New existence

As between clear blue and cloud,.. I had my existence.

I was there. Me in place and the place in me.

Seamus Heaney

Thanks

I have been lucky over the past few months to have fished in the company of Paul Moinester from the US.

Its always interesting to understand and watch other peoples perspectives of the fishing that we have here in Ireland.

Beyond that of course is a whole different social dynamic and interaction. Paul laid down some very nice words over the past few weeks about Irish fishing from trout to pike, attempted early season bass fishing and even some sea trout in wild tidal rips.

His words and images stand testament to those experiences – I hope some day he will return late in the Autumn to make a valid attempt at some real Irish bass fishing.

Many thanks Paul and best wishes and tight lines.

High life in Los Angeles, time

I was on my way seatrout fishing with two friends of my father. We were headed down towards ‘The Coombe’ with ABU Krills and Tobies and Lying Eyes was playing on Micks tape deck in the car. The first time I had ever really heard the Eagles. I was 14, it was June 1978 . It was The Greatest Hits, it was Hotel California. It was magic.

Now at 50, 36 years later, and only last night in fact, I fished the same place with two different friends for the same species.

Today I am driving to the Eagles to hear them live in Dublin, for me, the first time.

Jack Gartsides–Gurgler

Being without finish

21st July – 30th August 2014 – Anne Hendrick, Wexford Arts Centre.

At its loftiest the work in Anne Hendricks exhibition entitled Being Without Finish explores the absurdity of life and embodies the search for the poetic and collective meaning through ritual or exploration and ‘psychological essentialism’, which describes the belief that some objects are often defined by a so-called unique essence. This elusive ‘essence’ can only exist beyond our ability to perceive. This mysterious invisible matter can infuse objects with their own extraordinary life-force.

In this body of work, the moon acts as omnipresent muse, metaphor, recurring motif and cipher with various ideologies projected onto it.

Anne Hendrick has a BA in Fine Art Painting and History of Art from NCAD where she graduated in 2006. Since graduating Anne has exhibited in many various group shows in galleries such as the Brick Lane London, the Ashford, Talbot, Monstertruck TBG&S and the RHA. 2007 saw her first solo outings with the Talbot Gallery ‘Whitescapes and Other Stories’ in May, and ‘A Seamless Fiction' in Stone Gallery in June. Her next solo shows were in Monstertruck Gallery in September 2009 as part of a four week season of painting ‘The Thing That Wouldn’t Die’ and then in the Talbot Gallery in October 2009 'The Surface of Events'.

She is a co-founder of the artist collective ‘Scissors Cuts Paper’ who recently completed a residency in the ‘Guest House’ Cork, concluding with a group show entitled ‘Quelle Horreur’.  In 2011 she co-founded the artist-as-curator venture ‘White Wolf Projects’ with Ciara O’Hara.

Last November she exhibited with the Talbot Gallery at the Art Fair ‘VUE’ in the RHA as well as Roscommon Arts Centre with Peter Burns and Mary Noonan in an exhibition entitled ‘Fables.

Anne has exhibited in the UK, Iceland and Barcelona. Her work can be found / is part of the collections at Wesley college, Dublin, The office of public works, and the Talbot Gallery.

Investment

Fishing on Wednesday and Thursday I was once again reminded of the role that a fishing guide plays in the company of his or her clients. I have learned how to let situations develop over time that then place the ‘consequences of realisation’ squarely on the shoulders of the client! This is a patience game that must also be accompanied by what I consider to be quality contributing and supporting factors.

Of course a healthy local population of fish is a necessity.

I can recognise, appreciate and assess wonderful fishing environments very quickly. I can determine the support infrastructure that needs to be in place, and I can analyse the ‘environmental’ fishing influences to a tee. As a fishing guide my methods are often very slow and for me all of these important things need to be in place. They play the role of the foundations of any fishing experience, a skyline, a run of water, a sound of birds, and a place, where after it all, after your day, you can stop, rest and think a little perhaps in the company of friends, good food and a pint or two of Guinness!

On the water, once clients are safe, I advise and provide support, tackle, encouragement, I also tend to watch the speed of development and or progress of one or two important aspects of the fishing very intently. I do not rush this and at times a client may feel slightly disengaged, on the edge, challenged, but that’s where I want him or her to be, at least a little! Yes of course I can answer every question but I’m not always prepared to do so instantly. By steering the situation as a consequence the next step is very often discovered, realised by the person fishing.

That significance once grasped is far greater than anything I could have ever told or demonstrated to any client.

Sometimes a lot of small significances roll over and add up until the end, but the end is only ever where and when a client feels ultimately satisfied with the realisation of what he has achieved. Be it a cast, a presentation, a consistency, an understanding or a confidence. This can take a hell of a lot of time; it can also prove difficult and testing for both of us if patience or time are an issue.

The consequences of small achievements lead to the understanding of and the recognition of the next challenge. This is constantly in evidence when saltwater fly-fishing for bass and seatrout from the shore. Time is often of the essence.

I believe that because it is such a significant challenge, and at times it still feels daunting, the many many bits and pieces to the endgame are not like any other type of fishing. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not superiority I’m talking about here, but too often the considerable input and achievements made along the way by any successful saltwater fly angler are often dismissed or forgotten, taken for granted even. 

The path to the endgame, if there is one, can be short or long, anticipation for me is always one of the greatest feelings!

The long challenging personal investment in saltwater fly fishing is probably beyond measure on so many positive levels.