Jackie Nickerson

The Past is Another Country

Official Opening Friday 30^th September at 7:30 pm by Minister Michael Ring – marking the launch of Westport Arts Festival 2011

Custom House Studios, The Quay

Jackie Nickerson is an award winning fine art photographer with an international reputation. This exhibition, “The Past is Another Country”, investigates the nature of identity and explores how globalization has affected indigenous and local culture.

Jackie’s work is driven by a passionate interest in people and their environments, and the photographs in this exhibition were made in Oman, Qatar, China and Japan.   Her ability to engage with those on the other side of the lens has given her access to a diverse range of communities, enabling viewers to get an unobtrusive glimpse of people living in their own environment.  In her own words, she says that her aim as an artist is  …“always to see what’s really there”.

CULTURE – what does it mean to us and what cultural traits help define who we are?  As globalization dilutes the world’s unique cultures UNESCO have developed a list of world-wide ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’, on which Ireland is not yet represented.   This exhibition shows us a range of other cultures and then asks us to think locally: “what would you like to preserve for future generations?” To join in please fill in a post-it and leave it in the gallery – and help to form a list of Mayo’s Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Presented on large format aluminum plates, this museum quality exhibition was commissioned by the Millennium Court Arts Centre, Portadown, with support from Craigavon Borough Council and Arts Council Northern Ireland.

Image “Untitled” courtesy of the artist, The Jack Shainman Gallery, NY and Millennium Court Arts Centre.

Opening - The opening of this exhibition by Minister Michael Ring marks the launch of this year’s festival.

Friday 30^th September at 7:30 pm, Custom House Studios, Free.  Exhibition runs from 27th September until Sunday 16th October 2011.

Gallery talk with Jackie Nickerson - Saturday 1st October at 11:30am,  Custom House Studios, €5.00 (Please book – limited places available)