Watch the 'Two
Birds Sang' film launch
18.11.20
FROM their home and studios
near Malin Head, Ros Harvey and Tim Stampton have, for
the past thirty years, developed their practice in this
most remote of locations. The Ulster Canada Initiative,
has now produced a short biographical film documentary,
'Two Birds Sang', by Harry Kerr and Martha McCulloch on
the inspiring work of these two Inishowen artists.
Artlink is sporting the film by hosting the launch on
Facebook Live on
Thursday, 19th November, at 7pm and has organised a
Covid-19 compliant exhibition of the artists’ work in
the windows of the former ESB Showroom at West End,
Buncrana from 19th November to 3rd December, 2020. |
 |
'Two Birds Sang' film
launch is on Facebook Live on Thursday 19th Nov, at 7pm.
 |
Ros and Tim’s work draws
inspiration from their environment, its history,
heritage and wider culture. Choosing to forego the
‘benefit’ of working in a more convenient location,
being cut off in some respects from the amenities that
life in a more urban setting might offer, these artists
have chosen to locate themselves in this rural, coastal
context while maintaining links with artists and
galleries internationally.
Ros’s family roots are in Malin where she spent her
childhood, attending school in Belfast and completing an
apprenticeship course in Dublin before moving to
England. Having been busy with her family life in
England and Australia she returned to Ireland in the
1960s and became an accomplished ceramic artist, working
in Dublin from 1966 –79 and in England until 1988.
Tim Stampton was born in Brighton, emigrating to Canada
when he was seven years old. After schooling in
Newfoundland, Tim attended Canterbury College of Art in
the UK, followed by four years apprenticeship to the
renowned ceramicist Bernard Leach, in St.Ives in
Cornwall. He returned to Canada for a time, teaching
ceramics at Memorial University, Newfoundland. Tim and
Ros met through their mutual interest in ceramics.
In 1988 they decided to move to Ireland, so they
followed Ros’s roots to Malin.
Ballagh was a vacant two-storied house with old
crumbling outbuildings, so they set out to restore these
for studios. Ballagh Studio now houses a printing
workshop, gallery, paintings studios and a framing shop.
Here Ros paints and Tim makes handmade prints from his
engraved wood blocks and prints limited edition artists’
books.
Perhaps one of the greatest challenges facing artists in
remote rural areas is that of gaining exposure to the
public at large but Ros and Tim represent a model
approach. They have a warm welcome for visitors and are
delighted to discuss their work and demonstrate their
techniques. They also offer the print shop facilities to
other working printmakers. The film aims to increase the
visibility of Ballagh studios locally, nationally and
internationally, so that more people will venture up the
long winding road to their studio, gallery and print
workshop.
Generations of young Irish artists have felt the need to
study abroad and later emigrate in order to succeed in
their career. Ros and Tim demonstrate that, with enough
determination and conviction, this needn’t be the case.
They show that artists of an international calibre can
live and practice here in Donegal and demonstrate the
creative value of a deep engagement with place. |
|
