Between You and Me
August 2020 - June 2021
Between You and Me is a series of online showcases and events promoting Contemporary Art and Culture from leading Irish and Los Angeles based artists working in the visual arts, film, theatre, music and literature. The program focuses on bringing our community together online through this difficult COVID-19 pandemic and connecting with new audiences through innovative creative digital platforms.
The Between You and Me series included: a CIACLA Online Program which features over 100 artists' work presented across our social media; CICALA's Micro Moments, presenting a series of public performances and creative activations by Artists showcasing creative activism and artistry; the return of The Irish Short Reel Series screening 21 Irish short films, I Traveled West, a poetry film which will produce a physical chapbook to coincide with the online presentation of Irish and American poetry, a CIACLA produced short film, a Music Showcase promoting Irish talent in Los Angeles and an a Visual Artist Spotlight series, and Culture Chats a showcase and discussion with leading Irish Contemporary Artists.
“As we are all going through this strange moment of uncertainty together, forced to grow accustomed to a new way of living, presented with a space between our previous lives and the pressures of an unknown future, not what is to come. We have curated this exciting program full of engaging work to address this disoriented juncture and bring communities together, while also creating opportunities for artists to showcase their work and provide our audience with exciting new ways to engage with Contemporary Irish Culture.” ~ Matthew Nevin CIACLA’s Executive Director
This program has been kindly supported by Mart Gallery & Studios, Culture Ireland , Screen Ireland and The Emigrant Support Programme.
Online Program 2020
{Made in China - Spencer Glover}
CIACLA’s Online Program provides an opportunity for Irish artists living worldwide and artists from all nationalities living in Los Angeles County to showcase their work across our social media platforms and website. During the summer of 2020 an Open Call was held from which over 100 artists were selected to present their work.
Featured artists include Amanda Rice, Aoife Bambury, Bbeyond, Bernie Masterson, David Lunney, El Putnam, Kata Kukla, Lauren White Murphy, Susan Broussard, Niamh Hannaford, Nicola Anthony, Paula Stokes, and Sarah Wren Wilson.
This online exhibition will be presented from August - November 2020 and can be viewed across CIACLA’s Facebook. Instagram, Twitter and website.
Micro Moments
{Social Distancing - Francis Fay}
CIACLA’s Micro Moments are a short series of creative activations by Artists living across Ireland and the USA. These artists were invited to record a short public performance of creative activism: A moment of artistry and inspiration to capture their practice, opinions or creative process, while living through the COVID-19 crisis.
The series features writer & performer Chiamaka Enyi-Amadi, Multi-disciplinary Artist and Performer Colleen Keough, the composer Emer Kinsella, actor & comedian Emma Pyne, curator & artist Francis Fay, singer & actress Hannah Crowley, musician James Nolan, poet Sheila McMullin, actor & writer Susan Ateh, and artist Thinh Nguyen.
The series will be presented over ten consecutive days in September 2020 and can be viewed across CIACLA’s Facebook. Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and website.
The Irish Short Reels Series 2021
After a successful first run in 2019, The Irish Short Reel Series returned to CIACLA for a second year; showcasing 21 films for a brighter 2021 from Jan 1st to 21st. Through these online screenings we highlighted a curated selection of contemporary Irish Short Films, with thanks to Screen Ireland, MART Dublin & DFA Emigrant Support Programme.
The series of 21 short films ranged from drama, comedy, documentary, animation, sci-fi and contemporary storytelling; produced by some of Ireland's most exciting filmmakers. As the Irish film industry is currently enjoying a surge in output and success, with many Irish films, cast and crew gaining international recognition and winning major awards, we are delighted to provide a platform to showcase exciting new stories and talent.
Series Line Up: A Better You, A Death in the Family, A Different Kind of Day, At Present, Bending Glass, Break Us, Cúl an Tí, Dam, The First Was A Boy, Gustav, Hazardous Materials, Johnny, Maya, Miss & Missus, The Bird & The Whale, The Grass Ceiling, The Last Miner, The Tattoo, The Vasectomy Doctor, The Wiremen, and Wrath.
Irish Music Showcase
During March 2021, CIACLA presented a showcase of Irish Musical Talent in Los Angeles, highlighting Irish artists based in LA; featuring Triona O'Neill, Eamonn McCrystal, NELLA, Colin Devlin, Rowan, Jack Van Zandt and Hannah Crowley. The series presented performances that showcase the style and sound of each of our exciting musicians, songwriters and composers across our social media and website. Check out www.ciacla.com/music for full details.
I Traveled West
I TRAVELED WEST: POETS ON PLACE & BELONGING
I Traveled West: Poets on Place & Belonging is an online literature performance & publication presented by Calypso Editions and CIACLA, in celebration of USA’s National Poetry Month. Produced by Jenny Minniti- Shippey, an editor at Calypso Editions and author of award-winning After the Tour, I Traveled West brings together five poets to consider questions like: how can we make meaning of a place; how can we understand home as we migrate, emigrate, and immigrate; and how can we make place into an action as well as a location.
Visual Artist Showcase
CIACLA Visual Artist Spotlight is an online exhibition featuring the work of two Los Angeles based artists Erin Schalk and Chris O’Mahony. The online exhibition has been curated by Ciara Scanlan and is available to view in full on CIACLAs website. While from May 17th over a two week period, CIACLA we will showcase a daily selection of images from each of the artist’s work across our social media. Furthermore, accompanying the online exhibition is a review of the artist’s work by Terence Erraught.
CIACLA's ~ Actors Showcase
CIACLA is proud to present “Maggie”, a short film offering a glimpse into the lives of a recently separated couple. What happens to their fractured relationship when their mutual friend drops a bomb into the works?
The film stars Alan Smyth, Catherine Siggins and Caroline Morahan and was produced in response to restrictions on live theatre during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Directors of CIACLA, Jenny Minniti Shippey, Ciara Scanlan and Matthew Nevin, worked together with the three actors to develop and direct this short film remotely.
Culture Chats : Episode 1: THE SPECTACLE & PERFORMANCE
Culture Chats is a round table discussion that intertwines cultural and social conversations with performance; while delving into the minds of some of the leading contemporary voices in Irish culture. Through an accessible and free flowing conversation the panel of artists, musicians, writers, actors discuss their creative processes, artistic drives, performative anxieties and triumphs while intercutting performances and examples of their work.
For the first episode we will feature actor/musician Erica Cody, writer Felispeaks, visual artist MASER, DJ/Broadcaster Tara Stewart and musician James Vincent McMorrow discussing the spectacle and performance. The discussion is led by Matthew Nevin a multi-faceted creative working as Co Director of MART Gallery Studios Dublin and CIACLA Contemporary Irish Arts Center Los Angeles.
The episode will focus on these multidisciplinary artists whose performance work whether it be song, words, movement or visuals have contributed significantly to Contemporary Irish Culture in recent years. Their work often brings political, personal and social issues to the fore and we will discuss themes of performative responsibility, activity and artistry.
Episode 1 is streaming now here
