17-18 year olds in the visual, literary and performing arts. This year’s 174 YoungArts Honorable Mention Winners were selected in a blind adjudication process from a pool of more than 5,000 applicants, representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as all US territories.
You can see the full list of winners here.
Camp Fairs 2012
21/12/11 20:42
This winter Frank will be traveling to the United States visiting schools, meeting families and attending camp fairs for Art on the Farm. If you notice any of the locations below are near you please get in touch and he will be happy to schedule a home visit.
California
Westridge School, Pasadena, CA: Sat, February 4, 10am – 3pm
Marymount High School, Los Angeles, CA: Sun, February 5, 11am – 2pm
Sage Hill School, Newport Beach, CA: Mon, February 6, 6:00pm – 8:30pm
Connecticut
*Choate Rosemary Hall, Wallingford, CT: Sun, February 19, 11am – 1pm
Massachusetts
Philips Academy, Andover: Sun, January 22, 2012, 12:00pm – 3:00pm
*Newton South High School, Newton: Mon, February 6, 2012, 5:30pm – 8:00pm
New Jersey
*Bergen County Academies, Hackensack, NJ: Wed, January 18, 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Princeton High School, Princeton, NJ: Wed, January 18, 2012, 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Pennsylvania
*The Baldwin School, Bryn Mawr, PA: Sun, January 22, 2012, 2:30pm – 5:00pm
Germantown Academy, Fort Washington, PA: Mon, February 13, 2012, 5:30pm – 8:00pm
*Cow House Studios representative
Art on the Farm Online Exhibition, 2011
13/10/11 12:00
We just recently posted a gallery of artwork made by our students during Art on the Farm this past summer. In their three weeks on the farm students have the opportunity to explore drawing, painting and photography, focusing on their own interests, informed by their time in Ireland. Everyone produced some very strong work, and as you’ll see, represent a variety of media, styles, interests and approaches.
View the gallery here...
Art on the Farm 2011
27/08/11 14:49
It has been just one short week since our last session left the farm, and the place seems almost too quiet without all the busy activity in the studio. No more rummaging through the kitchen for a mid day or late night snack, or sounds of Lola barking for just one more stick to be thrown for her in the pond. We miss all the laughing, great conversation and occasional odd outbursts around the dinner table. We had such a wonderful time with all three groups in our busiest summer yet, and we hope to stay in touch with everyone as their work progresses. We saw people make some huge strides over the past nine weeks, and we're sure to see that continue.
We would like to thank both Christin and Zsofia for all their help and great instruction. We hope you've gained as much from being here as our students gained from your patience, guidance and friendship. A special thank you to Mary and Michael for all the work you do over the summer to make the experience special for everyone. We don't know what the experience would be like without your warm welcome, delicious deserts and immaculate home.
You can have a look at all of our photographs from the summer here, and we will be posting a gallery of student work in the coming weeks.
Visiting Artists, Art on the Farm 2011
02/03/11 16:36
For the summer of 2011 we will host artists Christin Boggs and Zsofia Schweger. For nine weeks they will run workshops, give individual tutorials and speak about their own creative process. This gives our students for Art on the Farm a great opportunity to work with and learn from young, dedicated and talented artists. For more examples of their work please click here.
Christin is an artist, photographer, educator, and sustainable food advocate. A native of the Washington Metropolitan Area, she holds a MFA in Imaging Arts from Rochester Institute of Technology [2010] and a BFA in Art and Visual Technology from George Mason University [2007]. Her recent project Slow & Steady has appeared in a number of public venues including a solo exhibition at the Design Gallery at the Rochester Regional Community Design Center.
Originally from Szeged, Hungary, Zsofia is currently studying for her B.A. in Studio Art and Comparative Literature at Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts. She has worked as gallery assistant at the Jewett Gallery of Art and interned at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York.
Camp Fairs 2011
27/11/10 04:16
This winter Rosie and Frank will be traveling to the United States and France visiting schools and attending camp fairs for Art on the Farm. If you notice any of the locations below are in your area please get in touch and we will be happy to schedule a home visit.
California
Westridge School, Pasadena: Saturday, February 5, 10am - 3pm
Marymount High School, Los Angeles: Sunday, February 6, 11am – 2pm
Sage Hill School, Newport Beach: Monday, February 7, 6pm – 8:30pm
Connecticut
Kent School, Kent, Sunday, December 5, 2:30pm – 4:30pm
Choate Rosemary Hall, Wallingford: Sunday, January 16, 11am – 1pm
France
Franco-American Community Centre, Paris: Saturday, March 5, 2pm – 7pm
Billingual School Jeannie Munuel, Paris: Monday, March 7, 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Bilingual SchoolEAB Monceau, Paris: Tuesday, March 8, 5:00pm – 7:30pm
Lycee International de St. Germain-en-Laye, Paris: Thursday, March 10
The American School, Paris: Friday, March 11
Eurosites, Paris: Saturday, March 12
Massachusetts
Philips Academy, Andover: Sunday, January 30, 12pm – 2pm
*Newton South High School, Newton: Monday, February 7, 5:30pm – 8pm
New Jersey
Bergen County Academies, Hackensack: Thursday, January 13, 7pm – 9pm
Princeton High School, Princeton: Wednesday, January 19, 7pm – 9pm
New York
Great Neck North High School, Great Neck: Monday, November 29, 7pm – 9pm
Roslyn High School, Roslyn Heights: Tuesday, November 30, 7:30pm – 9:30pm
Scarsdale High School, Scarsdale: Wednesday, December 1, 7:30pm – 9:30pm
The Spence School, New York: Thursday, December 2, 4pm – 6:30pm
The Wheatley School, Old Westbury: Monday, December 6, 7pm – 9pm
Rye Country Day School, Rye: Sunday, January 9, 1pm – 4pm
The Browning School, New York: Wednesday, January 12, 4pm – 6:30pm
The Chapin School, New York: Thursday, January 13, 4pm – 6pm
Horace Mann School, Bronx: Wednesday, January 26, 11am – 2pm
Pennsylvania
Germantown Academy, Fort Washington: Wednesday, February 2, 5:30pm – 8pm
*Cow House Studios representative
Photos! Photos! Photos!
26/08/10 17:59
It’s hard to believe the summer is over. It seems like just yesterday we were picking up the first group from the airport, and now the farm is quiet again. We had such a great time with everyone in our first full nine week summer. We’re really going to miss the group of characters we met this year, and hope to see you all this winter when we travel to the US and France.
Our final week started with three mornings of life drawing. Everyone made huge improvements in their work over this time, despite the occasional frustrating moments. We were also lucky enough to be be treated to a shadow puppet performance by Julie’s good friend Liz Lake, and what better way to follow up a night performance than with a great campfire and some toasted marshmallows. Liz was also kind enough to run a few workshops making masks and scrapbooks in her short stay.
We celebrated Noah and Natalie’s birthdays in the last week as well. Congratulations to both of you, and thanks for giving Mary an excuse to make a few of her delicious deserts.
The last few days were spent making some really ambitious final projects punctuated by some night photography and a bit of downtime by the lake. We were again impressed with the scale and scope of the work in our last critique. We wish you all the best of luck in your school year, and hope you can kep us posted on new work. Please have a look at the final set of photos here, and check back soon for a web gallery of some of the work produced this summer.
The new photos look great on the website!
17/08/10 11:25
Our second week of session three started of with a great weaving demo from Julie, and a few people even met her challenge managing to top Frank’s best efforts. We continued with our photography and painting assignments where it was evident by critique on Tuesday that everyone put in a huge effort.
On Wednesday we headed for the Dingle Peninsula where we visited Gallarus Oratory, a 1200 year old stone church built entirely from stone. Resembling an upturned boat this elegant structure has remained bone dry despite its lack of mortar. Paul, Janet and Jenny even managed to earn trips to heaven by squeezing through the buildings tiny window. Along the way we enjoyed some fantastic ice cream from Murphy’s. And a short visit to a hidden beach at the end of the peninsula with a great view of Dead Man’s Island.
Our second day out west was spent in and around Killarney where we visited its spectacularly restored Ross Castle, a beautifully dilapidated Muckross Abbey and had a fun night listening to some traditional Irish music and trying out some of the rides at the Puck Fair in Killorgan.
On our last day we visited the island of Skellig Michael, a Unesco World Heritage site off the coast of the Iveragh Peninsula. On the choppy boat ride out we had a close look at the gannet population and seals on Skellig Bheag. Once there, it was a steep climb of over 600 steps to the beautiful monastic settlement. Please have a look at the new photos on the website here.
Our first photos from Session 3
10/08/10 15:40
It’s hard to believe the summer is nearing its end! It feels like just yesterday we were picking up our first group from the airport, but here we are more than one week into our third session. We’ve been busy from the start. Our first few days were spent on some drawing exercises, learning to use manual film cameras and making our first prints in the darkroom.
We started our two day trip to Dublin at the studio of former Cow House resident artist Aoife Collins. She is currently artist in residence at IMMA (The Irish Museum of Modern Art) and was generous enough to give us an hour of her time to discuss the ideas and processes behind her work. Other highlights of our stay included an entertaining trip through the city streets with Lorcan Collins, a visit to the gold collection at the National Museum and late night gelato in Temple Bar.
Back at the studio everyone continued their hard work in the studio, but we still found time to take a walk up to Kelly’s trees, go swimming and fishing in the pond, and celebrate Paul’s birthday. Happy 17th... the photos look great on the website! Check them out here.
Final photos from Session 2
04/08/10 10:22
Its been four days since everyone from session 2 returned home for the rest of the summer. In our last week everyone worked really hard on their final projects. There was a huge variety of media and techniques, from large scale ink drawings to paintings on paper and canvas, weaving garments with reeds, printing in the darkroom, and even sculpting with hay and masking tape.
In the midst of all the work we still made time to visit nearby Rose Acre Soaps where a local family makes soap from the milk of their 13 goats. Everyone had a chance to pick up a few gifts and meet the goats, including unicorn, who was born with only one horn.
We also fished for our dinner one evening. Congratulations to Jamie, Lauren, Tess and Madeleine for their successful efforts. An evening campfire, night photography, and a trivia showdown between Alex and Grace for a handmade tote bag by Julie were all part of the weeks events. The Paris crew even had the courage to swim in the pond on the last night.
Please have a look at the photos from our final week here, and to everyone who participated have a great end to your summer!
Today is gonna' be the best day of our lives...
26/07/10 08:05
Week two started on the farm with some life drawing, and a continuation of our drawing and photo projects from the previous week. Julie introduced weaving to the group, and we managed to squeeze in a few juggling and cartwheel lessons as well.
Our trip to Cork started at Blarney Castle where everyone got a chance to kiss the famous stone. A few were surprised to see it wasn’t made of gold or covered in jewels, and its hard to tell if its powers bestowed the gift of eloquence to anyone since the group as a whole never seems to be at a loss for words. After a quick walk through the grounds we headed to Cork City for a beautiful lunch at the English Market. Afterwords, four different groups gave Frank an Iron Chef challenge by picking some surprise ingredients for dinner. On the menu were diced lamb, field mushrooms, camembert cheese and cucumber. A visit to the Lewis Glucksman gallery and a trad session rounded out our day.
Early on our second day in Cork we headed to Cape Clear Island. On the bus ride Mary-Kate and Julie worked their musical magic and willed us an absolutely beautiful day. A long hike along the coast to an old castle and a trip to a goat farm for some ice-cream were followed by some leisure time and sunbathing by the water. After dinner we had a talent show where Manya, Victoria and Mary-Kate shared top honors. The next morning some went for a kayak trip around the inlet and explored a nearby cave.
Back at the farm we were greeted by Manya’s sister Devra. We’re lucky we had her here for our Sunday morning brunch as she led the efforts for some excellent huevos rancheros. Be sure to check out our updated photos page for all the new images!
Session 2, the first photos...
19/07/10 16:53
Our second session got off to a fast start with everyone producing some great work in our first three days, late night dance parties in the studio and some impressive marshmallow and spaghetti structures. Congrats to Victoria, Mary-Kate, Grace and Charlotte for their winning effort.
Our two day trip to Dublin took us to the Irish Museum of Modern Art where we saw the work of Carlos Garaicoa and had a studio visit with former Cow House resident artist Aoife Collins. Other highlights during our stay included the Gallery of Photography, Chester Beatty Library, the Book of Kells at Trinity College and of course ice cream and Top Shop.
Inspired by watching Francis Ford Coppola’s new film Tetro in Dublin, upon returning to the studio we decided to watch his masterpiece, The Godfather. This past Sunday we were treated to an artist talk by photo realist painter Robert Cottingham. We were thrilled to see such a great turnout for the event, and were even paid a visit by last years visiting artist Darragh Casey. Please be sure to have a look at the gallery page by clicking here, and check back next week for updates.
Our final photos from session 1
12/07/10 23:23
Our final week was spent working hard in the studio. We were amazed by everyones dedication to their final projects, and it was evident in the work we saw in our final critique. It wasn’t all hard work though, as there was still time for a nice walk in the woods, night swimming and some ultimate frisbee. We were impressed with Eugeine’s raw egg drinking abilities, and her knack for persuading Frank to take on some impossibly difficult French dishes. Good times...
You will all be missed dearly, and we’re already looking forward to our winter reunions. Its never to early to start planning! Have a great time with the rest of your summer, and don’t forget to have a look at our updated photos here.
Robert Cottingham: Artist Talk
08/07/10 17:34
17th July 2010, 5:45pm
In partnership with Newtownbarry House Studio Programme, Wexford Arts Centre, and Anya von Gosseln we are delighted to host a talk by American artist Robert Cottingham.
Robert Cottingham belongs to the first generation of American Photorealists, alongside Chuck Close, Richard Estes, Robert Bechtle and Ralph Goings. Born in 1935 in Brooklyn NY, Cottingham was educated at Pratt Institute, NY. He lives and works in Connecticut, USA. This public talk presents a rare opportunity to hear the artist speak about his work.
Cottinghams work is in major collections in the US and Europe, such as The Ludwig Museum in Cologne, The Metropolitan Museum and The Museum of Modern Art, both in NY, The Hirschorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington DC, The High Museum, Atlanta GA, The Tampa Museum of Art in Florida, The Guggenheim Museum in NY, The Tate Gallery in London, Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, CT, The Carnegie Institute in Pittsburgh, PA, The Art Institute of Chicago, Ill, The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Arts Council of Great Britain, London, among others. In Spring of 2009, the Deutsche Guggenheim Museum in Berlin featured the artists in a long awaited group exhibition which drew large and enthusiastic crowds. The artist is represented by FORUM Gallery NY.
Contact Rosie O’Gorman (086) 210 9027 to RSVP your place at the talk.
Bus departing Wexford Arts Centre at 4:45pm.€8 per person. Contact Rosie to book a place on the bus.
Art on the Farm Photo Update
05/07/10 09:52
Our second week of Art on the Farm started with some life drawing. Under Julie and Rosie’s guidance everyone showed some really impressive progress in their drawings. We’re looking forward to what is produced tomorrow in our final session working with the figure.
Our next three days were spent out west, starting in the Burren, Co. Clare. This surreal limestone landscape is home to many flower species, some found in only a hand-full of locations around the world. Other spots on our first day included the Poulnabrone Dolmen, a 5000 year old portal tomb and the Cliffs of Moher.
On our second day we took a ferry to Inis Mor. On the way we were treated to a coastguard training session where our ship was boarded from a helicopter. Once on the island we embarked on an epic bike ride full of spectacular scenery, a few showers, some bumps, bruises and scrapes. After a bit of shopping for authentic Arran wool sweaters we hiked to Dun Aengus, a ring fort on the edge of a sheer cliff.
Our final day out west started with a walk to the remains of what is thought to be the smallest church in the world. After a ride back to the mainland we spent a couple hours in Galway before heading back to the farm.
Our past few days have been spent preparing for the final self directed projects, and of course a 4th on July celebration with the obligatory BBQ and flag shaped cake. Its safe to say everyone was stuffed after the huge meal. Be sure to have a look at our updated gallery of images by clicking here.
Our first photos from Art on the Farm 2010
28/06/10 00:16
Our first week in the summer of 2010 has been blessed with beautiful weather. We’ve been sure to take advantage by fishing in the pond for dinner, swimming, tennis and a few bike rides around the block. Manya and Julie even prepared a Summer Solstice celebration with flower wreaths and herb satchels. Everyone spent their first few days working really hard in the studio producing some wonderful perspective drawings and prints in the darkroom.
Our trip to Dublin was packed full of activities, but most still found time to make it to Top Shop and a few vintage clothing stores. With stops at the Irish Museum of Modern Art and the Douglas Hyde Gallery at Trinity College, a walking tour of the significant sites of the 1916 rebellion and a film at the Irish Film Institute we were constantly on the move. During our second day we saw the bronze age collection of gold jewelry at the National Museum. These beautiful artifacts are among the most significant of their kind in Europe. We also had a tour of the annual juried show at the Royal Hibernian Academy where everyone seemed to find something they loved. By the time the day was done everyone was glad to get back to the farm.
The last few days have been spent in the studio starting new assignments and drawing from the figure. It seems that everyone has settled in nicely, ready to take on the new week. Please have a look at our gallery of images by clicking here, and be sure to check back next sunday for more photos.
Congratulations Gaby!
10/04/10 11:35
We are happy to announce that the photography of Gaby Dressler, one of our former students from Art on the Farm, has been published in the New York Times. This past Sunday her excellent photograph from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, 2009 was selected for the "Why We Travel" competition published Sunday, April 4, 2010.Visiting Artists, Art on the Farm 2010
17/03/10 12:40
For the summer of 2010 we will host artists Manya Fox and Julie O’Rourke. For these nine weeks they will run workshops, give individual tutorials and speak about their own creative process. This gives our students for Art on the Farm a great opportunity to work with and learn from young, dedicated and talented artists. For more examples of their work please click here.
Manya, originally from Seattle, received her BA from Bard College in 2005 and her MFA from UCLA in 2008. She has exhibited her work extensively throughout the United States, and was included in the 2009 Collector’s Guide to Emerging Art Photography, published by the Humble Arts Foundation. Manya has had extensive teaching experience at both the UCLA and LACMA teen summer programmes, and as a guest lecturer at various institutions including Bard College, Sheridan College and UCLA. In 2009, Manya participated in two artist residencies, the Jentel Artist Residency Program in Banner Wyoming, and the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts in Nebraska City, Nebraska. Manya currently lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.
Julie O’Rourke grew up in the woods of Maine. After receiving her BFA in Textile design from Rhode Island School of Design she continues explore traditional craft using modern design techniques. With a focus mainly in knitting, sewing, and weaving, Julie’s body of work reflects her appreciation for start to finish design, consciousness of material source, and the simplicity and versatility of natural materials. She draws inspiration from her ever-shifting surroundings and can still often be found with pockets full of rocks, feathers, and sea shells.
Camp Fairs 2010
04/01/10 11:39
For the next two months Rosie and Frank will be traveling the east coast visiting schools, attending camp fairs and holding information sessions for Art on the Farm. For those interested this is a great opportunity to speak with the programme directors and meet former students. Below is a list of the fairs we will be attending this year, and we will be posting information regarding our information sessions soon.Middlebrook Middle School
Wilton, CT: Saturday, January 9, 1:00pm – 3:30pm
Rye Country Day School
Rye, NY: Sunday, January 10, 1pm – 4pm
The Hill School
Pottstown, PA: Wednesday, January 13, 11am – 1pm
The Browning School
New York, NY: Wednesday, January 13, 4:00pm – 6:30pm
Princeton High School
Princeton, NJ: Wednesday, January 13, 7pm – 9pm
Chapin School
New York, NY: Thursday, January 14, 4:00pm – 6:30pm
Merriam Towne School
Acton, MA: Tuesday, January 19, 5pm – 8pm
Greenwich High School
Greenwich, CT: Wednesday, January 20, 6pm – 9pm
Sidwell Friends School
Washington, DC: Saturday, January 23, 1:00pm – 3:30pm
Park School
Brooklandville, MD: Sunday, January 24, 1:00pm – 3:30pm
Concord Carlisle High School
Concord, MA: Monday, February 1, 5:30pm – 8:00pm
Germantown Academy
Fort Washington, PA: Wednesday, February 3, 5:30pm – 8:30pm
Phillips Academy
Andover, MA: Sunday, February 7, 11am – 2pm
Newton South High School
Newton Centre, MA: Monday, February 8, 5:30am – 8:30am
Choate Rosemary Hall
Wallingford, CT: Sunday, February 21, 11am – 1pm
Middlesex Middle School
Darien, CT: Saturday, February 27, 1:00pm – 3:30pm
Student Gallery 2009
26/10/09 23:32
It took a little longer than we hoped, but please have a look at our online exhibition of artwork made during Art on the Farm, 2009. We’re very pleased with the quality of work everyone produced, and as you’ll see represent a variety of media and styles. The photograph here was made by second year student Will Rockafello, and beautifully depicts Dead Mans Island off the coast of the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry.
Thanks & Goodbye
16/08/09 15:36
Its been one short week since everyone left the farm and the place seems so quiet. As we get ready for the beginning of our residency next month we remember all the great times that were had chatting around the dinner table, goofing off in the darkroom, late-nite movies and trips. We’re so lucky to have had another summer of talented and fun people to spend six weeks with. Thanks for all your hard work and dedication. We think you all went away with some really interesting work, and more importantly a clearer understanding of your own artistic practice.
The last week in our second session was spent working hard in the studio. By the time critique rolled around it was evident that everyone had put a serious amount of effort into their final projects. In the midst of all this time in the studio we still managed to find a few moments to jump in the pond, hang out toasting marshmallows around the fire and take a midnight walk up to Kelly’s Trees. Have a look at our updated photos page to see our final week.
Have a great time for the rest of your summer break, and good luck in the upcoming school year. We hope to see all of you when we travel to the US and Europe this winter.
A new crop of photos...
07/08/09 12:21
The past week has been a fruitful one where painting projects were completed on hand built canvases, and another photo project produced more prints in the darkroom. Our “one minute sculpture” project tested speed, creativity and sometimes balance, yielding some mysterious and imaginative photographs. On Thursday some people went to the under 18’s disco at the Lava Lounge in Wexford town. We were told the Cow House crew was the life of the party.
Monday morning we headed for Dublin. Architect Joan Murphy gave an architectural walking tour of the city, taking us through Viking remains, medieval graveyards and Georgian mansions. We saw some exciting contemporary art at exhibitions in the Irish Museum of Modern Art, the Douglas Hyde Gallery in Trinity College, and the Hugh Lane Gallery, and even found time for shopping on Grafton Street. We enjoyed Beschoff’s famous fish and chips by the river Liffey before leaving for the Cow House on Tuesday evening.
After breakfast pancakes on Wednesday everyone was refreshed and ready for large scale charcoal drawings and our last life drawing session. Now, with just four days to go everyone is focusing on their self directed projects, spending lots of time printing in the dark room, drawing and painting in the studio and working with their mentor to develop their ideas.
Be sure to have a look at our photo page for new images.
New photos from session 2
29/07/09 13:17
We’re now halfway through our second session here at the Cow House, and the last ten days here have been an eventful mix of art making and travel. Please have a look at our photo gallery for a look at what we’ve been up to.
The first few days were spent getting to know eachother. The students had a chance to go up against the mentors in Darragh’s bridge challenge. We spent time learning about a manual film camera and making cyanotypes with Jenny and Frank, and made our first few prints in the darkroom. For some, figure drawing with Matt was the first time they’ve had a chance to draw from a live model. Everyone put in a hard two days work and got some great results.
With all the work we still found time to have a swim in the pond, and thanks to Jacapo, Dylan and Alessia we had a tasty dinner of rainbow trout too. On Matt and Jenny’s last day we had a brief critique of our work, and said our sad goodbyes. A huge thank you to Mat and Jenny for all the great work they did while they were here. There is no doubt your teaching made a huge impact on everyones drawing and photography skills. We will miss you dearly.
Sunday morning we left for the Burren, a rocky terrain out west full of spectacular vistas, undeground caves and traces of Irelands history dating from 2500 bc. After a long day of touring the sites we had a dinner of fish and chips while enjoying some live music. The next day we got on a ferry to Inis Mor one of the three Aran Islands off the coast of Galway. The weather was beautiful so we rented some bikes and rode along the coast to see Dun Aengus, a Megalithic ring fort situated on the edge of a cliff. Some shooting, sketching and a slow ride back to the hostel was greeted by a wonderful bbq prepared by Marco, our gracious host. The next day many went to the sweater shop to get a hand woven authentic Aran wool sweater. Galway city was our last stop before heading back to the Cow House where we arrived late in the evening.
It’s back to work in the studios before we head to Dublin in five short days. Be sure to check back next week for more photos from our trip.
Photographs from our final week.
23/07/09 16:34
Matt and Jenny’s arrival on Monday brought a new energy to the farm, giving everyone a needed boost for their final week of intense work in the studio. Whether it was a life drawing session with Matt, a portrait project with Jenny, inspiring artist talks, or a one on one tutorial the new perspective brought a freshness to the work created.
While some stretched canvases for oil paintings others made site specific & temporary sculptures or diligently worked in the darkroom. There was of course still time for swimming in the lake, for Will to bake scones and spend an afternoon fishing. A special thanks to Sophia, Christie and Arietta for catching our dinner. Will and Sarah were also successful in catching fish, but we let them back to fatten for another day. Ned wins the prize for hooking the most fish, but never managed to get any of them ashore. Other activities included another night shoot and a ghost tour of Kelly's Trees where some people swore they heard the sound of Kelly’s chains.
Our session ended with a desert of Banoffi Pie and a late night critique of the weeks accomplishments. We would like to congratulate this years participants for their hard work and dedication. Its evident that your efforts paid off in the end. Enjoy the rest of your summer, and know that you will be missed!
Be sure to have a look at the photos page for images from the last week.
Week Two Updates
15/07/09 01:37
Our second week began with two full days of figure drawing, and a birthday celebration for Anna’s 17th. After a long day in the studio everyone adorned their finest evening attire. Mary’s Pavlova was a hit for desert. Wednesday morning we headed for Kerry VERY early. We arrived in the West before anyone had a chance to wake up. Upon our arrival we boarded a boat for the Great Blasket Island. We spent the day sketching, shooting, trying to hug sheep, and enjoying the wild seals swimming close to the waters edge. The sun was glorious.
For our night in Dingle we enjoyed home made ice cream, fish and chips and a bit of traditional music. The next day we headed for Gallarus Oratory, a 1000 year old chapel constructed entirely of stone with no mortar. To this day the interior remains dry. In a brief trip to the beach Darragh “drew a line to the dead man” with help from Rosie and Will while others explored the rocky terrain. At the end of the day we headed for Cahirsiveen where we witnessed a victory parade and spent a few hours that night taking photographs. The next day we broke up a rainy drive home to the Cow House through the scenic “Ring of Kerry” and a stop in Cork for lunch and a visit to the gallery at the Crawford College of Art. Please have a look at our updated photo gallery.
Our first week in pictures...
06/07/09 15:24
Our first week on the farm was an eventful one. From the first few days getting to know each-other playing games, to testing our engineering skills, learning the darkroom and camera and starting our first pantings there was always something going on. Tea cakes were a hit again. Lola has been entertaining the crowd and kindly helps everyone wake up barking for her morning meal. Our trip to Dublin was non stop. We visited many galleries and sites including the Irish Museum of Modern Art, Christchurch Cathedral, The National Gallery and the Royal Hibernian Academy to have a look at their annual exhibition where Darragh had a sculpture on display. By the end of the week things were in full swing with the first prints coming out of the darkroom and great progress on some large scale paintings. Please have a look at our gallery of images to see everyone in action.
Visiting Artists for Art on the Farm 2009
04/03/09 16:58
From July 12 to July 25 we will host artists Matt Davis and Jennifer K. Beal Davis for one week during each of our sessions of Art on the Farm. During this time they will run workshops, give individual tutorials and speak about their own creative process. For more examples of their work please go here.
Jennifer K. Beal Davis
Jenny is a photographer and graphic designer based in New York and Philadelphia. She graduated from RISD with a BFA in Photography in 2001, and studied photography internationally at Spéos in Paris, France. Jenny has a deep passion for teaching. An expert printer, she's a traditionalist at heart, in love with the big clunk her Hasselblad camera makes with every film exposure. In her professional life she designs illustrated books and stationery at Clarkson Potter/Publishers with authors including Rachael Ray, Colin Cowie, theknot.com and many more. Jenny was formerly the Photo Editor at Packaged Goods, and a Photo Shoot Coordinator at Rockport Publishers, Fairwinds Press, and Quarry Books. She art directs photo shoots and works with photography on a daily basis.Matt Davis
Matt is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design where he received a BFA in Illustration. He is the Creative Director for a franchise corporation and has a busy freelance illustration career specializing in collectible silkscreen posters for popular music acts. His art tends to favor surrealism, traditional tattoo imagery, symmetry and pretty ladies.Camp Fairs 2009 (Updated)
26/01/09 17:00
We have a great schedule of Camp Fairs this winter in the United States, France and Spain for Art on the Farm. If you’re interested in spending three weeks in Ireland this summer making art the you’ll want to come by our booth to meet either Rosie or Frank. We can give you more details about the programme and answer any questions you might have. Happy holidays, and we look forward to seeing you there!
Greenwich High School
Greenwich, CT: Wednesday, January 26, 6 - 9 PM
Tower Hill School
Wilmington, DE: Thursday, January 29, 3:30 - 7 PM
Chestnut Hill Academy
Philadelphia, PA: Saturday, January 31, 11 AM - 3 PM
Potomac School
McLean, VA: Saturday, January 31, 12 - 3 PM
Metro Kids Super Camp Fair
King of Prussia Mall, PA: Sunday, February 1, 10 AM - 4 PM
Concord Carlisle High School
Concord, MA: Monday, February 2, 5:30 - 8:30 PM
Dalton School
New York, NY: Tuesday, February 3, 4-6:30 PM
Franco American Centre
Paris, France: Saturday, February 7, 2 - 7 PM
Phillips Andover Academy
Andover, MA: Sunday, February 8, 11 AM - 2 PM
Newton South High School
Newton Centre, MA: Monday, February 9, 5:30 - 8:30 PM
Jeannine Manuel
Lille, France: Monday, February 9, 6:30 - 8:30 PM
Jeannine Manuel
Paris, France: Tuesday, February 10, 5:30 - 7:30 PM
Colegio San Augustin
Madrid, Spain: Thursday, February 12, 5 - 9 PM
Choate Rosemary Hall
Wallingford, CT: Sunday, February 22, 11 AM - 2 PM
Online Exhibition from "Art on the Farm"
17/08/08 17:58
Please have a look at our new online exhibition of some of the great work that was made here during our three week summer course in June and July. There was a great evolution in the work that everyone produced, and we wanted to share the exceptional results with everyone else.
Goodbye
15/07/08 17:18
The last week of Art on the Farm saw the students working hard on their final projects. Days and nights were spent in the studio painting, printing in the darkroom and drawing sheep. Everyone still managed to have lots of fun along the way. Gaby solidified her postion as reigning cow house ping pong champion, Maddy and Flo contiued their nightly jam sessions, Sophie made sure everyone at the dinner table laughed themselves to tears, Emma and Lea consumed more sugar than anyone we have ever witnessed, Marine became best friends with our three dogs, Bobby, Maeby and Chester, Axel gave everyone a laugh with his ever expanding sheep universe, Russ scared everyone with his creepy portrait of Flo, and Will snuck off to produce some truly beautiful photographs.
During our last week we were also paid a visit by artist Jackie Sumell. We are grateful she made the time to visit and speak with everyone about her practice, and her most current project "The House That Herman Built".
The farm is very quiet now that our first class has oficcialy come to a close, but as we prepare for our next group we are certain that the memory of the past three weeks will live on. We will never forget our first group of budding young artists, and look forward to keeping in touch. Take a look at some of our photos from the final week of "Art on the Farm."
Activities Update by Flo, Lea, Marine and Will
07/07/08 22:48
Last wednesday, we went on a trip to Galway, a city in West Ireland. We drove for about four hours, making tons of senic stops, (one of which included the Cliffs of Moher) and finally arrived and checked into our hostle. We got settled and went to have dinner at local resturant where some us enjoyed the local specialty of fish and chips. Galway proved to be an interesting city with tons of street acts and fun things do at night. The next day we woke up and had some free time to walk around and further explore Galway. We got right back in the car and drove on over to the ferry that would take us to the Aran Islands. With some spectacular luck we got the best weather yet! The Aran islands were as beautiful as they were fascinating. We checked into another hostle, then rented bikes for the day. Some of us rode over to the historic site of Dun Aengus and enjoyed a great view, while others relaxed and enjoyed the beautiful weather. The islands were a great place to sketch and to take photos. Some lucky members of the group got to go out late and learn how to do night photography with Frank (the fatigue the next day was entirely worth it.). In the morning we packed up, then went out to explore the rest of the island. We took the 12 O'clock ferry back to the mainland and enjoyed another meal in Galway. We arrived back at the farm tired but happy late that night and all hit the hay pretty hard. Check out our updated photos page.
Activities Update by Emma, Axel and Sophie
02/07/08 07:31
Thursday morning, we got up early and headed up to Dublin. The trip took about two hours, with a rainy stop at the Glendalough Monastic settlement. The ruins were beautiful, even in the rain. Our first stop in the city was at the Douglas Hyde Gallery on O'Connell Street, where among many other great works we saw the displaced studio of Francis Bacon. After that, we made a stop at our hostel, Avalon House on George's Street. That afternoon/evening we had some time to explore the city, take photographs, sketch and shop. The next morning, we ate breakfast at the hostel and headed for Newgrange, a 5000 year-old enclosed tomb. Later in the afternoon, we went to the Irish Museum of Modern Art, where we had a guided tour of Janaina Tschape's latest works, and hung out in the Formal Garden nearby.
Exhausted from the trip, we slept until noon on Sunday, and woke up to a delicious pancake breakfast! The next few days were spent learning to process our own photographs in the darkroom, and receiving an introduction to oil paints. Our nights have been spent watching classics such as "The Breakfast Club" (twice!), and runner ups..."Fight Club", and "Lost Boys", and presentations of both Rosie and Frank's artwork. Tomorrow its off to the west where we will spend a night in Galway and another on the Aran Islands. Please have a look at our updated photos page, and check back soon for more updates.
Art on the Farm class of 2008!
25/06/08 23:46
The third day on the farm begins as the sleepy, yet eager, students wake up to the smell of fresh coffee and toast. Mary's fresh baked banana bread is a hit when paired with sweet fresh strawberries and a warm cup of tea. The Nutella can't be passed down the long wood table fast enough as conversation buzzes about the art books that Frank and Rosie put on the tables. The leisurely breakfast turns into a scurry for the studios to begin the days activities. Each day brings new opportunities, new experiences, new challenges and new accomplishments. Yesterday, the students worked with Rosie on charcoal pieces that tested their ability to interpret tone, negative space and composition. Frank introduced the students to the dark room and the basics of manipulating a 35mm camera. The more experienced photographer was challenged and thrilled to try a medium format camera. The afternoon adventure had Cow House students galavanting in the town of Wexford with cameras and sketch journals in hand. The students meandered around the Wexford Art Center and examined several pieces on display. The students enjoyed some free time in town to take pictures, sketch or shop for Wellies. Later that evening, Carla Sanchez, the chair of the Board of Directors of the Wexford Art Center, joined us for dinner and shared a behind the scenes look at creating the gallery space. The students were given a unique opportunity to become constructive critiques of the Center. Carla was both appreciative and impressed by the pensive and well articulated comments that the young Cow House students had to share. The day comes to an end and students scatter to work on personal projects, play a spirited game of Jenga or to steal a teacake from the pantry. Please enjoy some of the photos that speak for themselves.
Introducing your Chaperones for the Summer...
06/06/08 15:10
Jenga Gatmaitan, originally from the Philadelphia area, graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Education from McGill University, Montreal Canada. Jenga taught in an elementary school for two few years before returning to school to gain a Master's Degree in Special Education from Vanderbilt University, Nashville Tennessee. Currently, she is residing in Wallingford PA and teaching children with Autism for the Elwyn organization in Philadelphia. Jenga has been fortunate to both travel and live abroad. Her adventures have taken her to Ireland, France, Finland, Philippines, Korea, Japan, Mexico, Canada and all over the United States. Jenga enjoys cooking, hiking, traveling and a good cup of tea.
Jonathan Shearburn grew up in the Philadelphia area. He attained a Bachelor's Degree in Film from Fordham University, New York, NY. Jon moved back to the Philadelphia area and began working on various independent film projects, and is currently the editor for Coyopa Productions. Jon spent several weeks in Ireland helping Frank and Rosie with the initial construction of the Cow House Studios. A dedicated friend, he has made over 5 trips to Ireland in the past 3 years and is very familiar with Dublin and the surrounding areas. Jon's travels include Ireland, Germany, Italy, Canada and all over the United States. Jon enjoys pizza, independent films and an occasional pint of Guiness.
Camp Fairs 2008 (Updated)
15/01/08 17:23
Cow House Studios will attend the following camp fairs this winter. This will be a great opportunity for those of you interested in our programme to meet Rosie or Frank and ask them any questions you might have about Art on the Farm. We look forward to seeing you there.
Summer Fare '08 at Greenwich High School, Greenwich CT
Wednesday, January 23 : 6PM - 9 PM
Summer Opportunities Fair, Phillips Academy, Andover MA
Sunday, January 27 : 11AM - 2PM
Summer Opportunities Fair, Concord Carlisle High School, Concord MA
Monday, January 28 : 5:30PM - 8:30PM
17th Annual Camp Fair, Chestnut Hill Academy, Chestnut Hill PA
Saturday, February 2 : 11AM - 3PM
Overnight Camp Fair, Princeton Day School, Princeton NJ
Sunday, February 3 : 11AM - 3PM
Teen Sumer Program Expo 2008, Newton South High School, Newton Centre, MA
Monday, February 4 : 5:30PM - 8PM
Summer Camp & Teen Program Expo, International School, Paris
Wednesday, February 6 : 5:30PM – 8:30PM
Summer Camp & Teen Program Expo, Bilingual School Jeannine Manuel, Paris
Thursday, February 7 : 5:30PM - 7:30PM
Explore! '08, Choate Rosemary Hall, Wallingford CT*
Sunday, February 17 : 11AM - 1PM
*Cow House Studios representative in attendance only
Summer Fare '08 at Greenwich High School, Greenwich CT
Wednesday, January 23 : 6PM - 9 PM
Summer Opportunities Fair, Phillips Academy, Andover MA
Sunday, January 27 : 11AM - 2PM
Summer Opportunities Fair, Concord Carlisle High School, Concord MA
Monday, January 28 : 5:30PM - 8:30PM
17th Annual Camp Fair, Chestnut Hill Academy, Chestnut Hill PA
Saturday, February 2 : 11AM - 3PM
Overnight Camp Fair, Princeton Day School, Princeton NJ
Sunday, February 3 : 11AM - 3PM
Teen Sumer Program Expo 2008, Newton South High School, Newton Centre, MA
Monday, February 4 : 5:30PM - 8PM
Summer Camp & Teen Program Expo, International School, Paris
Wednesday, February 6 : 5:30PM – 8:30PM
Summer Camp & Teen Program Expo, Bilingual School Jeannine Manuel, Paris
Thursday, February 7 : 5:30PM - 7:30PM
Explore! '08, Choate Rosemary Hall, Wallingford CT*
Sunday, February 17 : 11AM - 1PM
*Cow House Studios representative in attendance only
Lighthouse at Hook Head
10/01/08 16:32
Hook Lighthouse is one of the local sites we will be visiting this summer. Thought to be one of the oldest operational lighthouses in the world, it is a unique example of an almost intact medieval lighthouse. Dating from the early 13th century it was a major feat at the time of its construction. Purpose built as a lighthouse, it has served sailors and shipping for 800 years, apart from a short closure during the 17th century.