Welcome to my blog. My name is Ciara O'Halloran and I'm currently studying photography in the Dublin Institute of Technology. I'm in my third year now, quite busy. Right now, i've just finished making a booklet as part of my photobook class which was very successful. I really enjoyed putting it altogether, it's something I'm interested in and hope to continue making books. I also have 3 other projects running at the moment.
The Everyday Life
As part of this class I am working in a group with Noel Noblett. We are studying the everyday life of the Papal Cross in the Phoenix Park, Dublin. It's been interesting observing the different things that are happening in the park. We intend to make an intervention by constructing something at the Papal Cross that interrupts the everyday and to observe the reactions of the people around. We have not settled on what this intervention will be as of yet.
Documentary
For my documentary class I am working in a Community Centre in Huntstown, Dublin 15. The brief for the project was for a publication for the Irish Times in which we were to communicate the effects of the recession on society. I choose to show the resilience and how the community is working together to fight against the grim reality that's unfolding. The Community Centre is a focal point for the area. It offers a lot of facilities for the people in the area which is vital to keep moral up and bring people together.
Curatorial Practice
I will be having an interactive exhibition in the Fingal County Council Offices in Blanchardstown. The exhibition will be held from the 1st of December until the 4th of December. The aim of the exhibition is to generate a conversation within the community to share ideas between all age groups. I'm trying to create an identity for the area through this work. I will be exhibiting my own photographs of the area along with photographs from school children and paintings and pictures from younger children. There will be a space at the exhibition for others to add their own touch. The outcome of this is for people to see all the great things that happen in the area that they may not be aware of. I hope to produce a book at the end of this including all the ideas that will be shared, the picture and paintings.
Work In Progress
I have a lot of ideas flowing. Most of which are studio based works, which for me is quite strange as I have always felt the studio was not for me but now that my practice has taken me away from the studio I feel I'm being drawn back to it for more personal projects. Right now, in my career I feel that I should be developing my ideas for my thesis and to progress in my photographic career and I am not wondering if the direction I have taken myself in is the right one. Yesterday, I went to 'What's Next!' in the Driocht Blanchardstown for an all day seminar on Funding and career opportunities. It was very interesting with great speakers. It was aimed to more artistic practices such as painting and sculpture which made me look at my own practices in a different light.
