Ahead of this year’s Open House Dublin (OHD) we’ve teamed up with our pals the Irish Architecture Foundation. who have invited some of Dublin’s creative souls to select their top five buildings or events using the ‘my list’ option on the Open House website.
Following on from the five picks of Emma Clarke of Dublin Ghost Signs and Oisín Jacob of alt-rock band Heroes in Hiding, illustrator, muralist and signpainter Holly Pereira has put together her five selected highlights from the Open House Dublin 2018 programme.
As a newly-christened Northsider, I love cycling my bike from North Strand to Dollymount. There’s something particularly attractive about that stretch with the pastel-coloured shelters, low horizon, scrubby plants and view of the Pigeon House. I got really excited when I heard the Baths werebeingreopened. SignsofPoweralsohassomebeautifulworkthere,whichisatotal typographical-win for me.
My grandmother worked in Bewleys before she got married. She fed us tales of rock buns and wartime camaraderie. So Bewleys has always had an almost mythical appeal for me. The Harry Clarke windows are fabulous, as are the interiors.
I love the Chester Beatty for its collection of Asian art – kimonos, woodblock carvings and manuscripts. I think as Dubliners, we tend to forget that in a lot of cities, museum entrance is not free. Places like Chester Beatty, National Gallery and Natural History Museum are all spaces you can just escape to for half an hour. It’s like an oasis of calm in the middle of town.
DOIREANN Ni GHRIOGHAIR’S WORKSHOP
I love the physicality and sense of space, both negative and positive, absent and present, in Doireann Ni Ghrioghair’s work of plaster cast sculptures. Her workshop in Dublin Castle sounds incredible.
As someone who is obsessed with lettering and typography, it is with shame that I hang my head, and admit I’ve never been to Marsh’s Library, despite living nearby for years. The collection of
texts and books there, and the type and illustrations within them, seems like a golden, shining light of all things good in the world. This year will be the year I visit!
Words: Holly Pereira
Holly Pereira is an illustrator, muralist and signpainter based in Dublin who specialises in illustrated type and lettering. Her work encompasses a wide range, from lettering design for advertising, murals and window display, traditional signpainting for shops and businesses, posters, and exhibition design.
Open House Dublin Weekend takes place 12 – 14 October 2018. For full details check out openhousedublin.com The weekend is organised by Irish Architecture Foundation.
Image of Holly Credit: Andrei Vasilescu
