Cathal Mc Carthy -Visual Artist/Sculptor.

My work explores the boundaries between visual art, poetry, community, nature and scientific enquiry. I provide frameworks of enquiry for arts participation and expression. I have completed a number of significant participatory public art projects and instigated several major art projects for people with disabilities. I completed two sculpture residencies at Richard Hunt studios in Chicago USA 2017/18. I studied fine art at G.M.I.T Castlebar and also completed studies in Theatre, Community arts and Disability Arts.

My work has featured on local and national media and is included in several private collections in Ireland and U.S.A. I work from my studio in Castlebar, Co Mayo.

Public Art Commissions Current

2023 Those We Lost BRYR Ballymun Youth -Dublin City Arts Office/Creative Ireland.

2023 Tubber Hill Public Art Project Percent for Art Westport -Mayo Co Council.

2023 Sonic Garden -Percent for Art St Patricks N.S. Wexford-Dept Education /OPW

2023 Friedensbaum -International Public Art Commission Hochstadt Cultural Mile, Bavaria, Germany EU Project.

Public Art Commissions Completed:

2023 Semblance -Percent for Art Scoil Bhríde N.S. School, Offaly -Dept Education/OPW.

2020 Word-Tree and Our Place -Percent for Art Sancta Maria Secondary School, Louisburgh, Co Mayo-Dept Of Education.

2011 Stream Spire -Percent for Art, Westmeath Co Council.

2007 Monk with Candles -Percent for Art, Errew National School, Co Mayo.

2003 The Player -Percent for Art Mayo Co Council.

Other Art Commissions:

2021 Eriophorum College View estate Castlebar curated by Grady Architects for L&H Homes.

2019/20 Rainbow In A Box Tracks young radicals Installation for Dublin Fringe Festival/ Cork Midsummer/Baboro.

2018 Friendship Tree commissioned by St Josephs’ Secondary School Castlebar.

2013 Lyre Variant commissioned by Poet and Author Dr Sean Lysaght Westport Co Mayo. 2008 Crossing commissioned by Nolan Developments, Baloor Castlebar Co Mayo.

Exhibitions Group Shows.

2021 Mayo Artists Show Linehall Arts Centre, curated my Eamon Maxwell 2018 Summer Show Green Fuse Gallery, Westport. Curated by Vincent Hughes.

2017 Collision Law Society Dublin, curated by Catherine O Riordan So Fine Art Dublin. 2017 Summer Show Green Fuse Gallery, Westport, Co Mayo. Curated by Vincent Hughes.

2016 Mayo Artists Show Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar. Curated by Veronica Bolay. 2016 Sculpture For Galway Kenny Gallery Galway.

2013 Back Of An Envelope Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar. Curated by Ian Wiezcoreck. 2001 Mayo Artists group show Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar.Curated by John Hunt.

2000 Heads group show Linenhall Arts Centre. Curated by Ian Wiezcoreck.

Other art installation/participation projects:

2009 Community/Disabilty Art Project 2009 Words Are My Prisoner multi level arts project involving animation and performative film a collaboration with Aideen Barry and Carrowbeg Theatre (Western Care Assoc) adults with intellectual disabilities.

2006 Rapping Dialogue for Project 06 Galway with Carrowbeg Theatre (Western Care Assoc) Adults with Intellectual Disabilities in collaboration with TY Students Sacred Heart School, Westport, Co Mayo.

2004 Ellie Gets Lost community theatre project Carrowbeg Theatre (Western Care Assoc) Adults with Intellectual Disabilities,TY students for Roola Boola Linenhall Arts Centre. 1999 Mileys Tractor Mystery Collaborative Shadow Puppet Show Carrowbeg Theatre (Western Care Assoc) for Roolaboola Children Arts Festival Linenhall Arts Centre.

Poetry and Writing:

Published Poetry Mayo Writers Force 10 Anthology Edited by Dermot Healy.

Mayo Writers Force 10 Anthology Edited by Michael Gorman.

Awards

2020 Arts Council Professional Development Award.

2010 Arts Council Travel to present at the International Sculpture Conference London. 2008/9 Arts Council New Work award for W.A.M.P (Words are my prisoner) in collaboration with Visual Artist Aideen Barry -Experimental Theatre project Adults with Intellectual Disabilities Western Care Association Westport.

2005 Arts Council Professional Development Award to visit Anthony Caro Studio London. 2003 Ireland Funds Visual Theatre Award for Carrowbeg Theatre Company adults with disabilities.

2002 and 2003 CREATE Artist in Community Award art project with adults with Intellectual disabilities.

1995 Arts Council Project Funding for Disability Arts Project The Clare Island Mystery a Macnas/ Linenhall Arts Centre joint project.

1994 U.N.E.S.C.O funding for The Clare Island Mystery Macnas/Linenhall collaboration.

Residencies

2017 Sculptor in Residence Richard Hunt Studio Chicago, U.S.A.

2018 Sculptor in Residence Richard Hunt Studio Chicago, U.S.A.

2009 Artist/Director W.A.M.P (Words are my prisoner) a multi-level arts project for Carrowbeg Enterprises Western Care Association for people with special needs.

2005 and 2007 Artist in Residence COE Claremorris.

1999-2008 Artist in Residence Western Association for adults with learning disabilities.

Education and Training

2009 ATU Castlebar Fine Art Studies.

1996 Community Art Studies with Macnas/Maceloas Theatre Co Galway. Special placement to study disability arts with Horse and Bamboo theatre Manchester UK.

1992 Horticultural studies Multyfarhnam College of Horticulture, Co Westmeath.

Bibliography

2020 Irish Arts Review essay by Catherine Marshall Curator and Art Critic

2006 By The Way Public Art in Ireland by Ann Lane.

2010 Midland Arts Review -Stream Spire.

Works in public and private collection s Mayo Co Council, Westmeath Co Council, The Asher Collection Florida USA, Richard Hunt Collection Chicago USA, Mc Nally construction Chicago,USA.