Right, so this was meant to be an amazing piece about the powers of protest but despite spending two hours on it, it somehow magicked itself away at the publishing stage and now I’m pretty annoyed to say the least!
So here’s the edited, streamlined, fat-free version then. Our version of protest.
We put out issue two of rabble before Christmas, getting great feedback from everyone, and our DIY-distro system is getting out into more and more homes, clubs, pubs, cafes, shops, whatevers around the country.
You can still pick up a copy in one of these locations, failing that, check our site where we’re adding the content from this issue bit by bit. I had a nice input to this one, contributed several illustrations and wrote an article on anti-social behaviour entitled ‘Too Old for the Playground, Too Young for the Pub”. Discusses the options young people have in this country, some of whom I interviewed. Here’s an extract:
We had some further discussion about whether or not it’s fair for young people to be labelled this way, and in turn influence how young people think of themselves. The gas thing about this is that despite conjuring up images of hooded young fellas causing strife in the estate, none of the people interviewed really think this is the case. I couldn’t help but get the feeling that they were reluctantly putting up with having the phrase hurled at them repeatedly, as well as putting up with harassment on a regular basis from the Gardaí. Seventeen-year-old Dean pointed out that the phrase ‘is stereotypically used in Ireland, cos if people see a group of youths they think the worst of us.’
You can read the rest here. If you feel like getting involved, hit us up. If you wanna donate, check how here.
I know it’s late, but I was working on a project out in Tallaght recently entitled ‘Unwrapped’. Involved telling the story of the Holly King and Oak King battling it out, with the Oak King being victorious and waking up the Spring Maiden while he’s at it (and singing this song).
Here’s a sample of one of the pieces:
There were singers, poets, performers, composers, costume makers and more involved; my role was to create some artwork that encapsulated the story and could be projected onto the Rua Red building over five nights. The first four nights told a piece of the story (like the piece above), with the whole thing coming together on the fifth and final night, which looked like this:
There was a huge performance piece involving a procession through the square, three choirs, several tableaux vivantes and the lighting of the Christmas tree by the Mayor of South Dublin. The event was a great success: really well attended and loads of original new artwork created, be it the costumes, the poem written by Sue Hassett, the choral compositions from Gerry Horan or indeed my illustration stuff. Check the video:
Big shouts to Tony Fegan, Tori Durrer, Gerry Horan and the Alt Ents crew for making this happen!
I mentioned Maga Bo’s upcoming album a few months ago, and it’s finished. The man’s been working on it the last three years, self-financed, and has set up a Kickstarter page to help finalise the project: mastering, duplication, distro and artwork all cost money. There’s loads more info on the page and short video displaying some World Music 2.0 sensibilities at work. To get a flavour of the sounds, check this most recent Outras Terras mixtape, mighty craic so it is.
Check the name of the album as well, quilombo referencing autonomous zones set up by runaway slaves in Brazil in the 1600s, people wanting to escape a system that punishes them and LIVE FREE LIVES. Relevant today, much? Anyways, head over here and make a donation, even a fiver goes a long way: 23 days left, 43% funded, let’s go!
!Kaboogie !Khristmas this Saturday in King 7 on Capel St (used to be Melody Bar). Three squid in gets you an earful of Eutechnik, Antrophe, A-Force, PCP, Sixfoot Apprentice and myself. We’ll be back in the New Year with our 6th Birthday Party (!) and a fundraiser for Shell To Sea. See ye down the front!
Tomorrow Saturday 3rd, 1pm, reach if you can. People standing firm in the path of the oncoming budget. Clowns of the regular type are welcome to participate. The gombeen type of clown that you find on Kildare St are best advised to pay attention.
Heading to Cork in a while for this, Richie !Kaboogie and T-Woc spinning some vinyl delights from 9pm till close in the Réalt Dearg on Barrack St. Spect music to make your parts move in circles.
I know I’m about 2 weeks late with this but had too much paint on me hands gettin ready for this so couldn’t do the typey-typey-ting. You might have noticed a new publication on the streets of Dublin. It’s called Rabble and it’s a non-profit paper put together by a big crew of volunteers, ranging from artists to writers to music types to football heads to joke-makers to beetroot fanatics to spiritual gurus.
It’s about the realities of living in post-boom Dublin. Here‘s a pretty good summation of our collective buzz.
I’ve provided an illustration for the cover story, ‘Planet of the Interns‘, and also written a piece on ‘anti-social’ behaviour. I’ll be coming back to that theme in the future, but in the meantime, here’s an excerpt from my piece:
“Graffiti art is often lumped in with many aspects of youth culture as ‘anti-social’. As mindless vandalism bereft of any artistic qualities, perpetrated by cowardly hoodlums under the cover of darkness, a faceless counter to decency and the notion of property. It is dealt with by gray paint, powerwashers and policy that I would describe as more ‘anti-social’ than the menace that’s supposedly being battled…”
Read the rest of it here, or better still, go hunt down a copy of Rabble at one of our many pickup points. Not many of Issue 1 left but get in contact if you need a copy! If ye want to write for us, suggest a pickup point, provide illustrations, donate to us, please do! This is a 100% grassroots, non-profit operation, and can only be as strong as the network of people supporting it. Get stuck in!
Ayo its ye boy Monkfish, first solo show kickin off tomorrow. Wexford shtylee, tis on in the JFK park, bout ten minute drive out of New Ross. The launch is tomorrow, Saturday 8th October, and it runs from 4-7pm. Nineteen new pieces that I’ve been at the last few weeks, tis all about the close-ups, little moments of light, the engineering and structures that occurs in the plant world. If ye can’t make it tomorow (late notice I know sorry!) the exhibition will be on in the JFK Visitor Centre for the next month or so.
Yo, got a few canvases on show in Dublin’s newest and bestest gallery, The Picture Rooms. The idea behind this gallery is that nobody should be priced out of having some nice art on their walls, so the price range is €1 – €120. There’s some whopper work on the walls, including photography, prints and canvases, so drop down and check it out. It’s on Wellington Quay, beside the Working Mans Club, is open 11am-7pm weekdays and 10am-6pm on the weekends. This Saturday we’re having a little launch there, running from 7-10pm.
I am Redmonk. I am an artist living in Dublin, Ireland. I like painting, music, digital media and community participation in the arts. If you would like to contact me please do: redmonks email address {{{at}}} gmail {{{dot}}} com.more →
