Irene Loughlin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Irene Loughlin
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| Born | May 20, 1967 |
| Alma mater | Ontario College of Art Simon Fraser University |
| Occupation | Artist, Writer, Instructor, Cultural Worker |
Irene Loughlin is an artist born in Hamilton, Canada, on May 20, 1967. She is famous for her unique performance art, drawings, and writings. She also does important cultural work.
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About Irene Loughlin's Art
Irene Loughlin's art often explores important ideas. These include fairness for women (feminism), helping people with health issues, and fighting poverty. For the past twenty years, her artworks have focused on challenging how society understands things. This includes topics like mental health, which is now often called neurodiversity. She also uses her art to show feelings about medical treatments and nature. She creates her art to express strong emotions and ideas.
Irene Loughlin developed her skills as an artist in Vancouver. She worked in the historic Downtown Eastside neighborhood. She has helped groups that support people with disabilities and activists. These groups include Gallery Gachet, VANDU, and the Carnegie Centre. Her art has been shown in many places, both in Canada and around the world. Her most recent performance was in Berlin, Germany. It was part of a project about disability and neurodiversity.
Irene Loughlin also taught art at Brock University. She taught subjects like Interdisciplinary Practice and Foundation Studio.
Irene Loughlin's Education
- University of Toronto, Honors Masters of Visual Studies, 2007-2009
- Simon Fraser University, Bachelor of Fine Arts, 2003-2005
- Ontario College of Art, General Studies Diploma AOCA, 1985-1989
- NSCAD Summer Studio Program NY, Summer 1989
Notable Artworks
The artwork "light as a feather heavy as lead" is a video piece. It looks back at how women were treated from the 13th to the 17th century. It specifically focuses on how women accused of witchcraft were identified and killed. This happened in North America and Europe. The artwork also had a spoken part. Young girls recited a spell that made things float. Artist Victor Vega helped with this performance. It was shown at the Klaus Steinmetz Gallery in Costa Rica.
This artwork is called "grieving/separated from Ayles Ice Shelf." It was shown several times, including at Htmlles, Studio XX, in Montreal in 2005. Irene created this work to talk about the Ayles Ice Shelf. This large piece of ice broke away from the North Pole in 2005. The artwork shows the frustration and helplessness someone might feel when thinking about global warming. In this performance, Irene's body interacts with materials. These materials are linked to the breaking apart and movement of the Ayles Ice Shelf.
This artwork does not have a title. Irene Loughlin created it in 2012. Shannon Cochrane helped organize the show. This performance explored the mental health challenges Irene faced as a child and young adult. The artwork shows feelings of worry, sadness, and feeling disconnected. It included actions of fighting back. It also showed how people understood mental health in 2012. It was presented at the 7a11d festival in 2012.
The artwork above was performed at the EPI International Performance Center in Chile in 2012. Irene Loughlin created it, and Alperoa Lota helped organize it. In this piece, Irene is buried by materials from the earth. These materials include coal, which was provided by Lota. Coal is an industrial material used for mining and heating homes. This performance art criticizes the colonization of the area. It also comments on how workers were treated by powerful people. Irene says this piece was also inspired by growing up in Hamilton. Hamilton was a city known for its steel industry.
Awards and Recognition
- 2005 Victor Martyn Lynch-Staunton Award
