Memories of Paris

Reviewing Prints from Paris in my Studio (© Roseanne Lynch)

In March of last year I won the first Alliance Francaise Photography Award. Part of the prize was a 2 week stay at the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris. I decided to be there during Paris Photo back in November, and to put the prize money towards the 3 day Lens Culture Portfolio reviews.

I have put off writing this blog as I really didn’t know what words to use – and on my return to real life it took time to digest the experience. I underestimated the power of two weeks alone with my artist self, - no domestics, no responsibilities to others, just me, artist me.

The portfolio reviews were intense, encouraging and exhausting. You had up to 5 x 20minute reviews each day, a bit like speed dating without the humour (I imagine!) I was told that my work is very Czech avant garde.

Paris Photo, at Grand Palais, was 3 days surrounded by photography. I saw so much work originating in 5”x4” film, negatives scanned and printed huge, and lots of really interesting non lens based work that challenged the bounderies of what photography is, or can be.

Having spent the previous 3 days in the company of the same group of reviewees, who all had free passes to the first day of Paris photo, I was swanning about saying hello to every second person. It was like being on Patrick Street on a Saturday, stopping for coffee breaks with fellow survivors!

I also made a small series of photos while I was in Paris using my Rolleicord, so when I got home I had the pleasure of processing 14 rolls of film, and days and days in the darkroom printing. The bliss of Paris kept alive.

Yesterday I was at a talk in the Glucksman Gallery UCC, by artist Nick Miller, and he was talking about the experience of painting. He described feeling truly alive when making his art. That is what Paris felt like. Two weeks of being fully alive. And that feeling lasts into the darkroom, and into the studio where I sit looking at the images lined up on the shelf and swim in them a while.

Photos taken at the Musée de la Sculpture en Plein Air

Marino di Teana (1920-), Structure architecturale, 1973 © Roseanne Lynch

Photos taken at the Library of the Centre Culturel Irlandais, Paris © Roseanne Lynch

Photos taken at the Université de Paris © Roseanne Lynch

The Artist's Space Podcast

After I won the 1st Alliance Francaise Photography Award, Ray Burke from 103.2 Dublin City FM interviewed me for his show called 'The Artist's Space'. I shared a bit about my motivations for entering the award, my process, what I'm currently working on and my plans for the Paris residency. The Podcast is now available to download at the Artist's Space Page or on iTunes, or you can listen to it below.




The 1st Alliance Francaise Photography Award Exhibition continues in Alliance Francaise, Kildare St., Dublin until May 11th.

Press Coverage of the Alliance Francaise Photography Award

The Cork News April 8
(Click on the image to enlarge it)

There has been some press coverage of the Alliance Francaise Award. The Cork News printed a lovely little piece (above) last Friday 8th April. I was also interviewed by Ray Burke from 103.2 Dublin City FM for his programme called the Artist's Space which was broadcast last Thursday 7th April. If you missed it I'll be sharing the podcast with you when its available.

I also want to thank the PhotoIreland Festival, the Irish Art Blog, Cork Analogue Photographers and the Alliance Francaise Dublin blog for writing about my win, and the Visual Artists Ireland for printing it in their bulletin.

The Alliance Francaise Photography Award Exhibition continues in the Alliance Francaise gallery, 1 Kildare St., Dublin until the 11 May.

A Happy Reaction

(photo by Margaret Brown)

"The panel found the work of Roseanne Lynch to be visually intriguing, formally dynamic and beautifully constructed."

You can see the surprise and delight on my face at hearing my name announced as the 1st Alliance Francaise Photography Award Laureate in the fabulous photo above. It was all a complete blur at the time so its nice to be able to look back at this photo and read what the jury said about my work.

An unexpected win - 1st Alliance Francaise Photography Award

Last Thursday night I headed up to Dublin for the opening of the 1st Alliance Francaise Photography Award Exhibition. It’s a funny thing, being up for an award, even though you are willing your name to be announced, it is quite shocking when you hear it. I was up there behind the microphone before I realized, caught my breath -eventually- and said my few words. It is completely thrilling. Any one of us four finalists were worthy of the prize, and congratulations to the other finalists, Joby Hickey, Doreen Kennedy & Jean Luc Morales.

Claire Bourgeois, Director of Alliance Francaise, announces the Award winner.

Initially a reason for applying was to have my work seen by the esteemed judges, and I was hoping to get to the final four to be part of the exhibition at Alliance Francaise but I had not seen past that to actually winning the award! I really just wanted to have my work seen, so this was a huge & wonderful surprise.

The prize is a 2 week residency in the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris- flights and accommodation- a €600 grant courtesy of the Ireland Fund of France, a course in Alliance Francaise to brush up on my French before I go, and a one-to-one tutorial with Vermillion Design.

The residency at the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris is a very valuable part of many Irish artists' resumes. Some of the people who have spent time there include; Anthony Haughey who was one of the judges and gave me advice on the night regarding the residency - Martin Healy who did his Masters at Crawford College of Art, as I did, and whose thesis I had studied in the library - and poets Paul Durcan and Michael Coady whose work I am very fond of.

I'm beside myself with excitement to have two weeks to immerse myself in my work. I have already been researching architectural spaces to visit and make images of, and curators to visit who might be interested in my work. I hope to be able to make my visit during Paris Photo, and partake in their portfolio reviews and shows.

My family were there to help me celebrate the award

I dedicate my win to Maureen Connolly from Belmullet, Co Mayo, our family friend and the mother of my brother’s wife Rita, who died last month. Maureen was someone who believed in finding out what you were put on the planet to do, and in finding happiness and fulfillment in what we do and how we live. We have had great conversations over the years, especially during my residency in North Mayo and while making the 'Continuum' body of work. She encouraged me hugely and would have been so happy that I won this award.

Winning this award has been a huge achievement for me but it also makes me realise that I am not an island. Getting to this stage with my work is the result of much support and help from so many people, so I sincerely thank everyone who has had any input in my receiving this award and everyone who shares in my excitement. A huge thank you to my family and friends for their support and encouragement. Thank you to Claire Bourgeois, Marine Laniray, Francoise Brung and the staff of Alliance Francaise in Dublin for organising this exhibition. Thank you to the judges for the kind words you said about my work. And thank you for the warm congratulations from colleagues and from those who have written so generously about the win.

The 1st Alliance Francaise Award Exhibition continues in Alliance Francaise, 1 Kildare St., Dublin until 11 May.

1st Alliance Francaise Photography Award

As soon as I arrived back from Holland I was on the road again, this time to Dublin where I was hanging my photos for the 1st Alliance Francaise Photography Award Exhibition. I am one of four finalists for the Award, along with Joby Hickey, Doreen Kennedy and Jean Luc-Morales. The exhibition takes place in Alliance Francaise on Kildare St. in Dublin from the 30 March to the 11 May. And you are very welcome to the opening at 6.30pm on Thursday the 31st March.

Ducking Paddy, Start and All My Lovin'

The installation of 'Ducking Paddy' at the Cork County Library

Its been a beautifully busy couple of months. I have been working on a commission for the Fort Camden Artistic Project, which aims to raise public awareness about the historical importance of this fortification and its place in local and national heritage. As well as my personal work for the project I co- facilitated a 13 week residency for 3rd year Fine Art Students from the Crawford College of Art & Design. The residency culminated in an exhibition in The County Library building, Cork, called 'Ducking Paddy' which I co-curated. 'Paddy' was the caretaker at Fort Camden, Crosshaven, Co Cork, until his retirement in 2008, and to 'duck Paddy' was to escape his watchful eye and get into the site. I am just about to take down this exhibition, but as one show ends another begins.

Wednesday 9th February sees the opening of another CIT/ CCAD photography student show I co-curated called 'Start'. It opens at Wandesford Quay Gallery, Cork at 6pm. The exhibition is part of a Cork wide photography event, around the exhibition 'All My Lovin' at Crawford Gallery, that includes artists talks, portfolio reviews and other happenings, all co -ordinated by Peggy Sue Amison of Sirius Gallery in Cobh. Click on the banner to down load the full list of events taking place throughout February or check out the event's Facebook Page.

The Inaugral Alliance Francaise photography award exhibition in Dublin has been postponed until mid March.

'Ducking Paddy' at the Cork County Library


'Ducking Paddy' at the Cork County Library

3rd Year Fine Art Students from CCAD at the Opening of their Exhibition 'Ducking Paddy'
L-R Top row: Orla Flynn, Head of College at CIT Crawford College of Art and design, Jess Knibb, Barry Donnolly, Sunny Lee, Erika Szel, Laurs beaufils, Stephanie Barry, Sinead Kiely (Artist facilitator) Fergus Dowd, Maris Timmons, Trish Brennan (Photography tutor CCAD), Roseanne Lynch (Photography Artist Facilitator)
Lower row: Lill Curtis, Anne Ahern, Sarah Ryan, Sophie Behal, Abbey Wood, Rory Mullen

Alliance Francaise Photography Award Shortlist

I have made it down to the final four in the inaugural Alliance Francaise Photography Award. There will be an upcoming exhibition of the finalists work in Alliance Francaise Dublin on Kildare Street. Last week I was in Dublin to see the space and meet the organisers. I was delighted to see the cafe/gallery space, it was as good as I had imagined & I'm really looking forward to the upcoming exhibition. The dates have yet to be finalised.