Spotlight on Woman In The Machine

“In Carlow’s former Braun factory, the best party you’ve never been to… A 72-hour lost weekend, at the best party you’ve never been to, in a cavernous secret gaff. Sound works, light installations, live music and dance, visual art, a 360 virtual exhibition space. How enticing does that sound?”

The Irish Times, 2 June 2021

A note on Woman in the Machine

The ideas for this programme began when Carlow Arts Festival and VISUAL Carlow got access to in an empty industrial site at the edge of Carlow. Closed since 2009, the former Braun factory had been in place since the 70s making small electronic handheld appliances, electric toothbrushes, hairdryers, shavers and epilators. Many women had been employed at the site which must have been a significant opportunity during the 70s and 80s. Inspired by this activity, they have created an ambitious programme that considers technological change, with a particular focus on female artists with an interest in sound, electronics, technology and new media as part of Brightening Air | Coiscéim Coiligh.

How Plans Change…

Excerpted from Deirdre Falvey’s article in The Irish Times, 2 June 2021.

“The original plan was to bring the public into the Braun building, for the festival’s 72-hour lost weekend performance and exhibition… . Weep for what could have been; but the Best Party is indeed the party you’ve never been to. Despite the gradual reopening, live performance is not permitted indoors, even in a vast space like this…. It is somewhat heartbreaking. And yet, the team are finding a way to create that party in a different way.

This has four iterations. First, Jo Mangan (Director of Carlow Arts Festival) is producing the film of this cornucopia of 50 plus original arts projects with work by hundreds of artists and arts workers in this stunning space. The film sounds like a riot, with electronic compositions, live music, DJ sets, large scale installations, dance and circus performances, masses of visual art including film and sculpture.

Second, there will be a live in-person experience in the grounds during the arts festival – rolling performances daily… with the 72 Hour Lost Weekend film screened from within the loading docks, and outdoors, live music, roller-skaters, art installations. An Engage with Architecture exhibit will skirt the site’s perimeter, with the Braun stack illuminated.

Third, Woman in the Machine’s commissioned works, from an open call and invited submissions by artists working at intersections between art, science, technology and new media, as well as from the Arts Council Collection, will then transfer to Visual for the summer. Alongside will be the Braun archive (research on the social and cultural history of the building, architectural drawings and digital models, and speculative ideas for its future) from Emma Geoghegan and five TU Dublin School of Architecture fourth year students. The public is invited to share memories and memorabilia.

Lastly, the constituent elements are online, and there’s a significant virtual reality strand in a 360 immersive interactive online alt space, with digitally native and sound work, music and film”.

Read the full Irish Times article.

Listen

Liam Geraghty, award-winning audio producer of podcasts and radio, has created four special editions of his hugely popular Meet Your Maker series focusing on the experiences within Brightening Air | Coiscéim Coiligh. In this episode, he talks with Jo Mangab, CEO and Artistic Director of Carlow Arts Festival and Kate Butler, DJ and artist in Woman In The Machine about adventures immersive experiences in unusual spaces.

A sneak peek at Woman In The Machine, filmed inside the former Braun Factory

Tickets

Tickets for #WomanInTheMachine are available at www.womaninthemachine.com

Woman in the Machine - taking over VISUAL, the behemoth former Braun factory and digital platforms features 50 original arts projects and the work of hundreds of artists. It will unfold through film, exhibitions, sound works, light installations, digital native events, a 360 virtual exhibition space, performances, talks and community engagement projects.

Included with this ticket:

• Access the grounds of the former Braun site to encounter live performers and experience the film 72 Hour Lost Weekend film - created onsite.

• Visit the exhibition including all commissioned works from Woman in the Machine, and the Braun archive at VISUAL.

Please note - due to Covid restrictions this ticket does not include access inside the factory at Braun. This is an outdoor experience, please wear weather appropriate clothing. There are no toilet facilities on site. We encourage attendees to walk to the site as parking is limited.

Duration: This is a 30 minute experience

Extend your Experience. The following are accessible without a ticket:

• Woman In The Machine exhibition at VISUAL including all commissioned works.

• The Braun Archive at VISUAL where you can share you memories and memorabilia

• Access to our specially commissioned 360 immersive interactive online Alt space

• Digitally native and sound work, music and film at www.womaninthemachine.com

• View a specially commissioned lighting up of the outside of the Braun factory after 10pm 11-13 June

• Experience Engage with Architecture around the perimeter fence of the Braun site

**Tickets for the in-person event at the former Braun site [ 11-13 June ] are available to book for €5.