Peeling off and dipping a toe into art on promenade Artist Amanda Coogan and her potatoes and, right, the 'Synchronised Swimmers' on the seafront in Clontarf, Dublin yesterday, announcing a day-long arts festival this Saturday. Photocall
Thursday November 06 2008
IF you ever plan on explaining the sea to an uneaten potato, then get down to Clontarf in Dublin on Saturday afternoon for a few pointers.
Or if you want to brave the winter chills while changing into your swimming togs under a towel but without actually entering the sea, then set your compass for the Clontarf seafront.
The bizarrely-named 'How To Explain the Sea to an Uneaten Potato' and the interactive 'Synchronised Swimmers' are two of the performances in the day-long live art festival, taking place this weekend.
"Out of Site is a festival that has been running for the last three years where we've presented live art in open spaces around the city," founder Michelle Browne said yesterday.
"This year all the performances are going to happen in the same location, out in Clontarf along the boardwalk."
For her own performance Ms Browne is inviting the public down to do a group performance of getting in and out of swimming togs under towels.
Another one that catches the imagination is performance artist Amanda Coogan's six-hour explanation to the potato.
"That work is an homage to an artist called Joseph Beuys who made a seminal performance in the 70s that was called 'How to Explain Paintings to a Dead Hare' which was influential in breaking away from traditional ideas of what art might be," Ms Browne said.
The festival -- part of Dublin City Council's Open Spaces programme -- takes place from noon.
- Jason O'Brien
