Residency * Events * Journal * Artist work
Fiona Woods is a visual artist whose practice includes curating and writing. Her work includes commissioned public artworks, gallery based work and collaborative or context specific works. She has curated a number of gallery exhibitions and on-site projects, including Ground Up which she devised for the Arts Office of Clare County Council. She developed the partnership project from which Shifting Ground emerged and has received awards from a number of bodies.
CV
Education
2007–’09 Currently studying for M.A. Art in the Contemporary World (theory and practice), N.C.A.D., Dublin IRL
1984–’89 School of Art & Design, D.I.T. [formerly C.O.M.A.D.] Dublin IRL Hons. Diploma in Art & Design [1986 – ’87 sabbatical year, spent abroad]
Current projects
2007 - 08 Grizedale Arts (UK) Research & Development Residency Collaborative project with 5 artists, arising from Shifting Ground project (see below).
2009 Future Nostalgia for Species currently working on solo exhibition for 2009, venue unconfirmed
2007 Imagining Silvermines; a psychogeography Context specific, community engaged public art work commissioned by North Tipperary Co. Council
2006 Untitled Waterways Ireland HQ, Public Sculpture commissioned by the OPW
2004 Pink Sheds Clare Co. Council/ Ground Up – temporary public artwork in a rural context
2003 Ground Up Public artwork in the form of a publication – curating editor and contributor
2001 Commissioned artist Office of Public Works per cent for art scheme
I coordinated a series of artist residencies at the Knockalisheen Accommodation Centre for Asylum Seekers in Co. Clare. This produced a number of performances, a CD of music, 4 artworks located in the building and a website.
2000 Shortlisted for public sculpture project, Westport, Co. Mayo
Shortlisted for public sculpture project, Lisdoonvarna, Clare
1999 Shortlisted for public sculpture project at Rialto, Dublin.
1996 Commissioned work MOSAIC Project, Galway
2007 Not What You’d Expect; Irish Painting 1919-2007 The Courthouse Studios and Gallery, Ennistymon, Co. Clare.
2006 Shifting Ground; Art in Rural Contexts partnership; Part of my work for the Arts Office of Clare County Council; initiated partnership project and devised Shifting Ground conference programme.
2006 Rural Vernacular; Curated and coordinated this project [the third strand of Ground Up] for the Arts Office of Clare County Council.
2006 Ground Up Artists’ Collective Initiated, incorporated and obtained Charitable Status for this independent artist organisation, made up of all those who have participated in Ground Up to date. Wrote successful Space Shuttle application.
2006 Commissioned documentary from film-maker Fergus Tighe on Ground Up.
2005-07 Discursive Space - European Discussion Network; Initiated a European partnership project (still under development) working towards the development of a new discourse around rural culture and contemporary art.
2004 Ground Up 2; Selected a team of artists to participate; coordinated commissioned works.
2003 Ground Up; Selected a team of artists to participate; managed project and coordinated commissioned works.
2003 Editing curator and contributing artist Ground Up, a public artwork in the form of a publication circulated with the Clare Champion.
2003 Echo Project; Coordinated and managed this project.
2002 Voice Curated six artist show for Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar, and Mermaid Arts Centre, Wicklow.
*Indicates solo exhibition
2007 Ansin Anois The Courthouse Studios and Gallery, Ennistymon, Co. Clare
2005 Hidden Depths Ennistymon, Co. Clare
2004 Art in Clare UDC Hall, Ennis, Clare
2003 Voice Six Irish Artists Linenhall, Castlebar; Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray
2002 Circue, Mrua Gallery, Co. Clare
2002* Nurture, Galway Arts Centre; Sirius Arts Centre, Cobh; South Tipp. Arts Centre, Clonmel
2001* Nurture, Basement Gallery, Dundalk; Belltable Gallery, Limerick
" The Crawford Open Exhibition, Crawford Municipal Art Gallery, Cork
" Transformation, [with Clare Youth Services] October Arts in Ennis Festival
2000* Birds and Beasts, Library Gallery, De Valera Library, Ennis, Clare
in/sight, October Arts in Ennis Festival; Ennistymon, Co. Clare
1998 Scóip ’98 Samhlaiocht Chiarrai, Tralee, Kerry [Curated by Hugh Mulholland]
1997* Transparency, Position, Emphasis Site specific installations, Strokestown House and Famine Museum, Roscommon
" Response, The Courthouse Studios and local windows, Ennistymon, Clare
2001 Clare Youth Services Artist-in-residence I worked with early school leavers; this residency culminated in a shop-front exhibition as part of the Ennis Arts Festival called Transformation.
2000 Clare Youth Services in/sight exhibition talk
1999 Ennistymon ’99 Community Workshop Ennistymon, Clare
1997 Strokestown House and Famine Museum, Roscommon Artist-in-Residence
1994 Burren College of Art, Ballyvaughan, Clare 13 Lectures [Art History]
izedale Arts (UK) Research and Development Residency
Collaborative project with 5 artists/architect arising from the Shifting Ground
project
2006 Untitled Waterways Ireland HQ, Public Sculpture commissioned by the OPW
2004 Pink Sheds Clare Co. Council/ Ground Up – temporary public artwork in a rural
context
2003 Ground Up Public artwork in the form of a publication – curating editor and
contributor
2001 Commissioned artist Office of Public Works per cent for art scheme
I coordinated a series of artist residencies at the Knockalisheen Accommodation
Centre for Asylum Seekers in Co. Clare. This produced a number of performances, a
CD of music, 4 artworks located in the building and a website.
2000 Shortlisted for public sculpture project, Westport, Co. Mayo
Shortlisted for public sculpture project, Lisdoonvarna, Clare
1999 Shortlisted for public sculpture project at Rialto, Dublin.
1996 Commissioned work MOSAIC Project, Galway
2007 (Untitled) Exhibition of paintings from various collections; Courthouse Studios
and Gallery,Ennistymon, Co. Clare
2004→ Shifting Ground; Art in Rural Contexts partnership; Part of my work for the Arts
Office of Clare County Council; initiated partnership project and devised
Shifting Ground conference programme.
2006 Rural Vernacular; Curated and coordinated this project [the third strand of
Ground Up] for the Arts Office of Clare County Council.
2005 Ground Up Artists’ Collective Initiated, incorporated and secured Charitable
Status for this independent artist organisation, made up of all those who have
participated in Ground Up to date.
project (still under development) working towards the development of a new
discourse about rural culture and contemporary art.
2004 Ground Up 2; Selected a team of artists to participate; coordinated commissioned
works.
2003 Ground Up; Selected a team of artists to participate; managed project and
coordinated commissioned works.
a publication circulated with the Clare Champion.
2002 Voice Curated six artist show for Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar, and Mermaid
Arts Centre, Wicklow.
Selected Exhibitions [since 1996]
*Indicates solo exhibition
2007 Strata Courthouse Studios and Gallery, Ennistymon, Co. Clare
2005 Hidden Depths Ennistymon, Co. Clare
2004 Art in Clare UDC Hall, Ennis, Clare
2003 Voice Six Irish Artists Linenhall, Castlebar; Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray, Co.
Wicklow
2002 Circue Mrua Gallery, Co. Clare
2002* Nurture Galway Arts Centre; Sirius Arts Centre, Cobh; South Tipp. Arts Centre,
Clonmel
2001* Nurture Basement Gallery, Dundalk; Belltable Gallery, Limerick
2000* Birds and Beasts Library Gallery, De Valera Library, Ennis, Clare
1999 Ennistymon ’99 The Courthouse Studios, Ennistymon, Clare
Wobbe)
1998 Seven Artists, One Place Site specific installations, Dursey Island and
Castletownbere, Co. Cork, [Curated by Cormac Boydell]
Scóip ’98 Samhlaiocht Chiarrai, Tralee, Kerry [Curated by Hugh Mulholland]
1997* Transparency, Position, Emphasis Site specific installations, Strokestown House
and Famine Museum,Roscommon
1996 Opening Exhibition Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, Minnesota, USA
Stockholm
Arts in Context Work / Artist Residencies/ Visiting Artist programmes
2002 Banff Centre for the Arts, CA Residency
2001/02 Knocaklisheen Accommodation Centre for Asylum Seekers, Co. Clare Artist-in-
residence
Council
2001 Clare Youth Services Artist-in-residence
I worked with early school leavers; this residency culminated in a shop-front
exhibition as part of the Ennis Arts Festival called Transformation.
2000 Clare Youth Services in/sight exhibition talk
schools,Co. Clare. A contemporary version of the 1932 Folklore project – a
collection of local history and contemporary objects and artworks, working
towards the creation of a website.
1999 Ennistymon ’99 Community Workshop Ennistymon, Clare
1997 Strokestown House and Famine Museum, Roscommon Artist-in-Residence
1994 Burren College of Art, Ballyvaughan, Clare 13 Lectures [Art History]
1992 Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Annaghamakerrig, Monaghan Residency
92 – 95 Northampton Primary School, Kinvara, Galway Artist-in-Residence
90 – 91 North Clare Schools Artist-in-Schools project
89 – 90 Simon Community, Galway Artist-in-residence
86 – 87 Bromley Borough Council, London, UK Artist in the Community programme
2005 Arts Council/An Comhairle Ealaíon Travel Award
2002 Arts Council/An Comhairle Ealaíon Publications Assistance Scheme Award
2000 Arts Council/An Comhairle Ealaíon Studio Rental Assistance grant
1998 Exhibition Grant Beara Community Arts Festival
1997 Exhibition Grant Roscommon Co. Council
1992 Exhibition Grant Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
Seminars and public presentations
2006 Art & Possibility Seminar NCAD/DIT/Tusche University NY joint seminar
Collective
2005 New Fields; Art & Agriculture research seminars organised by Littoral Leeds City
Art Gallery
2003 Limerick School of Art & Design Visiting Artist Lecture
Published work
2005 CONTEXTS magazine Ground Up
of Ireland.
2003 Visual Arts Newsletter. Ground Up.
2000 Art Bulletin A day in the life
1997 Art Bulletin. Artist in residence Strokestown House and Famine Museum.
Other Professional Experience
Current (since 2003) Regional Arts Co-ordinator for North Clare with the Arts Office of Clare Co. Council.
2001 Administration of three concurrent Ennis-based artist-in-the-community schemes [including grant-writing, project design and co-ordination, placing of artists]. Participating organisations; Clare Youth Services, Clare Women’s Network, United Africans Association of Ireland.
2000 Initiated partnership between The Courthouse Studios, Ennis Arts Initiative, October Arts in Ennis Festival and the Arts Council to bring work from the Arts Council collection to Co. Clare for the dual venue in/sight exhibition and co-ordinated exhibition and catalogue.
1998 Co-ordinator of Opening Weekend Festival at the Courthouse Studios
1997 One of a group of four artists who initiated Courthouse Studios Project in Ennistymon, Co. Clare. Grant writing of Arts Council Capital Funding application - £40,000 awarded to renovate and build new studio complex.
2000 Devised and taught Community Arts; Context and Practice FETAC course
1992 - 99 Teacher of Art, Craft & Design,1st - 6th Year,
1998/99 Dept. of Education examiner Leaving Cert. Art