Introduction

For those of you who don't know me, my name is Brendan Regan and I am a Residential Faculty Member in the Art Department at Glendale Community College.  I have been granted a sabbatical for Spring Semester 2015.  During this sabbatical I will be attending an Artist-In-Residence program at the Burren College of Art in Ballyvaughan, Ireland.  I am creating this blog for anyone who is interested in following my residency and the process of making a site-specific body of work.

Dunguaire Castle

A couple of things about the blog.  You can click on any image if you want to see it enlarged.  I have designed the blog beginning with the oldest posts first.  So choose the older post selection, the advance arrow on the mobile version, to view the newest entries.

Purpose.

The Quay - Kinvara

An artist-in-residence program is an opportunity for professionals in the visual arts to research, develop methodologies, and produce a body of work.  Residencies generally range from 1-12 months at art institutions such as museums, art cooperatives, colleges/universities, or government-supported organizations.  While giving an artist the opportunity to explore a new body of work, residencies also foster collaboration and learning communities between the institution’s participants and the visiting candidate.  

The reason I chose Ireland is two-fold. Firstly, I was born in Ireland and hold dual citizenship, so I have a familial connection to the country. Secondly, as a photographer, my work often is site-specific—whether it be creating portraits in Central/South America, documenting the underwater landscape off the coast of Bonaire, or creating graphic aerial landscapes of the Palouse in Washington State.  To this end, Ireland offers an Irish-American visual artist such as myself a unique opportunity.  I will continue in the rich tradition of site-specific artwork, such as prominent contemporary photographer Alex Soth’s “Sleeping by the Mississippi”, Robert Frank’s “The Americans”—one of the most important series in the history of photography, Paul Gauguin’s South Pacific paintings, and Édouard Manet’s artwork referencing the streets of Paris. These are just a few of the many examples of work that informs my aesthetic and facilitated the decision to create artwork based in the country of my origin. 

Past Work

As stated in the last entry, I have worked on a number of site-specific series.  The following images are some past examples.  More of my work can be viewed at www.reganimages.com

Infrared Photograph - Bar Series, Ithaca, NY

This photograph is from what I consider my first site-specific body of work that I completed when I was at Ithaca College in New York.  All of the images were photographed in bars and nightclubs from a street photography aesthetic.

Aerial Topographic Study, Pullman, WA

This image is from an aerial body of work that I completed while I was at Washington State University.  Living in a rural agricultural community was a new experience for me, and I was interested in documenting it from a very formal point of view.

Anthony, Tortuguero, Costa Rica

This photograph is from my "Moments of Space" series.  I made these portraits over a 10-year span during multiple trips to Central and South America.  Each image is an artifact authenticing a brief moment shared between me and my subject.

Interstate 70, Kansas

I am continuing to work on a series of photographs taken at rest areas.  These roadside oases generally provide a brief respite for travelers, so I am interested in what a prolonged period of time will present at these locations.

Photography Equipment

I have always found it interesting to see what photographers carry in their bags when photographing in the field.  Based on past trips and the concern to try to travel light, a certain amount of thought goes into the packing process.  With that said, here is a photograph and my list of equipment.

Canon 5D Mark II Camera Body                       Sony DSC-RX100 Camera                                  
Canon 50mm EF Macro Lens                            2 - 32gb CF Cards
Canon 35mm EF Lens                                       2 - 8gb CF Cards
Canon 20mm EF Lens                                       2 - 2gb CF Cards
Canon Speed-lite 430EXII Flash                       2 - 16gb SD/HC Cards
Canon Battery Charger                                      Premium Tech Battery Charger
2 - Canon Batteries                                            3 - Sony Batteries
Storm Jacket Camera Cover                              Pinhole Camera Adapter
Canon Flash Cord                                              Flash Diffuser Cap
Canon Remote Switch                                       Lexar Card Reader
Swiss Army Knife                                              Journals
Pens                                                                  Towel
Lens Cleaning Cloth                                          3 TB Portable Hard Drive
MeFoto Tripod                                                   MacBook Air
Tenba Camera Bag                                           AA Batteries
iPhone 5S                                                          Charging Cords
Holga Camera                                                   Level
Electrical Tape                                                   Polarizing Filter

Photography Equipment

Location

I am finishing up with the last few details before I fly to Ireland.  I leave Phoenix on Tuesday the 10th, have connections at Dulles in Washington, D.C., and Heathrow in England, and then fly on to Shannon Airport in Ireland on Wednesday the 11th.  I will be living at the Whitehorn Cottages during my stay.

As I stated in an earlier entry, I will be working at The Burren College of Art in Ballyvaughan.  Ballyvaughan is located in the West of Ireland in County Clare.  The area is known as the Burren and includes a national park, caves, a rugged coastline, and a unique rocky topography.  I have included links below for more information.  

Burren College of Art

Whitehorn Cottage

Burren Coastline

Ballyvaughan History

Burren National Park

The Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark

The Cliffs of Moher

Arrival

I arrived in Ireland yesterday after 27 hours of travel.  I was quite surprised when I looked out the window of my cottage this morning to see a familiar sight.  A little bit of Phoenix in Ireland.

Irish Palm Tree

Today was about settling in but I did make a trip to some archeological ruins.  One in particular is perhaps Ireland's most famous.  The Poulnabrone Dolmen is a tomb that dates back to the Neolithic Period about 5000 years ago.  Excavated in the eighties, 22 bodies were discovered, including 6 children.  The term Poulnabrone means "Hole of Sorrows".  A Google search will provide a wealth of information on the site.  I was lucky to have the location to myself due to a strong wind and overcast day.  I meet with the College tomorrow to discuss the start of the residency.

Poulnabrone Dolmen

Campus

A busy first week of photographing and the beginning of post-processing at the College.  Here are a few photographs that will help everyone get more familiar with the location.  Its been quiet as the majority of the faculty and students are currently attending a conference in Berlin and will be back next week.  I have been assigned a studio space, although the majority of my work will be done in the photography labs.  The core body of work I will complete is taking shape.  I will soon post test photographs as the concept crystalizes.  In the meantime a couple images of the location, and some new friends.

Digital Photography Lab

The digital lab is well equipped with iMacs running Adobe's Creative Cloud suite.  The printer in the background is the Epson Stylus Photo R7900.

Newtown Castle

One of the truly remarkable aspects of the campus is Newtown Castle.  This structure dates back to the 16th century and is a prominent landmark in the Clare countryside.  Students and residents have access to the castle to contemplate its history, make and display work, or recharge in an inspirational setting.

Chickens

This image is for any student who has taken a class with me.  I got a great laugh as I exited the digital lab today as I was greeted by two chickens.  Based on my pet/animal photograph policy in my classes, it seemed only fitting.

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