Cabbages and Things, 2010
Solstice Arts Centre, Navan
curated by Belinda Quirke
29 October 2010 – 27 November 2010
Cabbages and Things contains two works, paper Cabbages and fabric Things each made in many multiples, filling the galleries with newsprint cabbage stucco and the piercing stares of superhero The Thing cut from fabric remnants. Phelan continues his interest here in not only what art can mean but the different ways it can be made. The Cabbages were made in a series of fabrication workshops with hundreds of helpers over the past two months. The Things were made by Phelan alone, but using different versions of the cartoon superhero from the net, none the same but all somewhat emasculated when appearing in fabric scraps. Together the galleries are decorated with our bleak present though a labyrinth of crisis headlines and hopeless heroes who can never save the day.
purple embossed leather remnant
77 x 84 cm
archival paper, toner, EVA glue, polystyrene cone, hot glue
each approx 11 x 24 x 24 cms
total approx: 700
Arranged on found wood from previous gallery installations
green blanket
178 x 260 cm
grid pattern fabric remnant
115 x 156 cm
purple fabric remnant, acrylic half-dome
130 x 195 x 12 cm
cotton sheet
150 x 150 cm (installed)
sheet size 210 x 190 cm
corduroy and nylon fabric remnants
240 x 160 cm
Outside: made from aluminium sheet from offset printer plates
orange pile and nylon print fabric remnants
98 x 157 cm
gold leather remnant
45 x 73 cm
watercolour silk fabric samples
59 x 68 cm
gold faux tapestry fabric samples
58 x 62 cm
found wire fan box, red cotton fabric remnant, clothing size tape
red cotton fabric: 70 x 160 cm
fan: 51 x 44 x 31 cm
tape dome: 16 x 16 x 9 cm
found deck chair, black paint, polish, snake skin metallic vinyl
approx. 150 cm x 75 x 80 cm
gold and black stripped jersey fabric remnant, black cotton, plastic piping, metal screws
49 x 70 x 70 cm
gold embroidered fabric and blue silk embroidered fabric remnants
61 x 117 cm
fabric lining remnants
approx. 400 x 150 cm
