Blue Door opens in Nenagh
On Saturday June 2nd the official launch of the Blue Door Studio took place.
This is a new space in Nenagh dedicated to creativity, set up by artist, writer and performer Joanna Ryan-Purcell. It was opened by Hollywood actor Patrick Bergin.
“This is a studio for people to explore and express their creativity,” Joanna said. “The inspiration for the studio came from my own want of having a space where I can be creative, where I can relax, hang out and meet other creative people.
“I have always searched for places like this. They exist in big cities but in Nenagh, there isn’t a space dedicated to catering for the creative people on a daily basis and that’s what I want to provide. I think that art and the act of being creative is so important to nourish in our current society where there is so much pressure, life is so fast, and sometimes there isn’t a moment to breathe.
“Creativity takes us out of the pressurised world and brings us into the present moment. It is in the present moment, accessed by creativity, where we can have fun, relax, enjoy our lives. This is a space for people to just be.”
A number of workshops and events will take place including the studio being an ‘open house’ during the day where people can come and pick up a book, work on some writing, listen to music, do a bit of study, etc. The workshops that are currently taking place are acrylic art classes taught by Joanna every Tuesday morning from 10-12, every Wednesday afternoon from 2-4 and every Thursday evening from 7.30-9.30. To book, or for more information, contact Joanna on 087-9588073.
“I am currently recruiting and looking for other artists to give workshops, for example whittling, basket weaving, paper maché, African drumming, guitar lessons, meditation workshops, writing workshops, theatre workshops, improvisation workshops, and the list goes on. I would like to invite people who are interested in facilitating creative workshops of any kind to contact me on joannaryanpurcell@gmail.com.”
The ‘open house’, which opens every day at 11am and closes at 10pm, is a space where people can focus on reading, writing, studying or can just simply come to relax and meet some people. It is a quiet, comfortable yet sociable space. There is a tea and coffee section where people can make their own. Beside this is an ‘honesty box’ for the teas and coffees. There will be a tip jar and Joanna requests all who use this space to give a donation and this goes towards the rent and electricity.
The Blue Door Studio will host a number of events for example open mic nights, poetry nights, movie nights, comedy nights, music nights, lunch time theatre, and so on. “The first event, which will take place on Friday June 8th at 7.30pm, is what I have called ‘The Blue Door Sessions’,” Joanna said. “This is where performers of any kind - musicians, singer/song writers, poets, actors, dancers, comedians, magicians, mime artists, sound designers, physical theatre performers, etc - perform on the Blue Door Studio stage. This is a stage for people who enjoy to perform but also for people to experiment their work and see the response before they go to a bigger stage.
“The Blue Door Sessions will be live-streamed every Friday night. This, over time, will build an international audience for the Blue Door Sessions. This would be beneficial to those who would like to get their work out there. If you are a performer who wants to show off your work or if are an audience member who wants to enjoy the performances, come along on Friday 8th at 7.30pm and every Friday after that. The entry fee for this event is donation.”
The address of the Blue Door Studio is 5 Pearse Street, Nenagh. It is the first floor above the old Jessica’s. You go through the Blue Door on the left to enter the Blue Door Studio. To keep in touch with ‘what’s on’, like the Facebook page ‘JoannaRyanPurcell’, or, for a shortcut, type JRP15 into Facebook and her page will come up.