Hi everyone, my name is Stephanie and this blog is a method of documenting the course of my study abroad program in Northern Ireland. I, with 22 other students from Bucknell University, are staying for three weeks in Londonderry, or simply, Derry. Here we are studying the political Troubles of the past thirty years and the peace process that has begun in the past few years, changing the face of politics for the entire country. While here we are listening to speakers telling both the long term history of British rule in Ireland as well as personal accounts of the recent conflict. Also, in order to supplement our understanding of the sectarianism and the day to day life in Northern Ireland, we each work in a community organization for six days over the length of our stay.
Nina, a good friend of mine and fellow Bucknell in Northern Ireland participant, and I are working at an art gallery and photo archive called Belfast Exposed, approximately a two hour drive from Derry. Belfast Exposed was formed in 1983 as a method of capturing and documenting the events of the troubles. The gallery usually has continuous Photography exhibitions by both local and international artists. At this date however, there is a video exhibition focusing on immigration. This show includes approximately ten video projections, each examining different methods of and reasons for moving to a new country. These reasons and methods range from involuntary military kidnapping and imprisonment to moving from one’s free will to establish a better life for oneself or one’s family. The theme of immigration relates to the conflict in Northern Ireland because of the great number of people who have immigrated from Ireland and Northern Ireland throughout history.
Within the gallery is a small room which holds the computer archive database called The Gateway and are meant to bring a public awareness to the violence and events of the conflict. At this time the records are only available to the public when the gallery is open, but the people developing the archives hope to soon release the entire archive on the Internet. Originally, the photo archive dealt only held photos pertaining directly to the events occurring at the time, but now have been expanded to include photos dating from as far back as the late 1800's. This archive is important today because of the awareness that is brought to the public through these photos.
The Gateway is divided into three basic sections: political landscapes, the community and the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum. Political landscapes deals with the divide in the Unionist (those wishing to be part of Britain) and Nationalist (those who want to join with the Republic of Ireland) perspectives. One of the photographs under this section depicts a funeral procession of an Irish Republican Army member. This group is obviously Nationalist because of the placement of an Irish flag on top of the casket. The Unionist group only uses the British flag and will never identify with the Irish flag or colors. Also, in the foreground of the photo, the hearse has the letters IPLO in a flower arrangement, showing the association of the IRA with the Irish People’s Liberation Organization. The community section of The Gateway shows daily life of the Unionist and Nationalist communities in the 1980's, for example sports events and mural art seen throughout both communities. The third section, the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, contains photographs from the late 1800's of historically important places, like the Belfast Harbor and the Albert Clock.
The photo archive at Belfast Exposed is the only of its type in all of the world, making it an important element in documenting the events of the Troubles as well as helping the public to realize and understand the extent of the violence and conflict of Northern Ireland. The gallery also only exhibits work that pertains to the history of Northern Ireland, making Belfast Exposed a very important piece of the complicated history of this country.
Over the course of my stay in Northern Ireland I will be documenting the happenings at Belfast Exposed as well as the many interesting and important people and places that we are experiencing. I hope you check back as I develop this blog and I also encourage you to research a little of the political divisions and sectarianism of life throughout the past thirty years.
Nina, a good friend of mine and fellow Bucknell in Northern Ireland participant, and I are working at an art gallery and photo archive called Belfast Exposed, approximately a two hour drive from Derry. Belfast Exposed was formed in 1983 as a method of capturing and documenting the events of the troubles. The gallery usually has continuous Photography exhibitions by both local and international artists. At this date however, there is a video exhibition focusing on immigration. This show includes approximately ten video projections, each examining different methods of and reasons for moving to a new country. These reasons and methods range from involuntary military kidnapping and imprisonment to moving from one’s free will to establish a better life for oneself or one’s family. The theme of immigration relates to the conflict in Northern Ireland because of the great number of people who have immigrated from Ireland and Northern Ireland throughout history.
Within the gallery is a small room which holds the computer archive database called The Gateway and are meant to bring a public awareness to the violence and events of the conflict. At this time the records are only available to the public when the gallery is open, but the people developing the archives hope to soon release the entire archive on the Internet. Originally, the photo archive dealt only held photos pertaining directly to the events occurring at the time, but now have been expanded to include photos dating from as far back as the late 1800's. This archive is important today because of the awareness that is brought to the public through these photos.
The Gateway is divided into three basic sections: political landscapes, the community and the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum. Political landscapes deals with the divide in the Unionist (those wishing to be part of Britain) and Nationalist (those who want to join with the Republic of Ireland) perspectives. One of the photographs under this section depicts a funeral procession of an Irish Republican Army member. This group is obviously Nationalist because of the placement of an Irish flag on top of the casket. The Unionist group only uses the British flag and will never identify with the Irish flag or colors. Also, in the foreground of the photo, the hearse has the letters IPLO in a flower arrangement, showing the association of the IRA with the Irish People’s Liberation Organization. The community section of The Gateway shows daily life of the Unionist and Nationalist communities in the 1980's, for example sports events and mural art seen throughout both communities. The third section, the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, contains photographs from the late 1800's of historically important places, like the Belfast Harbor and the Albert Clock.
The photo archive at Belfast Exposed is the only of its type in all of the world, making it an important element in documenting the events of the Troubles as well as helping the public to realize and understand the extent of the violence and conflict of Northern Ireland. The gallery also only exhibits work that pertains to the history of Northern Ireland, making Belfast Exposed a very important piece of the complicated history of this country.
Over the course of my stay in Northern Ireland I will be documenting the happenings at Belfast Exposed as well as the many interesting and important people and places that we are experiencing. I hope you check back as I develop this blog and I also encourage you to research a little of the political divisions and sectarianism of life throughout the past thirty years.
1 comment:
Hi, Steph,
Your studies sound interesting. I hope you find the Irish people as nice and friendly as I did. I have a neighbor from Derry; I call him "Jerry from Derry".
Love, Aunt Kathy
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