le cool issue *154

Putty Hill 

Here's a movie that got clear reviews across the board from critics and in a sick twist saw very few audience filled cinemas. Filmed after an teenage boy's heroin overdose, relatives and friends come together to pay their respects. What becomes apparent is that none of them really knew much about him. The film was shot in just 12 days after funding fell through for another feature. The people lined up to appear, many actual working class Baltimore dwellers, who the director, Matt Porterfield, had been preparing and building up trust with switched to this. The trust stayed put. Sky Ferreira stars, sings I Will Always Love You, and stirs intimate moments. The fact that Porterfield and his cinematographer went to school together and have a strong collaborative relationship gives a powerfully visual element. 

Entire issue 154 -HERE-

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Opera in the Open: Cosi Fan Tutte 

DCC usually conducts these open air performances on the sloping grass behind the Civic Offices, however, Grand Canal Dock is employed tonight to help launch the Tall Ships festival. The Opera's controversy doesn't stem from the fact that the title loosely translates mockingly as 'All Women are Like That', rather it's due to the snobbish misunderstanding of why Mozart would ever have written such sweet melodies to go with the base language within the lyrics written by Lorenzo da Ponte. The story is of two husbands who fake being called to war, leaving their wives and returning disguised (as Albanians) to saucily test their fidelity.Leeeewwd. But the Viennese of the time were not offended, nor should we be. 

le cool issue *149

Blockbusters: From Avatar to X-Men 

Me and my friends, just hanging about, often listen to lyric fm's soundtrack show, Movies and Musicals. At the start of each score we race each other to figure out which movie it's from and then, vigorously, jump around on couches, swinging our arms up balleticaly, humming and da-da-da-ing to the fantastic escapism. The real magic of the movies. I can only imagine that sitting in the NCH and listening to a full orchestral performance of some of the most familiar and arousing movie scores will be just the same, except we'll have to contain our excitement at each rendition, bubbling with happiness in our seats, till the very end when we'll leap up into a frothy standing ovation. Star Trek! Back To The Future!! X-FILES!!! What's another word for EPIC? 

Sam Keogh in Conversation 

I'm not making this up. Sam Keogh is currently one of the biggest and most influential young Irish artists. I first met him at a house party years ago where we held an incredibly passionate discussion around our shared enthusiasm for glitter. I can recall little of it. This is a fantastic opportunity to listen and actually take in what he has to say for himself... aaaand to avoid that awkward silence at the end of the conversation when the audience are asked if they have any questions and someone coughs nervously, here are some titillating interrogation suggestions - How do you feel about the copy cat Keoghs that have been appearing in degree shows? (Seriously, he's started a movement.) Are the allegations of you being quite the ladies man true? (They are) And, if all else fails ask him to talk about why he loves glitter so much.

Full le cool issue - HERE -

Me illustrated for Rabble

Illustration by Aoife Quinn
View online version of rabble issue #3 - HERE 

le cool issue *145

I'm pretty sure The Hopsack (besides Dunnes) is single handedly keeping the Swan Centre open. I love the real village-y vibe about the place. I feel as though the people mulling around me are regulars, well known to the staff, and well used to picking out their Lacender Nappy Salve or Maple Hazel Harmony. I want to ultimately be a regular, but even though I'm not quite at that level yet, the staff are still always super nice to me. I go here for my miso soup sachets - the last time I bought a packet they gave me a cup of hot water so I could make one up right away. I'm also fond of their smoothies, incense sticks and teas. But myfavourite thing to do is eavesdrop the health advice people get at the counter. Earlier today I got some Vita Coco water, lemon shower gel and overheard some wonderful information about Vitamin D. 

le cool issue *147

Mbuti Textiles 

Standing up close to one of these you become incredibly aware of the shakes in every scratchy stroke, the handmade bark cloth, the mild frankness of the flowing lines. But step away, Monet, and you are faced with statement abstract designs made to give the thickest, darkest flowing, blackest definite impression. The marks don't add up to anything formally. Every sheet builds upon the last and the patterns are ordered as to become more complex across the walls of the room. I love how they've been displayed, just pinned ever so by their corners, allowed to ripple away from the wall. I find that kind of thing very seductive. This will sound so pretentious but, anyway, I have a soft spot for tribal artistry. I love the unassuming, modest mentality behind art work made for ceremonial, religious or even just ornamental reasons. I'm a city slicker.

le cool *143

NCAD Grad Shows 

There is a kaleidoscopic array of works from this year’s NCAD graduates. As usual, the exhibition runs the gamut and features everything fromsteampunk-inspired metalwork to a set of Dublin Tarot Cards aptly entitled, C’mere Til I Tell Ya. Don't forget to walk towards St John's Lane which currently contains the Fine Art Media student's degree show. The first piece you'll come across is Jump by Hannah Moon. Little known fact - her pool was developed with the help of the same water design team who created Jedward'sEurovision fountain. I also recommend YvonneReynold's fascinating and shockingly real money display, Louise Kavanagh's gorgeous rows of layered wire forms, Katie Lilga Mooney Shepard's serene photo installation and Sarah Devereux's search for a sugar daddy, which ended up onBroadsheet. 

(This piece is a mix of a piece by Amy O'Connor and myslef.)

NCAD MFA show 

I really liked loads of this show, and it was fun to be in the Steambox building. Very EarlsfortTerrace-y. I believe it too was a school, there were aged crucifixes lying about the smoking area cleared out from the rooms. Two of myfavourite works were both video pieces. You'll understand more my particular attraction to them both when I tell you I was quite hungoverthe day I looked around. One was of a lady snaking her yoga body meditatively back and forth in sync with an image of her, the other was HUGE, of feet being massaged. Both were by Tanya O'Keeffe. Look out too for a subtle FrankWasser (who also has work in the NCAD gallery's Recent Graduates show, Work Head) and the first piece up the stairs, Paul O'Neill's, also exciting. Watch it from the start to the finish and feel intensely pumped.