Johanna Connor (1972): Contemporary Artist: Theatre Design, Fine Art Painting & Illustration
ADDRESS: Corradarrigan, Schull, Skibbereen P81 W316, West Cork, Ireland.
PHONE: 087 242 1496. EMAIL: Johanna.connor@gmail.com
AWARDS & RESIDENCIES:
2020 Spring residency @ Kunstraum LLC, NY. Cancelled due to Covid.
2018 - Long listed for The RDS Visual Arts Award 2019.
1998 - Arts Flight to New York.
1996 - Arts Council Bursary.
NOMINATIONS:
1999 - Fragile. Nominated for best Fringe Production, Dublin.
1998 - Sunday Lunch & the Good People. Nomination for Best Fringe Production, Dublin.
1998 - Nominated as Best Irish Set Designer, The Sunday Tribune – Joycelyn Clarke.
1993 – TO DATE EXHIBITIONS:
2022 - Folk. West Cork Creates, Skibbereen: An Exhibition curated by Alison Ospina
2022 - West Cork Arts Centre’s Members & Friends Exhibition @ the Uillinn.
2022 - Drawn Show II - Mark Making @ the Blue House Gallery with artists: Ian Humphries, Caterine Weld & Deirdre Cairns.
2021 - Indelible, Solo Exhibition @ the Blue House Gallery - polaroids, drawing, 3D work.
2021 - Home Ground, West Cork Creates : An Exhibition ( actual & online ) curated by Alison Ospina.
2021 - Blue House Gallery, Covid Spring & Summer seasons exhibitions.
2021 - West Cork Arts Centre’s Members & Friends Exhibition @ the Uillinn.
2020 - Cork Artists Winter Online Showcase – West Cork Arts Centre: an online exhibition due to Covid-19.
2020 - Harvest, West Cork Creates, Skibbereen: An OnlineExhibition curated by Alison Ospina.
2020 - Blue House Gallery, Covid Spring & Summer seasons exhibitions.
2020 - West Cork Arts Centre’s Members & Friends Exhibition @ the Uillinn
2020 - Harvest. West Cork Creates, Skibbereen: An Exhibition curated by Alison Ospina.
2019 - Into the Woods. West Cork Creates, Skibbereen: An Exhibition curated by Alison Ospina.
2019 - After the Bauhaus. The Blue House Gallery: A group show curated by Brian Lalor.
2019 - Alternative Views. The Blue House gallery: A group show curated by Ana Ospina.
2019 - Freedom: The Blue House Gallery: A group show curated by Geoff Greenham.
2018 - Memories of a Nervous System. The Gallery @ 46 grand Parade: MA: Art & Process 2018, CIT, Crawford College of Art & Design, Cork.
2018 - Paintings. The Blue House Gallery: A group show curated by Brian Lalor, John Doherty & Kieth Payne.
2017 - The Wild Atlantic Way. West Cork Creates, Skibbereen: A group show curated by Alison Ospina.
2016 - The Garden. Collaboration with Patrick Connor: An exhibition of collaborative work presented by West Cork Creates, Skibbereen. Curated by Alison Ospina.
2016 - Serendipity. The Aisling Gallery, Ballydehob: A group show - Patrick Connor, Hammond Journeaux, Johanna Connor. Opened by Tony Barry.
2012 - Silent Art Auction, Schull: Opened by Sir David Putnam.
2009 - Silent Art Auction, Schull: Opened by Graham Norton. 3D illustration in collaboration with Poet John Montague.
2009 - Trilogies - Toad Hall Gallery, Ballydehob. Curated Connor, Byrne & Lee: A group show -Patrick Connor, Brian Lalor, Jason Lee, Gabrielle Byrne, Johanna Connor & Birgitta Safflund. Opened by Compose Maurice Seezer.
2007 - Nearly There - A work in Progress. The West Cork Arts Centre, Skibbereen: Work of Gabrielle Byrne & Johanna Connor. Curated by Aoife Ruane. Opened by Brain Lalor: Artist, Author & Editor of the Encyclopedia of Ireland.
2005 - Out of the Barn - Patrick Connor, Jason Lee, Amanda Roe: I curated a site-specific pop-up Group show Ballycumisk Stables, Ballydehob. Patrick Connor, Jason Lee, Amanda Roe.
2004 - Scene Change: One hundred years of theatre design at The Abbey - IMMA 8 Dec 2004 – 20 Feb 2005: Co-Curated Joe Vanek & Helen O’ Donoghue. Opened by Robert Ballagh.
1997 - Motley Theatre Design Exhibition, The Old Vic, London: Storyboards, Sketchbooks, Model boxes, Costume designs, Technical Drawings.
1997 - Exhibition of Introduction, Bedrock Office, Ormond Quay, Dublin: Storyboards, Sketchbooks, Model boxes, Costume designs, Technical Drawings.
1994 - Limerick School of Art and Design, Diploma Exhibition
1993 - Geograpfia Interior, Universidade De Vigo Ponteverdra, Spain
TEACHING:
2019 - Theatre of the Image - UCC Theatre Department. Performed @ The Kino, Cork. Working with Dr. Marie Kelly and her students. Looking at the multiple aspects of performance in and of space while creating a suitable space for students to perform the work they devised surrounding “The object”, influenced by the work of Kantor, Pina Bausch and Robert Wilson.
2019 - Making Play / Tableau Vivant - Facilitating an 8-week drama workshop with Dr. Marie Kelly for the lantern community project @ The Nano Nagle Centre Cork which we later presented as part of the Life Long Learning Festival in the Goldie Chapel, Cork.
2008 - 2018 HORSES (fitness and care)
I Managed a private yard. My responsibilities included managing seasonal Grazing, Horse care: Health, Training and fitness, Transportation, Upkeep of equipment & grounds. The numbers and nature of Equine Stock varied from Riding horses: warm & cold blooded, Brood mares, retired eventers to young stock and the 3 donkeys.
2012 – TO DATE PAINTING:
ANIMALS by JO Animal portrait commissions Acrylic on Canvas: life size & bigger
2021
Pablito, West Cork
2017
Mack. Sandymount.
2015
Pheobe & Oreo. Dublin (Cards & Prints).
Fen. Mountmellick (Cards & Prints).
Val. Baltimore USA & Ire. (Cards & Prints).
Tia. Belfast.
3Cats. West Cork.
2014
Sherpa. West Cork.
Louis. West Cork & Kildare.
Banjo. West Cork.
LoLo. West Cork (Cards & Prints).
Charlie-George. England (Cards & Prints).
2013
Delta. West Cork.
Biggie. West Cork.
Omega. West Cork.
2012
Bella Framboise. West Cork.
1991-TO DATE ILLUSTRATION:
2016 - Wedding Invitation. Quigley/Cosgrove.
2014 - My Pal & Italian Ice Cream. Tom Henry.
2013 - Bennie & Me. Tom Henry.
2012 - July 11th. Launched Nearly There @ Grove House Schull. Opened by Brain Lalor. Artist, Author & Editor of the Encyclopedia of Ireland. Attended by over 300 people & press. Pre-Launch Shots by Axel Bernstorff. Launch shots by John Walsh.
2011/2012- Produced the e-published and published Nearly There as a Book App for iPads & a Book with CD. Worked with Firsty Fish, Colin Vearncombe, Fergus O Farrell & Maurice Seezer. Dave Bray @ MCS, Matt Mills technical support. Ashley Bernard: www.Creatures of Serendipity / Nearly There.com
2011 - Wedding Invitation. Koivusaari/Connor.i
2010/2011 - Wrote & Illustrated two of a series of books: How to… teach old people to ride & How to… catch a pony.
2009/2010 - Journey to Castlepoint. A Collaboration: Written by Grania Mackey, Illustrated by Johanna Connor, Rendered by Gabrielle Byrne.
2009 - Wedding Invitation. Mc Closkey/Parsons.
2003/2005 - Co-Illustrated & Co-Wrote Nearly There a children’s book with Gabrielle Byrne.
2002 - Illustrations, T-shirts & Models by Creatures of Serendipity.
2002 - Founded & Registered Creatures Of Serendipity: C.O.S - A creative partnership with Gabrielle Byrne.
1990/1994 - Hand-painted T-shirts
PRODUCTION DESIGN - THEATRE:
2011 - Our Town is Our Screen. Fastnet Short Film Festival. Created a Horsebox-Cinema.
2009 - Big Maggie. The Everyman Theatre. Director: Patrick Talbot. Set design & costume consultation.
THE PEACOCK THEATRE - Production Design (flipped stage)
2006 - Alice Trilogy (The Irish Premier). Writer/Director: Tom Murphy. Production Design (flipped stage).
2006 - Howie The Rookie. Director: Jimmy Fay. Production Design (flipped stage).
2006 - True West. Director: Jimmy Fay. Costume Design.
2000 - Tree Houses. Director: Jason Byrne. Production Design.
1999 - Judas of the Gallarus. Director: Jason Byrne. Production Design.
1999/00 - Living Quarters. Revival & Tour.
1999- Living Quarters. Director: Jason Byrne. Production Design.
1998 - At Swim 2 Birds. Revival.
1998 - At Swim 2 Birds. Director: Jimmy Fay. Production Design.
2005 - Titus Andronicus. The Project, Temple bar. Siren Productions, Director: Celina Cartmell. Costume co-ordinator for Monica Frawley.
2000 - Marching On. The Lyric Theatre, Belfast. Director: Stuart Graham. Written by Gary Mitchell. Production Design
1999 - The White Devil. Project @ The Mint, Dublin. Loose Canon Theatre Company. Director: Jason Byrne. Production Design.
1998 - Coriolanus. Project @ The Mint, Dublin. Loose Canon Theatre Company. Director: Jason Byrne. Production Design
2000 - Wideboy Gospel. Greenwich Theatre, London. Dublin & Galway. Bedrock Productions. Director: Jimmy Fay. Set Design.
1999- Quay West. Project @ The Mint, Dublin.
1998 - Deep Space. The Bush Theatre, London & Dublin.
1997 - Quartet. Project @ The Mint, Dublin.
1996 - The Life of Stuff. Project Arts Centre, Dublin. Bedrock Productions. Director: Jimmy Fay.
1995 - The Skriker. Project Arts Centre, Dublin. Bedrock Productions. Director: Jimmy Fay.
1995 - The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui. City Arts Centre, Dublin. Bedrock Productions. Director: Jimmy Fay.
OPERA:
1999 - The Wall of Cloud. Opera Theatre Company. Tour & Wexford Opera Fest. Director: Jason Byrne. Production Design.
DANCE:
2001 - Fragile. Revival & Tour France / The Project, Dublin. FBDC. Choreography: Michael Keegan Dolan. Assistant Ferdia Murphy.
1999 - Fragile. Civic Theatre Tallaght / Dublin Fringe Fest 99. FBDC. Choreography: Michael Keegan Dolan. Production Design. 1999 Nominated for best Fringe Production, Dublin.
1998 - Sunday Lunch & the Good People. The Firkin Crane & The Samuel Beckett. Choreography: Michael Keegan Dolan. Production Design. 1998 Nomination for Best Fringe Production, Dublin.
FILM:
2000 - Life in The Fast Lane. An RTE ‘Short Cut’ 20min. Grand Pictures L.T.D. Written & Directed by Orla Walsh.
1999 - Clever Dick. A Film-base short. Jigsaw Productions. Written & Directed by Peter Thompson. Production Design.
1998 - Slumber. A 5min short. Dream Productions. Written & Directed by Emer Reynolds. Production Design.
ASSISTING:
2005 - Titus Andronicus. The Project, Temple bar. Siren Productions, Director: Celina Cartmell. Costume co-ordinator for Monica Frawley.
2000 - The Birthday. A Channel 4 short-film. Productions L.T.D. Designer: Clodagh Conroy. Production Design Assistant.
2000 - Black Day at Black Rock. An R.T.E feature film. Venus Productions. Written & Directed by Gerry Stembridge. Designer: Monica Frawley.
1998/1997 - Paul Brown, London: Studio Assistant. Model making & costume rendering Paul Brown: Internationally renowned, Oscar nominated Designer - Angels and Insects) (R.I.P 2017).
1996 - The King and I. Olympia Theatre. Prop & set painting assistant to Liz Baker.
1999 - The Widows Son. Moment drawings for Director: Emer Reynolds.
1995 - Irelands 1st Fringe Festival hosted by Bedrock Productions.
EDUCATION:
2018 - MA: Art & Process, CIT Crawford College of Art & Design, Cork. 12month full-time taught masters: modules in Professional practice, Institutions & Practices, Exhibition Production. Large credit studio module/ final MA exhibition & academic Thesis.
2009 - Addition to drivers Licence
2008 - BHS 1& 2, Ride & Road safety @ Clonshire Equestrian Centre
- The Irish Sports Council. Child Protection in Sports Awareness Certificate.
In 2000 due to a life-threatening illness I returned to West Cork. With recovery as my focus, subsequently my creative path altered significantly. Nearly There was very much born from these times and my equine friends who helped me return to health.
1996/ 1997- The Motley Theatre Design Course, Drury, London. 12month full-time taught masters: Set & Costume design. Script breakdown, Storyboarding, Research, model making, production technical drawing, costume, history, cutting & drawing and design presentation. Mirroring the professional workings behind the scenes of the theatre and film. MA course Grant aided by the Arts Council. (Scenography).
1991/ 1994 - N.C.E. A Diploma with Merit, Fine Art/Painting. Limerick School of Art & Design, Limerick & Vigo, Spain.
1993 - Erasmus programme with Universade De Vigo, Faculty Belles Arts, Ponteverdra,Spain. European cultural exchange program.
1990/ 1991 - Fitzwilliam Institute, Dun Laoghaire, Diploma with Distinction in Animation & Graphic Design.
1988/1990 - Newtown School, Waterford Leaving-cert
1985 - Schull Community College Inter-cert