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| Front gate of the schoolhouse left; front exterior right |
After a long search through Clonmel town, we went searching further afield. Now courtesy of Maggie Roth we have use of a bona fide artist studio, converted from an old 19th century schoolhouse in Lagganstown, near New Inn, some 20 minutes drive from Clonmel, 10-15 minutes drive from Cashel/Cahir. Two large rooms, originally the boys and girls classrooms, as well as a small kitchen and WC. It's been disused for a while, nigh on fifteen years or so. It took a fair amount of dusting and scrubbing and painting before we could set up our work-spaces.
In its previous incarnation it was a printing studio, used primarily by artists David Best and Brian Kennedy. Some of their rough and/or mildewed proofs and rusted plates were found around the equipment left behind. We subsequently discovered Brian had published a book based on the work he did here: “The Lagganstown Prints” a series of colour-field abstractions such as Lagganstown panorama IV.
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| Side view of print press. Rough proof by David Best, top right. |
A huge printing press occupies one end of the studio, accompanied by a large number of slowly drying tins of ink. It must have been maintained in the interim as it appears to be in working order-while the screws to adjust pressure are stiff the bed wheels are well greased and run silently. The bed (1.3 x 2.5 metres approx) is not as wide as the roller (1.5 metres approx) unfortunately, but its still very very big. (Check out the dimensions on Kennedys' Lagganstown panorama IV ).
The roller can't be extended fully because the wall is in the way but it extends at a comfortable 2 metres plus.
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| 3/4 view of print press, showing relative widths of bed and roller. |
There are also two large glass topped filing cabinets for storing finished prints.
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| view from door |
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| view from print press through to the adjoining room |
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| Rough proof by David Best (detail) |
Unfortunately there is no photo-etching equipment here, you can only speculate whether the plates were done here or some more sophisticated print studio. Similarly there are no baths for etching plates or soaking paper (though for the latter presumably sponging the paper could suffice instead).
This looks to be a lino/wood cut print on acetate, not sure who to credit this to.
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| Originally girls classroom, fireplace behind desk |
Both classrooms have fireplaces, but the place is more efficiently heated with fixed thermostat radiators that slowly release heat throughout the day.
