by Rose Rushe
Haselbeck
IN October 2010, Hunt Museum hosted an exhibition that drew the masses, that of the photography and equipment of Franz Sebastian Haselbeck, ‘Fond Memories Bring the Light’. Haselbeck (1885-1973) was a professional photographer, based in the Mid West, whose work of 70 years all but died with him. Then a collaborative project between ESB Archive and his family worked to restore his.
It has been described as “a prism through which we can view the major political, commercial and social developments which happened over the greater part of the last century”.
Franz’ granddaughter Patricia Haselbeck Flynn is publishing a selection of c.180 of these photos in her book, ‘Franz S Haselbeck’s Ireland’ along with personal correspondence and documentation. Out in early September, she describes the 160 page issue by Collins Press “as the culmination of almost five years of my life and every free moment.”
Haselbeck Flynn wants to acknowledge “the generous assistance” she received from local historians and others in identifying photographs, and plans a series of prints to follow on from ‘Franz S Haselbeck’s Ireland’.
The photographer had trained formally in art before the change in medium to film and some of his original sketches and works are in her hands.
A Reworking of Blue
HERE for a third year, Step-Up: Dance Project will premiere works performed by six of Ireland’s leading contemporary dance graduates in UL this Thursday, August 22, at 7:30pm. These are ‘Body Mosaic’, choreographed by John Scott and ‘A Reworking of Blue’, choreographed by Marguerite Donlon.
The dancers have just finished intense weeks of training at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance on campus venue for performance. On to Cork’s Firkin Crane on Friday and DanceHouse, Dublin in Saturday then for the troupe.
Quare talk
THE theme of gay subterfuge in history has some part to play in Hunt Museum’s contribution to gay pride week. Art from the Heart is a family workshop with Kate Stoic, an afternoon of making hearts (with a twist) and community love flags. This takes place on Saturday August 31 and September 7 from 2:30pm to 4:30pm; free and ticketed, www.huntmuseum.com
On Wednesday September 4 there’s an hour long invitation at 4pm to “uncover the queer, unusual and hidden histories of some treasures” in the Hunt Collection; Saturday September 7 also from 2-3pm.
Friday September 6 follows up with a free lunchtime lecture titled ‘Skeletons in the Closet: discovering queerness in family history’. Dr John Logan opens that door at 1pm.
