In a small Chapel in rural Warwickshire a man is buried with three other members of his close family, in front of the altar. There is a rhyme on his headstone containing a curse on those who would disturb his bones. Why are he, and his words, still important today four centuries after his death? Continue reading “The Genius of William Shakespeare”
Author: John Llewellyn James
Pig Shop: Simon Fennessy Corcoran
This week sees the opening of a new exhibition in the higher bridges art gallery, Pig Shop: a collection of new works by artist Simon Fennessy Concoran. Pig Shop invites conversation on the concept of value bestowed upon different raw materials in our economy, lifestyles and art. Continue reading “Pig Shop: Simon Fennessy Corcoran”
New Releases from Conor Phillips
Local singer/songwriter Conor Phillips has gone from strength to strength in the last few years, attracting a strong following with his unique musical style. Learning to run almost as soon as he could walk, Conor began songwriting the moment he first picked up a guitar around four years ago. Continue reading “New Releases from Conor Phillips”
Ulster: My Search for its Spirit of Place
Inspector Celcius Daly stared through the windscreen at the border landscape. The round hills loomed, black and foreboding. The remnants of a British army watchtower were still visible, a shard on the horizon. Daly wondered would he ever lose that prickle of anticipation that signalled he was about to enter disputed territory. Continue reading “Ulster: My Search for its Spirit of Place”
The Mind’s Eye Sees Red
I was paid a visit today by a bird-woman:
a Coccinella magnifica flew into my head
and, instead of bouncing off and flying on,
she alighted, stayed; folded in her real wings. Continue reading “The Mind’s Eye Sees Red”
Art that Lingers Long in the Mind
If there is a leitmotif running through contemporary art it is one of questioning, and in particular there is the omnipresent – What is it trying to say? When I look upon Alex Colville’s seminal painting of Horse and Train (1954), it makes me want tell a story. Continue reading “Art that Lingers Long in the Mind”
Rossorry Churchyard
When my world becomes too fast and hard
And my head is full of thoughts I do not need
I take myself away to a country churchyard,
To find the peace, I plead. Continue reading “Rossorry Churchyard”
Poetry and Blindness
This is not something I write about often, but blindness does affect my experience of poetry, both how I write and how I read the work of other poets. Continue reading “Poetry and Blindness”
Life as an Artist
People often ask me how did you get started in art. Well it was pretty simple. About six years ago a friend told me he had an appointment with a gallery to show his art to a curator, so I asked if I might paint something and go along with him. He said OK. I painted that night for the first time. Continue reading “Life as an Artist”
John Fox (Ballinamore)
The Shannon Erne Writers Group had our book First Cut launched by John McGahern in the Bush Hotel, Carrick-on-Shannon. When Brian Leydon introduced me, the writer asked, Where do you live?
A few doors up From Pat Mac’s garage in Ballinamore I said. (Pat Mac was his uncle.) Continue reading “John Fox (Ballinamore)”