When I hear the word culture .....

Culture night in Dublin. I can be very cynical about cultural events like this but since I was invited to the Artsquad twenty years exhibition I dragged myself into town to The No Grants Gallery in Temple Bar. The exhibition was disappointing being just a slide show and a projected video  but I met some other artists that were part of Arts squad the same time I was so that was good. Katri and Paivi were with me and we came across Simeon and his Samba drummers in Temple Bar, hard to miss them really with all that racket. I  can't relate to Samba drumming anymore since I was stuck in a room with Simeon and about thirty young people learning Samba drumming for Halloween when I was working with Stoneybatter Youth Services. I liked Culture Night though - it was good to see so many families out in Temple Bar  on a Friday evening rather than the usual population of people intent on getting out of their face drunk.  I also dropped into Exhibitions at the Project which is an exhibition about exhibitions- wha?
It left me cold anyway.

Passed by the Exchange which looked to be buzzing and was packed out to the pavement and went on down Smock Alley to Coming into our Own an exhibition by a group of women from Ballymun. I saw this in Ballymun and it is even more powerful seen out of it's local context. My plan was to nip in and out quickly but just as I was leaving Emma from the axis was introducing the artists so I was stuck. And it turned out to be great- I really enjoyed hearing the women tell their stories. Plus there was cake.

Since we were in temple bar I took the opportunity to drop into Connolly Books and have Paivi take my photo with a copy of "Music and Culture" which has a still from the movie "Once" on the cover featuring me and Gel Hansard. No mention is made of Once though and I just look like a street drunk hassling Glen as he plays. I don't know- I'm considering legal action against the Publishers.

I had made the mistake of telling Katri that The Leprechaun Museum, (- no,  no link here) was open so she insisted we go. Alas it was full- which I don't really believe but I was glad of it as I hate all talk of leprechauns which are an invention of the English. When the revolution comes all images of leprechauns will be banned and anyone sporting those stupid green hats with the red wigs and beards attached will be made to do community service. Anyway Katri was disappointed but Paivi promised her she'd bring her another day.
That was about all the culture I could handle so  we legged it back to the car and vamoosed home.

Glad I went into town though. I enjoyed Culture Night..........no need for the revolver after all.