Irish America

Art and Architecture

The Forgotten Irish American Artist of the Capitol Building

By Geoffrey Cobb, Contributor
June / July 2017

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Geoffrey Cobb writes about Thomas Crawford, who sculpted the figure of Liberty and Freedom on top of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC.  Senate Pediment, marble, 1863, east front U.S. Capitol: “The Progress of Civilization” features figures that represent the early days of America along with the diversity of human endeavor. Click to enlarge. (Photo courtesy of the Architect … [Read more...] about The Forgotten Irish American Artist of the Capitol Building

John Kelly’s Irish Landscapes

By Adam Farley, Deputy Editor
October / November 2015

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World-renowned Irish-Australian-British artist John Kelly makes his U.S. debut in New York City through mid-October, bringing his stark land and seascape paintings and several small sculptures to a whole new audience. Born in 1965 to an Irish father and English mother in the U.K., his family immigrated to Australia when he was six months old and he grew up there. He moved to … [Read more...] about John Kelly’s Irish Landscapes

Dublin Mural to Gay Marriage

By Matthew Skwiat, Contributing Editor
June / July 2015

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A touchingly brave four-story mural of two men embracing was recently plastered on the side of a Dublin building on George Street. The black and white image is meant to be a “poignant representation of same sex love,” according to its painter, Joe Caslin. His image is a homage to marriage equality, an issue soon to be taken up in a May 22 referendum. The mural is said to be … [Read more...] about Dublin Mural to Gay Marriage

Every Oscar Is an Irish Win

By Adam Farley

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How an Irishman Introduced Deco to Hollywood. Each year around this time the world awaits the presentation of the Hollywood awards in which the statue called “Oscar” is presented to those in the movie industry whom the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences considers to be the best in the business. Numerous Irish and Irish-born have been recipients of this prestigious … [Read more...] about Every Oscar Is an Irish Win

Made in (18th Century) Ireland

By Turlough McConnell
April / May 2015

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The new exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago, Ireland: Crossroads of Art and Design, 1690 – 1840, is a legacy tribute to the last Knight of Glin.  Popularly known as the “long 18th century,” beginning with the ascendancy of William and Mary over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland in 1689 and culminating at the brink of Ireland’s Great Hunger in the 1840s, … [Read more...] about Made in (18th Century) Ireland