September 5 - 20, 2006

Paintings by: Acitore Artizione, William Artt, Emma Connolly, Rita Duffy, Ray Duncan, Ruth McCullough, Jack Pakenham, Ima Pico, Adele Pound, Peter Richards, Gail Ritchie, Jennifer Trouton, Claire Whitten

Press Release | Related Events | Online Feature

Artist Exchange International presents Part I of a two part exhibition Through Our Eyes: Belfast/New York at The Painting Center from September 5 to 30, 2006. 13 artists from Belfast will show in the exhibition. In October, 14 artists from New York City exhibit Part II at the Metro Center in Belfast.

These exhibitions foster a dialogue between artists from NYC and Belfast. Both cities are international ports that have seen difficult times and face uncertain futures. Through Our Eyes: Belfast/New York promotes dialogue about world issues by presenting the work of these artists. The artists survey the world from their respective cities, offering multiple perspectives that provide a lens that views the world in full color.

These 13 artists from Belfast comprise some of Northern Ireland’s most prominent artists (Rita Duffy, Jack Pakenham, Peter Richards) as well as emerging and established names (Emma Connolly, William Artt, Adele Pound, Ray Duncan, Claire Whitten, Jennifer Trouton). Also included are international artists who have been living and working in Belfast for several years including Ima Pico (Spain) and Acitore Artizone (New Zealand). The exhibition curated by Gail Ritchie includes Digital work, selected by Ruth McCullough.

Collectively these artists represent a wealth of talent that has been recognized in a variety of awards from the Arts Council, the British Council, and Arts Council Ireland. Peter Richards was amongst the first group of Northern Irish artists showing at last years Venice Biennale.

AEI began its work bringing artists together in the wake of the destruction of the World Trade Center. Because of its history of conflict and resolution Belfast is a powerful place to expand conversations begun in NYC.

Related Events

A unique element of this Exchange extends into the community with the public invited to a studio tour, panel, and screening:

September 10th, 2006
Artist-to-Artist Studio Tour (11AM - 4PM)
Bill Brand, Katy Martin, Sandi Slone, Maura Sheehan, Ross Neher, Barbara Friedman, Michael Zwack, Edward Shalala, Jo Wood-Brown, Gwenn Thomas, Mimi Gross, April Vollmer will present work in their studios to promote discussion with the visiting Belfast artists.

September 12, 2006
Screening Panel at Pace University, One Pace Plaza (4-5 PM)
A presentation of the artists works in the context of the whole exchange project

Panel Discussion (5 - 7 PM)
“National Identity/Ethnic Identity: How Artists See Their Role in Culture”
by the Institute for Irish American Studies.