CURATED BY CLARE HARTIGAN
“The Place of the Picnic Art (PoPA) returns this year with another five artists invited to take residency on-site at Stradbally Estate during the festival build. The Artist spend their days painting large scale paintings for display on the POPA wall in the main stage arena over the weekend of Electric Picnic itself.
The project has once again been curated by artist Clare Hartigan, who has been at the heart of Electric Picnic’s art scene for many years. Clare has invited five artists to join her on POPA this year, following the theme of “Speak to Me” with an emphasis on positive body image and mental health. Each artists has been given the opportunity to work on a very large scale piece and the freedom to speak to the 55,000 strong audience through their art. Each artist is selected simply on their record of working within the visual arts. “There are no proposals or application processes , as this has a tendency to turn artist of a certain type from getting involved. These are the artists that we are looking for. “ Hartigan believes talent , personality, ability and a positive attitude are the main attributes needed to take on the scale and pressure of creating a painting onsite in a working festival build. “As an artist it is a brilliant and challenging experience. The comraderie that develops between the artists is just lovely to witness. There is always something new to learn and sometimes as an established artist you just need to be willing to be taken out of your comfort zone and to see where that can bring you. Having started the project in 2015 , of the experience Hartigan says “Its like the opposite of going on a quiet retreat.…. It is a fast pace environment , often stressful , challenging, but still refreshing , invigorating and extremely fulfilling when you get it right”.
The artists selected are Debbie Chapman. Based in West Dublin, Chapman creates beautifully moody figurative works that ooze emotion. Myra O’Reilly . Limerick based artist O’Reillys uses colour, form and body language to engage the viewer and build stories within her work. Des MacMahon, of Limerick printmakers and LSAD print tutor. With a focus on drawing McMahons work is full of witty conversations that often cuts very close to the bone. Abstract artist Adrienne M Finnerty, who has a background in hypno-psychotherapy, sound movement and colour therapy. Finnerty’s work screams joy ,colour and music . It will make you want to dance . Irish - Peruvian artist Michelle Pando-Kelly whose soothing landscape work is heavily influenced by the great impressionists.
There is something for everyone to enjoy and hopefully you will enjoy them all.”