Book Launch: Martina O’Brien ‘of ephemeral measure'

of ephemeral measure is a long-term project based in Co. Kildare rooted in image making, phenology, and the activation of communities.

As part of the event, new work arising from the project will be installed and a group discussion will mark the launch of ‘Volume 1’, the first publication of of ephemeral measure.

At the core of ephemeral measure is a set of digital wild-sensing cameras, installed at seven different outdoor locations across Co. Kildare. Among other outcomes, the project to date has established the first phenological network–artist-led or otherwise–in Co. Kildare, and the artist has hosted a number of on-site ‘walkshops’ across the county. In addition to the artwork’s new publication, a selection of previously unseen visual material from of ephemeral measure will be installed for the public to engage with.

‘Volume 1’ is created and published on the occasion of of ephemeral measure’s first milestone. The images and essays within the book explore sensors as image-makers, the durational and off-grid aspects to the project, how the continual capturing of images can contribute to understanding ecologies and climate change, and O’Brien’s decisions around steering clear of directly engaging big data centres in the work.

Publication contributors include Martina O’Brien, artist Sean Lynch, and Dr. Alison Donnelly, Associate Professor of Geography at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The publication and project is kindly supported by Creative Ireland through Kildare County Council Arts Service.

As part of this publication launch of ‘Volume 1’ there will be an in-person discussion with the artist Martina O’Brien and guests Eamonn Maxwell Independent Curator and Advisor, Belinda Quirke, Artistic Director Solstice Arts Centre, Kate Lewis Hood of Planetary Praxis Research Group in the UK, and Lucina Russell, Kildare County Council Arts Officer. This discussion will touch the wider concerns of of ephemeral measure, other ecosystems’ monitoring projects, and how the project is developing heading into its second year.

Martina O’Brien is a visual artist based in Co. Kildare. She has participated in a number of significant exhibitions and artist residencies in Ireland and abroad. She was the inaugural Irish Centre for Research in Applied Geosciences Artist in Residence at UCD Parity Studios (2020- 2022) and is the recipient of several awards from arts organisations and research bodies including the Arts Council of Ireland, Creative Ireland, Kildare Arts Service, Create and the European Commission in Italy. Over several years, she has built up relationships with communities and institutions and has collaborated with many scientists and experts in climate change. Upcoming solo exhibitions include Highlanes Gallery, Drogheda (2023) and Galway Arts Centre (2024).

This event takes place as part of Dublin Art Book Fair 2022: A Caring Matter, sponsored by Henry J Lyons and supported by Dublin UNESCO City of Literature.