St Brigids Day ~ A Celebration of Irish American Women in Music
News
01 February 2022
Icons created by artist Seliena Coyle
Each year on St. Brigid's Day, the first day of spring, we celebrate the creativity and influence of women on Irish history and culture. This year, we celebrate by revealing artwork created by Seliena Coyle, Derry-native and graduate of Indiana University, which pays tribute to the contribution of Irish American women to Irish music.
On Tuesday February 1st, the Consulate launched these icons dedicated to a small selection of the many Irish American women whose love for Ireland and commitment to its music has ensured the survival of some of the most beautiful traditional tunes we know today. There is a connection to Chicago through Chief Francis O’Neill, flautist, fiddler and piper, who collected and published thousands of Irish tunes in the early 1900’s. He is also recognised with an icon of his own.
February 1st
The first work of art is an icon dedicated to Joannie Madden, the Irish American flute and whistle player, teacher, recording artist, collaborator and leader of the all-female group Cherish the Ladies. Joanie is recognised as one of the most influential women in Irish music worldwide and most recently was honoured as a 2021 NEA National Heritage Fellow. Joanie performs in the St. Brigid’s Day Concert organised by the Association of Irish & Celtic Festivals St. Brigid's Day Concert 2022 - YouTube
February 2nd
Day Two of the St Brigid’s Day celebration, recognises Ireland’s only female patron saint by revealing the second work of art by Seliena Coyle. We share the beautifully created icon for Grammy-nominee Liz Carroll, Irish fiddler, composer and recording artist. Liz, born in Chicago to Irish parents won her first award at 18 at the Senior All-Ireland Championships. In 2019, she was honoured with the Artist Fellowship Award by the State of Illinois in Ethnic & Folk Arts. Liz Carroll’s compositions can be heard at the Snite Museum on April 22, when she performs in a musical response to artworks and themes of the Who Do We Say we Are: Irish Art, 1922 | 2022 part of the States of Modernity series. (Please register early for this event, as tickets are limited).
February 3rd
The third presentation of artwork celebrates Rhiannon Giddens, Grammy-winning recording and performing artist and composer who breaks down barriers between the musical genres of folk, blues, jazz, bluegrass, and now also music for ballet. A MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient, Giddens co-founded the Grammy Award-winning Carolina Chocolate Drops, and she has been nominated for six additional Grammys for her work as a soloist and collaborator. She is featured in Ken Burns’s Country Music series, which aired on PBS in 2019, where she speaks about the African American origins of country music. Rhiannon lives in Limerick.
February 4th
On the final day of our St. Brigid Day celebration, we reveal artwork in honour of Chief Francis O’Neill, an Irish immigrant from Cork who joined the Chicago police force in 1873 and became Chief of Police in 1901. On retirement in 1905, Chief O’Neill dedicated his life to collecting, transcribing and publishing Irish music. The artwork recognises importance of Chief O'Neill to the heritage of Irish music. This work preserved much Irish traditional folk and dance music for the ages.
All artwork was produced by Seliena Coyle, famous for her art icons, who writes below:
"As an artist I have created a collection of small wall-based artworks dedicated to 100 women. Utilising traditional bench skills and taking a narrative approach, these small wall-pieces seek to tell stories. Women’s Stories aims to present a selection of female characters historical, fictional, and contemporary through visual storytelling. Contemporary icons.
In 2020 I was asked to undertake a commission inspired by the Irish-born Chicago Chief of Police and renowned musician Chief Francis O Neill, once described as “the greatest individual influence on the evolution of Irish traditional music in the twentieth century”.
The commission challenged me to create four icons motivated by the man himself in addition to three contemporary female musicians who continue to develop and innovate Irish music on the international stage.
The icons incorporate a variety of materials including a background of metal etched with ‘Chief O Neill’s Favourite’ sheet music. The metal stars reference those on the flag of Chicago. Another element is metal etched with the proclamation of Ireland as a nod to the fact that Chief Francis was born in Bantry and lived to see the formation of the new Republic. Visual references are also made to the (name) initial and instrument played by each of the female musicians.
This commission was especially poignant for me as an alumnus of Indiana University (Class of 98’). I spent three very happy years in Bloomington whilst completing an MFA in Metalsmithing and Jewellery Design. This period of study in the US was pivotal to a subsequent successful career as an educator and studio artist."
Seliena Coyle www.selienacoyle.co.uk
For more information on this artwork, please contact Seliena, or the Consulate at chicagocongen@dfa.ie.
