Future Light from distant stars
Future Light from Distant Stars was a multi-part project initiated by artist David Beattie, which took place over 18 months from June 2022 – December 2023. The project's focal point is a large greenhouse utilized as a growing environment, a meeting place, and a workshop space in partnership with VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art, a series of public engagements connected with the wider Carlow community. Exploring ideas around self-sufficiency, collective care, and sustainable food production, the project examines the potential for community, scientific, and collaborative exchange to address the climate emergency.
Future Light from Distant Stars is funded by the ESB Brighter Future Arts Fund, in partnership with Business to Arts, supporting artists and organizations that engage communities on sustainability, climate change, and a net zero future.
Having completed my graduation project which Artist David Beattie attended I was invited to collaborate and generate a Food experience akin to Porto Aperta. I was granted full access to all the veg grown in the greenhouse and the ground of VISUAL Carlow. In reaction, I developed a tasting menu of lime leaf and locally sourced buttermilk soup. Berries were collected on the gallery grounds and fermented. Alongside all of this jarrahdale pumpkin soup as well as some other bites where made from the grown Veg.
Alongside the food, I held a discussion about the importance of communal experience, work, and hospitality and how a project like David not only holds importance in the gallery setting as a disruptor but also inspires us to think of the future of how we view food.