BIOGRAPHY

Noelle Mc Alinden is from Co Armagh, Northern Ireland now living in Co Fermanagh, a Creative Adviser, Visual Artist, Educator, Curator of Exhibitions, Festivals and Cultural programs, An Arts and Human Rights Activist with 38 years of experience immersed in Arts, Education and Cultural life across Ireland and promoting strategic partnerships locally, regionally and Internationally. An experienced Arts Educator Teaching previously across School, College, University, Community, and Prison Sectors who continues to mentor, support and collaborate with artists, educators, galleries and arts and cultural organizations. An Active Board Member of Arts and Cultural organizations including Arts Council NI, Nerve Centre Creative Learning Centre, Void Gallery, Currently Vice-Chair of The Centre for Contemporary Arts CCA Derry~Londonderry.Former Chair for The Forum for Local Government and the Arts FLGA. Founder Member of Beckett, Wilde and Fermanagh Live Arts Festivals. Creative Adviser to Derry~Londonderry as the first UK City of Culture 2013. Former Director and Curator of The London Street Gallery and recipient of The Sir Ken Robinson Individual Award for services to Arts, Education and Culture across NI. Board Member of NI Arts and Mental Health Festival As a Visual Artist has exhibited throughout Ireland, UK, Europe and USA, Internationally in group and solo exhibitions with work in Private and Public Collections. Work has evolved from figurative narrative tradition to embrace abstract expressionism, using a variety of media, materials and processes, oil painting, acrylic, mixed media sculptural work, explorations in installation, virtual and mixed media work evolves. Former Artist in Residence in Governor School of Art University of Transylvania, Lexington, Kentucky. A member of Drawing Box International exhibiting in Touring Exhibition, throughout Ireland, Athens, Paris, New Mexico, India and Australia. Delighted to be exhibiting with 1515 Lincoln Gallery.

ARTIST INSIGHTS

How are your background and life experiences connected to your art?

My personal and professional life in arts,education and culture has been inspiring and vital over 38 years in furnishing me with infinite opportunities to use and celebrate my own creativity and self expression and help others do the same.I find this rewarding,fulfilling and challenging and I continue to be proactive in seeking opportunities to promote creativity,self compassion as well as self expression for myself and others in living a healthy and fulfilled life and of service to others.The themes I explore are well received in dealing with life and all the precious cargo we carry within us.This is reflected in the nature of my work and the themes I choose to explore.

Who are some of your biggest artistic influences?

Colin Middleton,Fauves, Expressionists,Hodgkins.

How have you developed your artist career?

My artistic career has evolved over past 38 years as an Arts Educationalist teaching and learning from a diverse range of contexts, school, college, prison, university, community, working with and mentoring Artists, Educators and communities of interest and communities of place. As an artist my work has been informed by the diverse contexts the people and the experiences I have encountered. The challenges, opportunities losses as well as gains.More recently broadcasting series The Art of Conversation with Noelle McAlinden. A series of authentic conversations in unique Arts and Cultural settings. My practice as an artist and a curator has been informed by life experiences, residency opportunities and as a Creative Adviser to Derry~Londonderry UK City of Culture. My interest in all art forms continues to fuel my curiosity and belief in the power of creativity, Arts and culture to transform Andhra communities and support positive mental health. As an Arts and Human Rights Activist I see first hand the benefits of Arts personally to self, family, colleagues and community.

What does your artistic work intend to communicate to its audience?

Move and inspire them to see how vital our creativity and self expression is and explore creativity, self care and self compassion.

Does your work comment on any current social or political issues?

Absolutely, I have been immersed in Arts and Cultural life for almost 38 years, working across voluntary, youth, community, statutory sectors. An artist and arts activist with a huge interest in Human Rights and philanthropy, where Equality and Diversity are important.Dedicated to the Unlocking Creativity Agenda of Sir Ken Robinson, highlighting the pivotal role of creativity, the arts and in living a fulfilled and purposeful life. An advocate for celebrating life, positive mental health and suicide prevention. As a Creative Adviser, Visual artist,Arts Educationalist, Curator of Exhibitions,Festivals and Cultural Events, a Mentor to Artists and Educators and an Arts Activist.I have served on many Arts and Cultural Boards across Ireland, including Arts Council NI,Royal Ulster Academy,Void Gallery,Nerve Centre and currently Vice Chair Centre for Contemporary Arts CCA Derry ~ Londonderry and Board of NI Mental Health Arts Festival.Former chair of both Creative Youth Partnerships NI and The Forum for Local Government and the Arts FLGA.Former President of The Association of Arts Design Education AADE NI. One of founding members of Fermanagh Beckett, Wilde & Fermanagh Live Arts Festivals, a curator of Festivals,Exhibitions,Cultural and Health and Well being Events. Former Creative Adviser to ILEX Urban Regeneration Company and Derry City Council, Derry ~Londonderry as first UK City of Culture 2013 and Founder Member,Director and Curator of The London Street Gallery 2013. As an Arts Educationalist worked across Primary,Post primary,University and Prison Sectors.Former Arts Adviser for WELB and Education Authority NI for 27 years. A Human Rights Activist with Smashing Times, dedicated Activist for Positive Mental Health and a Hope Ambassador. A founding member of Hope,Healing and Growth in aid of The Aisling Centre Enniskillen,promoting Hope,Compassion and Resillience in the face of adversity. A member of all Ireland Team Ohana ZERO suicide. A regular guest speaker on Creativity, Self Expression Compassion and the Arts. Producer and Director of a series of podcasts The Art of Conversation with Noelle Mc Alinden, a series of authentic conversations, promoting fellow artists, creatives & cultural champions in unique Arts & Culture Settings. As an exhibiting Artist who has exhibited extensively in solo and group exhibitions since 1983 locally & Internationally in unique Arts and Cultural Settings.Currently exhibiting in solo and group exhibitions throughout Ireland,UK, as well as Oklahoma, and as a member of The Drawing Box International in US, New Mexico,India and Europe. Former Artist in Residence in The University of Transylvania, Lexington,Kentucky and University of Ulster as part of The US Governor School of Art with work in public and private collections regionally & internationally. A recipient of The Sir Ken Robinson Unlocking Creativity Individual Award, dedicated to services to Arts,Education & Creativity.Noelle continues to mentor, support and collaborate with,ArtistGalleries,Arts Educationalists , Cultural Organisations, Voluntary, Community and Statutory Sectors. As a Visual Artist a former student of TP Flanagan and Iconographer Sr Aloysius Mc Veigh. Specialising initially in Painting and Ceramics.Working practice has evolved and is predominantly painting, mixed media, sculpture & multi media. Inspiration and Practice. Inspiration is drawn from who the artist is, where she has come from and who she is now,both the physical and emotional journey and the world she inhabits, the waterways of the mind, life experiences of loss, gains & growth and the private world within her that carries, the "precious cargo "of the past and all it's diverse, dynamic and evolving happenings.The magic of gained knowledge, personal insights and beautiful collisions along the way. Work is deeply personal and responsive. Passionate about all Art forms, poetry as well as music have inspired this body of work.A series of short poems to have evolved. An artist who has mined deeper with age, where inspiration is sought from every experience, losses and gains. Recent work has been inspired by the unprecedented crisis and permission to stop, stand still in a chaotic world, consumed with making sense of crisis ...to pause, retreat and re.....create and begin again and again and again.Texture and color are important in luring the viewer in with a wide range of media, materials and processes employed. Work has evolved from a figurative tradition embracing semi abstract and abstract expressionism, creating a new narrative that is multi layered and multi sensory. Inspired initially by Middleton, The Fauves,Hodgkins and Hoyland where colors collide and images emerge as if from a spiritual dimension. Delighted to be an invited artist with Smashing Times Centre for Equality Arts and Human Rights.As an Arts Activist dedicated to Human Rights. Work recently presented for State of The Art Exhibition and interpretation include a series of oil Paintings and sculptures The state of the Arts collaboration has encouraged the artist to continue to dwell and delve deep into the chaotic world we live in.The importance of celebrating and articulating the role of women and the artist as both a catalyst and alchemist.The themes of the evolving space between us across gender, culturally, physically, emotionally as well as spiritually has influenced her response to Human Rights. The fragile and emotional states of mind continue to be a source of inspiration.Intrigued by the theme "Becoming undone" reviewing the importance of our human rights and emotional states & landscape we inhabit.Where we have witnessed on a personal and an international scale, of experiences of displacement, in a fragile, fractured world where human rights for some are challenged and violated. The fragility of the human condition is portrayed by the artist exploring the female form, a vessel of memories, life experiences, lost and finding.....on voyages of emotional reflection, brokenness and recovery and discovery and in some cases becoming undone, breaking free and embracing a journey towards enlightenment. The female form seen as a vessel that has carried generations, in some cases scarred for life , fragile, fractured and displaced ....but emerging as brave and resilient.Migrating across inscapes.....emotional landscapes. The human body and face becoming an evolving landscape ....scarred, displaced, Fragile lands in fragile states As an Artist interested in Women's Rights, Environmental issues and Plate tectonics, where fault lines could be aligned like scars within the human spirit ....facing losses and gains during periods of guilt and retribution. Life is for some a test and battle of endurance, resillence where compassion and empathy, not pity,for self as well as others is pivotal in not just surviving but thriving, even in the face of adversity. "Becoming undone" a preparation for a state of independence ...perhaps denial re treat...and resting ,perching precariously on the periphery of the unknown, perhaps before preparation for flight and real independence. "Becoming Undone......The Road to De....Mask .....us" (Damascus) ...a play on words during a period of chaos, constraint and loss...a period of reflection and movement towards enlightenment. Not just a reference to COVID 19 restrictions, but those times where human rights have been challenged.Where the "masks" we wear are to protect us from ourselves as well as each other. For some a protector others a violator of human rights. The masks ...represent faces like eroded landscapes, paired back ,scarred by life's circumstances, worn down, disintegrated with time, bearing scars of disconnected tribes & tribulations ....where they appear to be tethered, restrained and slowly becoming undone.

Do you have a particular story that stands out from your career as an artist?

I have been fortunate to have had many diverse and invaluable experiences over past 38 years throughout my career.To have had the opportunity to support and work on Derry ~Londonderry UK City of Culture 2013 was indeed a highlight especially when we won. To have worked with and alongside Sir Ken Robinsin in The Unlocking Creativity Strategy for Northern Ireland was a huge honor as part of Northern Ireland's Peace Process.But to be the recipient of The Sir Ken Robinson Unlocking Creativity Individual Award has been the biggest endorsement to my ability to contribute to a much wider agenda as a Creative Adviser, an Artist,Arts Educator,Curator and Arts Activist.

What is one thing you would like your audience to know about you?

My passion for the arts ,my commitment to promoting Creativity, Arts, self expression & Self compassion the benefits to living a fulfilled and healthy life and encouraging others to do the same.

Which current art world trends are you following?

My passion for the arts, creativity and self expression and I am on a mission to highlight the benefits of creativity expression and self compassion in living a healthy and fulfilled life.

Why have you chosen to sell your work in the 1515 Lincoln Gallery?

I have been impressed by the dedicated commitment and support by Susan McCalmont and her team during what has been an unprecedented time during the last 18 months.

What do you believe makes 1515 Lincoln Gallery distinct from other galleries?

I have known and been impressed by the Vision and Commitment of Susan McCalmont and her team in the creation of 1515 Lincoln Gallery a Gallery that cares for, is compassionate and proactive not just in sourcing artists but supporting them in their journey particularly during a very challenging time over a Pandemic.

WATCH

“Creativity is Contagious ~ So Is Compassion” Interview with Colm O’Brien

ARTIST STATEMENT

My work has evolved, it comes from my life, my soul, the emotional landscapes we inhabit , experiences, memory & imagination. Shaped and nourished by family, relationships and an emotional response to a sense of place, an evolving sense compassion for self and others, the resilience of the human spirit, an interest in Human Rights and the significance of sometime beautiful collisions along the way. Vibrant color and texture are used to lure the viewer in.

NOELLE MCALINDEN’S AVAILABLE ART

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