Journal •
Celebrating Home – Graphic Studio Dublin
Artists, and arts organisations have had a long history of precarious existence in the margins alongside development and progress, often transforming disused spaces only to be moved once more when space is needed, and they are pushed out further again. Without the security of ownership, or a long-term lease, artists are vulnerable to the whims and turns of landlords and markets, and we have heard the stories countless times here of artists moving and advocating, fundraising and lobbying to keep the roof over their collective heads. Moving house is a costly business, and an artist’s studio, unlike the ubiquitous hot-desk, is not a very mobile thing – packing up easels and tables, paints, and canvases, plan-chests and printing presses; these are all very expensive and difficult to move from place to place. Artists creating tangible objects need places to make them in, and without the promise of these spaces in Ireland, they will be forced to seek them elsewhere.
Graphic Studio Dublin, established in 1960 to provide professional printmaking facilities for artists, has had a precarious journey of its own throughout its existence. A combination of hard work, good luck, chance and perseverance has brought the organisation to its current beautiful home, which it (almost) owns. Graphic Studio Dublin is housed in a re-purposed four-storey brick Victorian granary building, with original cast-iron columns, pitch pine beams and king-post trusses supporting the roof. Its architecture and layout are particularly conducive to its use as a print studio: the structure can support some of the heavy-duty equipment and presses needed for printmaking, the building’s four floors can accommodate a large amount of artists working without it feeling cramped, the top floor is light-filled and perfect for proofing colours, mixing inks, and creating artworks. Furthermore, there is some kind of magic in being able to add to the history of this iconic premises with our own stories and the stories of future generations of artists and printmakers. Here we provide a home to over 90 member artists, hold an annual education programme, a Visiting Artist Programme and National and International Residencies.
Having faced down evictions and vulture funds in our own past as a collective organisation, when we were approached by Simon Communities of Ireland to collaborate on an exhibition, our members seized upon the opportunity, as it held such huge resonance for us, both individually and as a community. The exhibition is in its fourth year, supported by HLB Ireland, and raises funds and awareness around issues of housing and homelessness in Ireland. Our participation in Open House this year serves to celebrate our beautiful home, but also seeks to highlight the importance of a home and the right to housing for all people living and working on our island.
Author Niamh Flanagan, Graphic Studio Dublin
Images and Etching of Graphic Design Studio by Susan Early
