mother of pearl

About

mother of pearl

1st - 31st August

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A pearl is a hard, glistening object produced within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusk. The finest quality of natural pearls have been highly valued as gemstones and objects of beauty for many centuries. Because of this, pearl has become a metaphor for something rare, fine, admirable and valuable.

A pearl is formed when an organism invades the creature and disrupts the cells in the mantle, the inner soft tissue. The oyster then begins to secrete a smooth crystalline substance known as nacre, solidifying the invading organism. Nacre, or mother of pearl, is the same material that lines the inside of the shell. It takes several years for thousands of layers of nacre to build up and create a pearl. A pearl is a product of survival. 

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'mother of pearl’ is a series of events celebrating Catalyst’s 30th year, the pearl anniversary. Using archival materials and our collective memories of sharing, passing [through], collecting and being we have developed a programme of performances, exhibitions, events and engagements which highlight Catalyst Art’s dedication, significance and influence to the visual arts on the island of Ireland. 🛠

Please join us in gathering throughout the month of August to celebrate and acknowledge this long-standing history. Beginning with ‘The Shape of A Pocket’ opening on August 1st 6-8pm, curated by Dougal MacKenzie and Christopher Hanlon. Contributing artists = Tony Hill / Ciarraí MacCormac / Eiméar Harkin / Tim Patrick / Dan Shipsides / Rachel Wharton / Dougal McKenzie / Chris Hanlon / Hannah Casey Brogan /  David Haughey / Jan McCullough / Victoria Patterson / Marnie Glass / Sophia Campbell / Claire Ritchie  🤝