Thursday, May 30, 2013
From CATDIG to TOMCAT this weekend in Limerick city centre
Friday, June 15, 2012
We've revamped our old website to include new features such as Galleries for each of our projects photos and videos. Please visit and give us your feedback. http://spiritstorelimerick.weebly.com/
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Bussing it on Culture Night - Bus Route and approx times
As you may know SpiritStore is working with the InkStorm writers once again to bring live poetry writing to you for Culture Night with our Poetry Depot which is mobile this year. InkStorm Poets, Dave Rock, Lisa Allen, Micheal Kearney and Deirdre Maria Sullivan will be on board a large red double decker, open top bus with pen in hand ready to meet you, chat and write for you.
The Red Viking Tour bus in Limerick city is our Poetry Depot venue for Culture Night. It's the hop-on hop-off tour bus which you may have seen transporting people through the streets of Limerick for the past two years. Pat is our bus driver for the night, he's a fountain of information, a real expert on the cultural treasures of Limerick.
We've posted the bus route he'll take us on, the route is designed to drive close by as many of the venues open to you Limerick wanders for Culture Night. We tour the city twice, once starting at City Hall at 6pm and again at 7.30pm. So basically, you just hop-on and off at the different stops as you want, or stay on board that little bit longer and commission a poem...
The times posted below are only an estimation as this is not his usual route, so please take into account that the times are approximate.
Request stop at Horse and Hound Bar, Mulgrave Street for Contact Studios
7.15 & 8.45 Limerick School of Art and Design, Clare Street.
7.25 & 8.55 Merchants Quay/City Hall
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
SpiritStore/InkStorm Poetry Depot at CATDIG 2011
POEMS WHILE YOU WAIT
A Poetry Depot is a pop-up poetry shop. A place where poets compose personalized poems for you on the spot, based on topics, themes or forms suggested by you.
Commission a poem for someone, about someone, or simply commission a poem for yourself!
Friday, May 6, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
CATDIG 2011 May13th-15th
puppeteer/architect/skateboarder/polititian/archeologist/
storyteller/playwright/film-director/geek/mathematician/
philosopher/comedian/composer/
and more
A couple of lines describing your activity
A very short biog of yourself/ your group
The duration of your activity
To: catdig2011@gmail.com
Thursday, January 27, 2011
In Process - Poetry Depot II
The Limerick Poetry Depot was an important learning experience for us. Reflections on the concept, the delivery, the collaborative methods, the context, and on the participation (public and poets) have been used to ground this project in real terms.
It’s been particularly interesting process, not only is the project a collaboration between artists and writers, but a sociologist/poet is in the mix which brings a new language to the table. The questions we use to shape the project, the research we've carried out, the definition of roles and definition of our individual aims, all reflect the dynamic of different disciplines coming together.
We've drafted several iterations of the project proposal, meeting face to face to thrash out the important conceptual and practical elements.
Currently we’re searching for locations for a writers workshop, a pop-up poetry cafe, and we're investigating the potentials for publishing.
The writer’s workshop is our immediate concern and is the first phase of the project; we're recruiting a group of writers interested in working collaboratively with the public under constrained conditions. This group of writers will help us refine the collaborative writing process we've been developing.
Friday, October 29, 2010
What happened to solidarity and protest?
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
The Poets Perspective
Dave Rock
Inkstorm
Monday, September 27, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
SpiritStore Poetry Depot at Limerick Culture Night
We were delighted with the crowds that turned up to commission a poem, and the appreciation and enthusiasm shown by all. Huge thanks to everyone who supported the event and especially to the 45 poeple who commissioned poems and came up with inspiring ideas. Finally we are very grateful to the poets who generously gave their time and energy to each person who came to them. In the photos above are, on the right, poet Elaine Cosgrove (Galway) with one of her commissioners. On the left, Dave Rock (Founder Inkstorm, Galway), Sheila O' Donnell (Limerick), Teri Murray (Limerick), Mike mcCaughan (Galway) and John Carmody (Limerick).
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Poetry Depot at the Milk Market on Culture Night on Friday Sept 24th from 5pm to 7pm.
SpiritStore and Inkstorm first came together in early summer to discuss the possibilities of running a similar event here in Ireland, with some additions to suit the context we're working in. To write a poem in this immediate way requires the talent of the poet but it also depends on the contribution made by the person who commissions the poem. We particularly want to highlight the collaborative aspect of the interaction between poet and commissioner in our Poetry Depot.
The SpiritStore Poetry Depot on Limerick's Culture Night is our first official Poetry Depot, although recently we had a number of impromptu runs in Galway were we elicited the help of willing coffee drinkers who wandered into the cafe that was our office of choice!
The Milk Market on Culture Night on Friday Sept 24th from 5pm to 7pm... come early to avoid disappointment!
If you don’t know where to start, SpiritStore and Inkstorm have come up with 10 questions which may help generate those seeds. Feel free to answer all or any of them, be as quirky, open or imaginative as you want, just go for it. Bring the Poet one of SpiritStore’s flyers with your questions filled in, have a quick chat and step away. Your Poet now has 10mins to improvise your personal poem, written while you wait.
The flyers will be available at the Milk Market from Friday 17th, but here’s a preview of the questions…
Before you start, what is the subject of this poem?
• Describe characteristics or the life of this person/place/object.
• What is the most interesting or important thing about this person/place/object?
• What other things does the person/place/object remind you of?
• Tell us about import moments this person/place/object makes you remember.
• How is your mood affected by this person/place/object?
• Describe in a couple of words the history or the story of this person/place/object.
• Describe activities associated with this person/place/object.
• What are the most memorable sounds/tastes/textures/images/smells that arise for you when you think of this person/place/object?
Who are Inkstorm?
Inkstorm was born in Galway in 2008 when poet and performer Dave Rock and children’s writer Benjamin Coombs joined forces to share their love of writing and storytelling. Inkstorm workshops take the pressure and angst out of writing, instead allowing participants to play with language and have fun, while producing meaningful work. Inkstorm have enjoyed a string of successful workshops across England and Ireland.
For this collaboration with SpiritStore, Inkstorm have brought together a group of writers of different levels of experience who are excited by the challenge of working in this format.
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Thanks to the support of Culture Night Ireland 2010/Limerick City Arts Office. And again a huge thank you to Paul Dowling our Graphic Designer.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Culture Night - Limerick 2010
Among the popular events lined up on September 24th will be painting, poetry, dance, opera, traditional music, architecture, history and theatre.
This is the fifth year of Culture Night, with the event expanding to 20 different places throughout the Republic, including the Gaeltacht islands of Tory and Inis Meáin. Events will also take place in Derry and Belfast. ' Irish Times, August 18th 2010
This year on Limericks Culture Night a full programme of events is scheduled and we're part of it.
Come and participate in SpiritStore’s 'Poetry Depot ' in association with 'Inkstorm'.
A Poetry Depot is a pop-up poetry shop. A place where poets compose personalized poems for you on the spot, based on topics, themes or forms suggested by you. Commission a poem for someone, about someone or commission a poem for yourself about any old thing !
More details to follow...
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Bourkes Basement
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
PODCAST - Just One Record
Thursday, May 20, 2010
With and Around
This post is a slight repetition, but we've noticed that there has been a lot of discussion since CATDIG about artist-led or public-led events and DIY culture.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Thanks to Everyone for a Great CATDIG Experience
We're very happy with how everything turned out, we hope you are too! We're considering having an open feedback session some evening next week or the next , if you're interested, we'll keep you informed....this entails inviting the traders and yourselves for a cup of tea and doing a round up.
We think it's important that projects like the CATDIG are independently sustainable, but also need to encourage that to happen, do you agree? A lot of the traders are talking about the possibility of doing this themselves next year....we want to hand ownership back to the street, how do you practically do that, can that work, how would it work, what experiences did the weekend give us to help that to happen...etc?
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Dave Rock is a published poet and fiction writer, who has read all over Ireland and the United Kingdom. He is currently a PhD Fellow in NGUI studying Social Imaginaries. Dave is known to many in Limerick as a veteran 'Slam Poet', but this is his first visit to our city to lend us his experience as a creative writing workshop leader.
Ben Coombs is an award winning writer, with a Masters in Writing, who regularly writes for HOTPRESS and the IRISH INDEPENDENT. He currently lives in Galway city where he leads creative writing workshops that have earned him an excellent reputation.
What are they doing?
Ben and Dave will help you to release your inner writer, this creative writing workshop will be light hearted, fun and inclusive. Places are limited and are given on a first come first serve basis, so come on time and have fun!
Where, When and How?
Saturday 7pm - Writing Workshop - (surrounded by books at) The Little Catherine Street Bookshop - 90mins - Bring pen and paper!!!!!
Amanda Dunsmore is a visual artist based in Ireland. The subject matter of her diverse range of artworks originate from contemporary social contexts, presented through the media of video, sound, photography and installation. Recent works include the performance series Head in a Hole Woman and the multi-presentational public sound work Shhh Shhh Shhh - Bags, Streets, Windows Linz, Austria. Her historical context projects reflect on diverse acts of preservation and include the Keeper project.
What's she up to?
‘Others Have Their Heads – A subterreanian Intervention for CAT DIG’
In the summer of 2008 I found a hole in a rural road and put my head in it. I am intrigued by the simple visual metaphor of this action. The moment of production is an integral element of this artistic process, exploring location and exploiting site, with the aim of creating different and unusual contexts.
Where?
On the street!
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Emmalena Fredriksson is a dance artist from Sweden. She graduated from SEAD, Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance in Austria in 2008, majoring in both performance and choreography. Since then she has worked as a freelance dance artist in Sweden, Germany, Austria and England, presenting her own work as well as collaborating with other artists, teaching and organizing events. Since September 2009 she is taking part in the Daghdha Mentoring Program in Limerick. http://www.daghdha.ie/006/002.htm
What's she up to?
“It’s a wrap, put your arms around me, you are an animal but I’m just lying here” a durational exploration of a simple movement, and a fascination for the double meanings of small words.
Where?
On the street!
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Softday is a collaboration between Sean Taylor and Mikael Fernström that started in 1999, exploring ideas in multimedia art.
http://www.softday.ie/
What are they up to?
Want to be part of a unique public sound art event?
Want to turn your mobile phone into a musical instrument?
‘Sonic City’ is an improvised sound art work designed to be played on mobile phones.
Softday (Sean Taylor and Mikael Fernstrom) in association with The Spirit Store , will work members of the public who are interested in getting involved in this unique project.
Where?
Interested participants are asked to meet the artists for a day long workshop at the French's Café in Catherine Street, Limerick at 11.am on Saturday 8th May 2010. Participants will take part in a sonic walk/tour of Limerick, they will also be introduced to audio recording techniques, and computer based editing software. The sound composition will be constructed from audio field recordings of the city of Limerick, which will be altered using computer based audio editing software. Each individual composition will be converted to MP3 or MP4 ringtones for the user’s mobile phone. The finished work will be performed live in public by the participants and their mobile phones as part of the ‘Softday Mobile Philharmonic’ at 4.30pm on Saturday 8th May in French's Café
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What's she up to?
A talk – The Lifecycle of a screen play, from Script to Screen.
Where?
Little Catherine Street Bookshop
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knee-jerk are a multi-disciplinary Artist Collective based in Galway. Concentrating on collective collaborations and site specific work, we are concerned with making the practice of art a more socially engaging experience. .
What are they up to?
"Hey, Catherine..Pass the Parcel!" - (Pass the 'Giant' parcel on Catherine Street)
http://www.myspace.com/kneejerkaudios
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Tracy Fahey is a Gothic devotee whose research interests lie chiefly in Gothic space and its interactions with literature, art, design and folk-tales. She has given papers in University of Aarhus, University of Cardiff, Stirling University, Trinity and All Saints, Leeds and University of Northampton on a variety of topics including Irish castles, domestic Gothic, fairytale architecture, Irish Gothic and werewolves.
What's she up to?
'Ghost Walk, Ghost Talk', is a look at the gory tales of Limerick hauntings, spectres, ghosts and monsters. All set to send shivers for the CAT DIG.Start on Catherine street and go on the ghost trail, return to a basement for a scary spine tingling story telling session featuring Limerick's own tales.
See the website for further info and to add your own experiences….
Where?
Saturday at 6pm > Ghost Walk > Meet at Bourke's Bar
Saturday at 8pm > Ghost Talk > Bourke's Bar Basement
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Robin Parmar works with silence, sounds, words, photography, performance and theory. Recent credits include the sound installation "The Lights In Room 7" for the international e v+ a Exhibition (Limerick, Ireland), a paper on television programme Doctor Who (Cardiff, Wales), a sonic performance at "Die Gegenwart Von Jean Baudrillard" (Mainz, Germany), the diffusion of the soundscape composition "The Garden Of Adumbrations" (Limerick and Stockholm) and a chapter in the book "Framemakers: Choreography As An Aesthetics Of Change".
What's going on?
I wish to create an anecdotal soundscape of Catherine Street, a process which would start with collecting sounds in situ and end with a finished composition for playback.
Ongoing Event > Sound Art Installation > Goldmine Jewellers
More information at,
www.spiritstorelimerick.weebly.com
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
CATDIG programme is now available online..
Click here!
Also have a look at our wiki for a full rundown of whos who... http://spiritstore.wikidot.com/participants
Calling for Volunteers
We will be preparing the volunteers, talking about the press release, creating the press pack, and counting down the activities to be completed before May7th, as well as describing and alotting volunteer jobs.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for the CATDIG weekend, or you know of anyone who would be a reliable volunteer for the week leading up to the CATDIG and for the weekend please come and sign up!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
CATDIG Programme Ready
Expect to see a giant parcel passed through the street, take in a short movie at the outdoor pop-up cinema, catch a spontaneous tango on the street, listen to the author of ‘Alone It Stands’, tune your ears to the cello, take a theatre workshop at Faber studio or learn to edit sound for an art performance, add your story to a map of the streets history, make a noble call at the Big Hooley, trail limericks ghosts and spirits, write a screenplay, ponder a poem....all is possible and this is only a fraction of your choices!
A preview will be available online at our website shortly http://www.spiritstorelimerick.weebly.com/
...print it off and start planning your weekend.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
'Ghost Walk, Ghost Talk'
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
CAT DIG Opening Event
A mystery guest will join the event.
We're extremely appreciative of the support that Limerick Theatre practitioners have been giving this project, Teaspach, Bottom Dog and Impact are discussing ideas, we know that Mike Finn and Miles Breen have been promoting the idea for the opening event, while at the same time preparing their own submissions. Expect, workshops, readings, talks and performances for the whole weekend!
A Taster of Whats to Come - CAT DIG
The SpiritStore team is hard at work...here's a taster of what's to come for the CAT DIG weekend
There are at least three pieces of Sound Art inspired and using material from Catherine Street by different Artists proposed for the May Weekend.
The photo above is a sample of imagery from an Audio Visual collaboration between SpiritStore’s, Paul Tarpey and Composer John Lillis under the working title 'Hidden Hearing' (a Shop Name on The Street).
In true psychogeography form, a walking visual investigation takes place at Burkes Bar on the street. In this collaborative performance, Paul and John use Catherine Street images to dictate a live audio/visual map.
‘Softday’, artists Sean Taylor and Mikael Fernstrom are planning a live mobile phone symphony, calling on interested people to contribute sound recordings and will include a sound editing workshop.
Over the CAT DIG weekend Robin Parmar will create an anecdotal soundscape of Catherine Street, a process which would start with collecting sounds in situ and end with a finished composition for playback to pour onto the street.
Other events to date are…at Faber Studio space we have theatre practice workshops. 'Gretta Gibbs', shop window is a very intimate space for performance, dance and live acoustic music. Arches and doorways have incidental performances. The Little Catherine Street bookshop is set to host a literary fest. Outdoor cinema will be projected on the street walls, a Victorian peep show – not the rude kind! – gives us a snap shot of Catherine street past.
Outdoor spaces we hope people will consider are, the covered outdoor seating on the street, stepped - georgian doorways that lend themselves as intimate performance spaces, archways, pavements...
Bear in mind for instance that, the Bagel Factory on the corner of Thomas street has outdoor seating, a large canopy, outdoor heating and light, as do a number of the premises on Catherine Street.