Events At Sirius Arts Centre Cobh www.siriusartscentre.ie

Friday 23rd March: John Blek At 8pm (doors 7.45pm) – Tickets €15
“I spent much of the early part of 2017 in and out of hospital with some mysterious illness that was intent on wasting my now 30-year-old body. My energy was at an all-time low and all that gave me joy had been stripped or put on hold. All but my guitar and what was left of my feeble voice. So, to fill the days and occupy my mind, I wrote.

I wrote of resilience, of pain and uncertainty. Of new love through fevered dreams, of strength, hope, distance, sedation and the cure. I did it every day and recorded the demos sitting up in my hospital bed accompanied by the electronic bleeps of the machines and punctuated by the nurse’s concerned enquiries.

I had a reason. For me this is cathartic. For me, this was the panacea.”

Catharsis Vol.1 is the third solo album from Cork, Ireland-based songwriter John Blek. Best known for his work with his band John Blek & the Rats, John has begun a new journey influenced by the folk music of Ireland, Britain and the US. With his solo work, he delves into the world of fingerstyle guitar and reveals the deeply personal and poignant lyrical aspects of his character.

John Blek’s Catharsis Vol.1 was released on the 6th October in Ireland (WARR) and in Europe (Tonetoaster Records) on CD, gatefold heavyweight vinyl and digital formats.

—————————————————————-

Sustainable Futures: Runs until Sunday 01 April 2018 – Curated and facilitated by Claire Ryan

What does the future hold for planet Earth and all life on it? How will it cope with the pressures of a world that appears to prioritise unsustainable growth? Now more than ever, there is an urgency for society as a whole to re-evaluate its relationship to our environment and to recognise that individual as well as collective actions can make a difference.

If we do not share the common goal of sustainability, there is a very real threat that we will suffer the consequences of our actions, or indeed our inactions, for generations to come. Scientists offer valuable insights into the impact that excessive consumerism is having on the earth’s ability to sustain life. However, ecologically sustainable societies cannot exist without individuals who value the Earth, not merely as a place that exists to serve humankind, but as a highly complex network of systems that we are part of, and the future of humankind is dependent upon.

Sustainable Futures is a multi-part collaborative project, curated and facilitated by Claire Ryan that seeks to open a dialogue around our environment and sustainability. The project encompasses a group exhibition of work by artists Méadhbh O’ Connor, Fiona Kelly, David Thomas Smith and Sarah Lincoln; a series of public talks by leading Irish research scientists from the Environmental Research Institute (UCC) and the Centre for Marine and Renewable Energy (UCC). A series of group workshops facilitated by locally based artists will examine and respond to some of the ideas in the exhibition. YMCA Cobh will work with artist Colette Lewis, the Green-Schools committee from Bunscoil Rinn an Chabhlaigh will work with artist Carol-Anne Connolly, and a group of local participants will work with writer Billy O’Callaghan. The outcomes of these collaborations will be presented and discussed in a public forum at Sirius Arts Centre on Wednesday 28th March at 6.30pm.

This project is kindly supported by Cork County Council Creative Communities Scheme

—————————————————————

Bookmaking for Kids
Sunday 25 March: Bookmaking Workshop with Susan Walsh.

2x 1.5 hour workshops at 11.30am-1pm & 2pm-3.30pm. Join artist Susan Walsh in this collaborative parent and child bookmaking workshop. Create your own handmade ‘concertina’ style book with ribbon tie. Participants will make marbled paper for their book cover, fold book pages and design book content. Perhaps you can use sketches of the beautiful views from the Sirius as your books creative starting point? €5 per child – booking essential – please email info@siriusartscentre.ie with the subject heading ‘Bookmaking’.