Ormston House curator of civic engagement Caimin Walsh and artist Christopher Steenson recently took part in a Rural Social at The Dock, Carrick-on-Shannon. Walsh and Steenson discussed the research they carried out as part of Ormston House’s activities around the endangered corncrake bird: the residency programme Crex crex, crex crex, crex… and its culmination, the 2024 exhibition The Sky is Falling!.

Walsh shared details of the research process supported by Corncrake LIFE, along with elements of the various artworks developed as part of the project. Steenson presented his slide-protection work The Long Grass and its accompanying publication Each one started, each one started, each one started, which draw together phrases and moments around the topic of the corncrake.

The event also included a screening of Dhátheangach (Ioamí), an artwork by Ceara Conway which was also exhibited as part of The Sky is Falling!.

Crex crex, crex crex, crex crex… was a residency programme which connected artists with ecologists, landowners, and rural communities to learn about the corncrake, its decline, and the social and political context in which conservation work is implemented.

The Sky is Falling! showcased the artistic outcomes of this research. Curated by Walsh and featuring contributions from Steenson, Conway, Seoidín O’Sullivan, and Scott Rogers, the exhibition offered an enhanced understanding of our place within a shared ecosystem and encouraged consideration of more sustainable and equitable forms of co-existence.

Image by Shane Vaughan.

About Christopher Steenson:

Christopher Steenson’s practice spans sound, lens-based media, text, and digital systems. His work seeks to bridge historical and speculative narratives in order to interrogate the politics of time, environment, and more-than-human relations. He has recently appeared in group exhibitions at The MAC, Belfast; Luan Gallery, Athlone; Freelands Foundation; LAVA, Mexico City; Pallas Projects/Studios, Dublin; Sonorities Music Festival, Belfast; and CCA Derry~Londonderry.

About The Dock:

The Dock is Leitrim’s flagship arts centre, housed in a riverside venue in Carrick-on-Shannon, Ireland. It presents an artistic programme that spans dance, music, theatre, visual arts, and more. It hosts an arts education and outreach programme that provides people of all ages and backgrounds with opportunities to engage in a meaningful way with artists and communities.