Context Background:
The second phase of In Context, 1999-2003, continued the accomplishments of the In Context 1 Public Art Programme. It was the largest local authority art commissioning programme of its time, and subsequently was held as a model of good practice in Public Art programming. Through In Context 2, South Dublin County Council, advised by consultants Artworking, delivered a diverse series of projects under the auspices of the In Context Per Cent for Art Scheme and funded through the Department of the Environment. This provided both emerging and established artists with an opportunity to engage with the community and to incorporate art into the public domain in new and interesting ways.
Description:
Cross Country explored the ways in which people take ownership of their environment. Michael Minnis undertook this project in conjunction with Killinarden Community Centre. He entered into dialogue with Cecil Johnston and the runners of Killinarden Athletic Group, which subsequently, he joined running with members on routes in the area over a number of months.
The resultant photographic work, comprises of images taken in the course of this process. The work is a tribute to the determination of people wishing to improve the quality of their lives.
Artist and writer Mick Wilson, writing about Cross Country in the In Context catalogue, described how Michael began the process of conversing with members within the community and how it also emerged that there was a "strong desire, on the part of the local community agencies involved in the centre, for a piece that would properly belong in the centre and belong to them”. He noted that Minnis was interested in ways in which the stereotypical image of communities can be reversed. Michael’s strategy was about building relationships, rather than constructing artworks as such. The assemblage of images comprises runners moving through the landscape, and of runners in groups, talking. In Minnis’ words : "...in this way I am trying to continue the filmic aspect of editing and moving between scenes to create unexpected relationships".
Artist Biography:
Michael Minnis was born in Belfast in 1964 and currently lives in Co. Clare. He studied Fine Art at the University of Ulster and Manchester Metropolitan University. He is a lecturer in Fine Art Painting at GMIT, Galway. He was awarded the PS1 Fellowship 1994-1995. Recent solo exhibitions include Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast, Dunamaise Art Centre, Port Laois and. Group exhibitions include The Disembodied Eye: Collective Histories of Northern Irish Art, Golden Thread gallery, Belfast (2006) and EV+A Give(a)way (2006).
Commissioner Type:
Local Authority
Commissioner:
South Dublin County Council SDCC
Programme:
In Context 2
PerCent for Art:
yes
Commissioning Process:
Open competition: two stage selection process. Part of a programmatic approach for In Context 2.
Funding:
Dept. of Environment Heritage and Local Government
Budget Range:
10,000 - 30,000
Project Start Date:
01/06/2000
Project End Date:
30/05/2002
Public Engagement:
Michael worked with Killinarden Athletic Group and Killinarden Community Centre during this project