The People's Gallery

derry | arts and media | press release

Sunday May 31, 2009 03:30

by Trevor Philips - The Bogside Artists

k_333 at hotmail dot com

028-71373842

Recent launch of a unique book on the work of Derry's famous muralists - The Bogside Artists.

THE PEOPLE’ GALLERY

Trevor Philips

The Bogside Artists of Derry, N.Ireland, who recently got into a tryst with reps of J.K.Rowling no less have published another book - The People's Gallery - this time on their work as Ireland's most famous muralists.
The tryst with Rowling and company has been skillfully dumbed down by the British media with the help of Schillings (Rowling’s legal reps). You can find out about it HERE. It concerns a book for children written by one of The Bogside Artists. “The story is not over yet,” said Tom Kelly, spokesman for the artists.
The murals, uniquely situated in linear fashion along one street, Rossville Street, that saw much of the trouble during three decades of the N. Irish conflict, portray this period of turbulent history in spectacular fashion. The People's Gallery is visited each year by many thousands of people from all over the world. This lavishly illustrated book is a tour through that history with special emphasis on the sixties that gave rise to the struggle for civil rights. Laced with humour and burgeoning throughout with facts this is one book no student of Irish affairs or visitor to Ireland can do without. The book as a reflection of the lives of the artists in their own words is itself an historical document offering unique insights into a very unique place - Derry, N. Ireland. It has many rare photos, the most splendid of which are of the famous murals themselves. You will learn where they came from, what inspired them, how they were actually painted and the histories associated with them. You will learn too how N. Ireland, despite its size and location, sits squarely in an epoque of global political conflict and radiates with many of the democratic and spiritual issues that animated it.

JOHN HUME’S REVIEW OF THE PEOPLE’S GALLERY

Spoken at the recent launch of The Bogside Artists’ book at their studio in the Bogside, Derry.

“I feel very privileged and honored to be with the Bogside Artists on this very important day for the launch of their book - "the People' Gallery". The book is a fascinating and entertaining read. As well as accounts of each of the twelve murals, there is a short history of Ireland with special reference to Derry, an interesting look back at world event in the second half of the twentieth century, especially the struggle for civil rights in America and here in the North....As Brian Friel the world renowned playwright said of their work - "The work of the Bogside Artists is celebrated locally and internationally, but it is their reputation that is important both to the artists and to their locality. ....This publication is an important record of a pivotal period of our history, and I have no doubt that it will make an enormous contribution to the respect for and interest in our city. ... My warmest congratulations again to the Bogside Artists on this outstanding work and I wish them every success."

This publication is a major event as it is the only book of its kind in existence, providing a unique window into Derry’s turbulent history. It will be of enormous academic interest for that reason and of particular interest to visitors to Ireland.

You can find out all about the book from this link – The People’s Gallery.

article in pdf format 0.32 Mb

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