Home / Info / Exhibitions
Info
Intro
PALLAS HEIGHTS was a contemporary art space in a block of semi derelict flats
awaiting demolition in Dublin, Ireland.
It opened in 2003 and closed in 2006-2007.
During this lifespan it housed many artists studios and also organised nearly
20 contemporary exhibitions. While the exhibitions gave many first solo exhibitions
to upcoming and emerging artists from Ireland it also invited partners from
abroad,
undertook group exhibitions and hosted artist's projects. It changed the very
fabric of Dublin and challenged the traditional white cube method of exhibition
making.
Background
Pallas Heights/ Sean Tracey House was a municipal housing block from the 60s
in
the north east inner city, that the City Council was decommissioning. The
city
council was re-housing the residents and planned to demolish the blocks as
soon
as possible. Pallas has been working in this area of the city since its inception
in 1996 and asked the Dublin City Council if they would support an innovative
project that would re use the neglected but empty spaces in Sean Tracey house.
With the re-development of Dublin undergoing a rapid building boom, spaces
for
artists are continually being overlooked, out priced, and squeezed dry. Pallas
has continually sought to address this, and is always evolving to provide
support for contemporary artists.
After sometime and many discussions, the City Council agreed to hand over
some
of the flats to Pallas on temporary basis until their demolition. During its
lifespan there were also some residents living in the flats, waiting to be
re-housed, and they supported the project throughout. It is important to note
here that the City Council bravely gave Pallas the autonomy to direct the
project
as they saw fit. There was no curatorial direction or suggestions made from
their side. It was also a project that was deeply imbedded in a community
however
it was not a 'community project'.
In late 2002 Pallas stepped in and took
over 4 of these flats on the top level
of Sean Tracey house. These flats then were renamed Pallas Heights. The flats
had been 'steeled up' and Pallas took several months to clean these old
residential units and make secure, get power and electricity in, and fit with
custom made steel grills that let light in. The spaces were then ready to
become
studios and exhibition spaces.
The flats then became working units, exhibiting artists were invited in to
uses
the spaces to make work in, and most exhibitions had a 'lead in' to allow
artists
to make work, and make mistakes or challenge their own practice, onsite [as
in a
studio]. All of the flats were up for grabs with the exhibitions space
consisting of one, two bed flat: balcony, living room, kitchen area, toilet,
bathroom and stairwell all useable.
Artists who have exhibited in Pallas Heights:
Gemma Browne, Rajah Dagstani, Brendan Early, Neva Elliot,Michael McLoughlin,
Cristophe Neumann, Des Kenny, Clive Murphy, Cormac Healy, Margaret O'Brien,
Tobias Collier, Flatpack 001, Matt Franks, Brian Griffiths, Clive Lissam,
Stephen Sutcliffe, Mark Titchner, Gina Tornatore, Simon Wood, Garrett Phelan,
Brendan Earley, Slavek Kwi, Seoidin O'Sullivan and Gillian Kane, Mark Cullen,
Niamh McCann, Madeleine Moore, George Bolster, Anna Boyle, Jesse Jones,
Daniel Cramer, Haris Epaminonda, Angela Huntbach, Tea Makipäa, Karen
Land Hansen,
Yvonne McGuinness, Ann Mulrooney and Christian Sievers, Margaret O'Brien,
Brian Duggan, Fergus Byrne, Clodagh Emoe, Vanessa O'Reilly, Susan Gogan,
Sally Timmons,Sarah O'Toole, Paul Murnaghan.
Pallas info
In 1996 Artists Mark Cullen and Brian Duggan formed Pallas Studios in Dublin's
inner
city. This multi functional art space has a wide range of services and ongoing
Projects.
From Art studios to contemporary exhibitions Pallas was established to harness,
engage
and provoke. It currently has several studios scattered though the city, and
also has
an ongoing exhibitions agenda. Pallas is supported by Dublin City Council
and the Arts
Council of Ireland. Pallas exhibitions program is separate to the studios.
Links
Home
our current program
Pallas
contemporary projects
Pallas Publishing has recently published a
colour book 'Pallas Heights 2003-2007'
documenting all of the exhibitions with accompanying texts and also longer
essays by
Lucy Cotter and Caoimhin Mac Giolla Leith and an interview with Paul O'Neil.
[ Please contact for more]
Pallas Heights was supported by Dublin City Council and the Arts Council of
Ireland.
Home