Dublin's Eek collective is bringing art to people who wouldn't normally seek it out, writes Larry Ryan.
Aaron Copeland, a 28-year-old who teaches English, religion and classics in St Michael's College in Dublin 4, oversees the fledgling Eek art collective in his spare time. The group was co-founded a number of years ago by Copeland and Derrick Devine, an actor, musician and drama teacher to kids in the docklands.
Their first foray into the art world was the oddly named Moochers project. They reclaimed old gas canisters, turned them into large ashtrays, and invited artists to paint onto them. These were then placed in smoking areas in bars around Dublin. "The idea was to take advertising out of these spaces and try to put art works in - just because everything seems to have advertising on it - and to keep it functional and environmentally friendly, but not be too precious about the art either," says Copeland.
Next on the agenda is raising money to create "cement benches with elements inside them that react with a dye inside them and change colour and glow". One of their prevailing ideas is functional public art, it seems. "Like with the Moochers, you can still put your cigarette out in it," explains Aaron. "There's that sense about it - to try to get to the attention of people who wouldn't normally be interested, or who just feel intimidated by smaller galleries and openings."
Eek is also developing in other directions away from public art, as new members join the collective. Artists Dainne Nic Aoidh, Kate Murphy and Johnny Fitzsimons, along with primary school teacher Oscar Lawless, have come on board. A viewing space in an attic on Pembroke Street has been acquired. "We want to do about three shows a year and gradually develop the collective," says Fitzsimons, who will run the gallery. "For me it's safety in numbers. There's no master plan or egos."
Via the gallery and a website, they will display and sell their own and other people's art in order to fund future ideas. "It's not for profit, because we're all earning from different things," says Copeland.
"It's an honest endeavour. There's nothing high-brow about it. It's pretty much a sideline thing for all of us," adds Fitzsimons, who also set up the Mantua art studio in Roscommon.
The aim is also to reach people in non-traditional art venues. The group is working on a bimonthly two-page broadsheet, featuring the work of poets, artists and graphic designers, with a different colour dictating the theme of each issue. The publication will be distributed in train stations. And the collective hopes to exhibit art in unusual venues. "There's a kick-boxing ring in Stoneybatter we want to use," says Copeland.
"That's what Eek does: tries to give advice and get the artists as much exposure as it can."
And what of the name? "We just liked the noise . . . eek." www.eek.ie