PRESS RELEASE

CRAWFORD ART GALLERY

crawford open artist award announced

Crawford Art Gallery is delighted to announce Michael Gurhy as the first recipient of the
€5000 Crawford Open Artist Award.

Responding to this year’s theme The Sleep of Reason, London-based Michael Gurhy’s video works ‘Die Young, Stay Pretty’ (2006) and ‘Bath’ (2006) explore the complex issues of adolescence and image.

Fifteen artists were originally selected from over 750 applicants by Frances Morris, Head of Collections (International Art), Tate Modern, and Enrique Juncosa, Director, Irish Museum of Modern Art.

Bath (2006) DVD (image courtesy of the artist)

Francis Morris and Enrique Juncosa agreed that Michael Gurhy’s work “beautifully addresses the Crawford Open theme Sleep of Reason. It is small-scale work but potent in terms of emotion. His work addresses youth culture but evokes a knowledge of the unforeseen, of premonition”

Michael Gurhy graduated from Crawford College of Art and Design in 2006 with a First Class Honours Degree. His most recent exhibitions include the RDS Student Arts Awards, Objects of Desire 2006. Death and Desire, 2007 at the Sirius Art Gallery, Cobh and in July 2007 Beyond Form, Tigi Fili Art Gallery, Cork.

Prizes and awards received include The Installation/video award from the Cork Film Centre. The UCC Purchase Prize selected by the Glucksman Gallery for the UCC Collection and the Arts Festival Prize award given by the Cork Institute of Technology. He has also shown regularly in The Cork Film Festival and is currently doing a Postgraduate Diploma in The Byam Shaw School of Art (Central St. Martins).

Die Young, Stay Pretty (2006) DVD (image courtesy of the artist)

Crawford Open’s theme refers to Francisco de Goya’s ‘Los Caprichos’ etching ‘The Sleep of Reason Brings Forth Monsters’. The works in the Crawford Open explore the innumerable foibles and follies found in today’s society.

Participating artists. Michelle Deignan, Amanda Dunsmore, Yvanna Greene, Michael Gurhy, Martin Healy, Fumiko Kobayashi, Maggie Madden, Paul McAree, Tom Molloy, Abigail O’Brien, Sam Plagerson, David Theobald, Anderw Vickery, Lorraine Walsh and Mai Yamashita & Naoto Kobayashita.

Crawford Open 2007 is on view until February 9, 2008.

Christmas Opening Hours:
Gallery will be closed from 24 December to 2 January
The Gallery will be open on Fridya 28 and Satruday 29 December

 For further information or images please contact:

Dawn Williams, Assistant Curator

Crawford Art Gallery

Emmet Place

Cork, Ireland

t: +353 (0) 21 4907853  e: crawfordexhibs@eircom.net  w: crawfordartgallery.com