Past Projects

The Moore Street Lending Library was first initiated by Fire Station Artist’s Studios and artist Katherine Sankey as a means to celebrate the existence of Moore Street as both a physical and social phenomenon. Following an invitation through IADT MA in Visual Arts Practices, Sandra Grozdanic, Declan Sheehan and Sally Timmons conceived and curated the project, with assistance from Minna Öberg.

The rented room on the top floor at 55 Moore Street was opened to the public from September 27th to October 15th 2005. The Moore Street Lending Library materialized on the street - overnight - in a similar way to the many new businesses that have existed and continue to exist in that location. The space had a life that was based on the essence and anticipation of exchange and not on the act of tangible profit trade.

The Lending Library provided a rich and organic information resource managed by artists and intended to be utilised in a number of ways. The contributions of artefacts, documents and objects were received over a number of weeks while the space was activated as a meeting place, an artist’s workroom and temporary screening room.

The existing archive is now catalogued and the index of its contents is available through the MSLL Index Publication, produced as a means to document the overall project. The publication sheet includes essays by cultural critics and contributions by the nine artists and groups who worked in association with the Moore Street Lending Library to develop an engagement between art and the social environment of Moore Street.

Download The Moore Street Lending Library Index 05 – 06 (PDF).

The artists involved were:

John Beattie

"The banter between tradesmen & women is characteristic to the ever-changing Moore Street. John Beattie, through performative intervention, sound and video works, communicates the multicultural diversity that now exists which has become apart of the sounds, exchanges, and daily rituals of Moore Street. He also highlights elements that have remained on Moore Street to this day, such as the practical use of the horse & cart, in contrast to the modernising city that surrounds the street."

The Potlatch Foundation

"The Potlatch Foundation invites the people and traders of Moore Street to avail of an unprecedented opportunity to establish a Local Exchange Trade System (LETS) for the Moore Street area. LETS are local, non-profit exchange networks in which all kinds of goods and services can be traded without the need for money. A LETS network uses an interest-free local credit or currency so direct swaps do not need to be made."

Susan Gogan

"Susan Gogan is examining the transformation of Moore Street into a unique social and cultural 'third' space, culminating in a large photographic piece on display."

Amanda Healy

"Amanda Healy will organise screenings of films and documentaries relating to Moore St. A series of talks on the topics of the screenings will follow."

Sarah Kenny

"Sarah Kenny's work consists of a series of small Victorian-style mini-theatres, the content of which will contain an analogy between the insurgents of the 1916 rising, in their final struggle to hold the street against the British imperialists, and the contemporary occupants of Moore Street who are equally at the mercy of the developers."

Daniel Jewesbury

"Daniel Jewesbury will archive the Moore Street Lending Library and will produce publications and related ephemera throughout the project."

Alan Magee

"Alan Magee will install a sculptural installation on Moore Street for the duration of the project. It addresses the modernisation of Ireland with use of technology and the issue of power therein. This will be followed by a series of responses from the traders to the piece."

The Research Group

"The Research Group is a structure made up of artists and psychologists that will explore research methodologies throughout the Moore Street Lending Library. They are Glenn Loughran, Emer O Boyle, Cica Moraes, Raul Arajo and Feme Latief."

Katherine Sankey

"Katherine Sankey's 'An Atomic Narrative' is a site specific anatomical video/drawing to be installed as a wall 5 or 6 feet behind the window of an empty shop on Moore Street."

Louisa Sloan

"Louisa Sloan will transmit a series of daily, 40-minute live recordings of her practicing to roll her 'R's."