
Upcoming Talks:
Visit our What's On page for a list of upcoming Talks & Events.

Re-collect
Performance artist Suzanne Walsh presents a commissioned response to the exhibition in the form of a poetic vocal/audio work on the concept of ‘collection’.
Re-collect
Thursday, 23rd March, Main Gallery.
View a recording of the event here
Read moreA Guided Meditation to an earlier state of evolution.
This audio/poetic performance invites the audience to relax, and allow oneself to disassemble into their multicellular, bacterial, deep primaeval selves, while, conversely, reflecting on the activity of ‘collecting’ as a very human activity.
Come, let us swim together in the primordial soup!
(Disclaimer, the artist is not responsible for any metamorphosis that may occur)
Suzanne Walsh is an artist and writer working mainly with performance, audio, and text. They have an interest in non-human worlds, from animals to the esoteric, and in creating rifts through which new meanings and realities can emerge.
They also publish essays, art-writing, poetry, and fiction in literary publications including gorse journal, Fallowmedia, Winter Papers. They have an essay in the recently released non-fiction book on animal writing called Running Feet, Sharp Noses, published by Paper Visual Art Journal. Their practice has been supported by Culture Ireland, Fire Station Studios, and Temple Bar Gallery and Studios. The Arts Council recently added one of their vocal performance works, BirdBecomeBird, to their collection, the first acquisition of its kind.
Archive of past talks at Butler Gallery:

Poetry Encounters
Feb - Mar 2023
Poetry Encounters, a special series of artist-poet, readings and discussions, presented in association with Poetry Ireland to mark Butler Gallery's 80th Anniversary. Join us for these poetry encounters in which artists whose work features in Butler Gallery's 80th Anniversary Collection Exhibition share and exchange insights into their own work with poets. The poets will read from their collections, explore the exhibition and consider how the visual arts have influenced their writing
Main Gallery, 1pm-2.30pm
- Wednesday 22nd February:
Artist Michael Beirne with Poet Jess McKinney
View recording here - International Women's Day, Wednesday 8th March:
Artist Felicity Clear with Poet Jane Clarke
View recording here - Wednesday 15th March:
Artist Helena Gorey with Poet Tara Bergin
View recording here - Wednesday 22th March:
Artist Anita Groener with Poet Gerard Smyth
View recording here
Find out more here

Talk Series: Cartoon Saloon - My Father's Dragon
December 2022 - January 2023
A series of online talks to coincide with Cartoon Saloon - My Father's Dragon: The Exhibition at Butler Gallery Nov 19 2022- Jan 29 2023, providing a unique insight into animated movie making.
Supported by Animation Skillnet

Kevin Atherton in Conversation with Sonia Shiel
August 7, 2022
Recorded during The Return at Butler Gallery, August 6 - October 2, 2022.
In partnership with Kilkenny Arts Festival

A Reflection on Light: A discussion with Grace Weir and Anna O'Sullivan
December 16, 2021
Artist Grace Weir, and Butler Gallery Director and Chief Curator, Anna O'Sullivan for an online discussion about A Reflection on Light (2015), Weir's filmic practice, and her research into the work of Mainie Jellett, with particular emphasis on scientific theories of light, refraction and time that were present in Jellett's paintings.

Blaise Smith Artist Talk
October 21, 2021
On the occasion of 'The Still Life Paintings of Blaise Smith' at Butler Gallery, with Anna O'Sullivan, Director and Chief Curator.
Due to a technical issue, the start of this talk is unavailable.

The Meaning of Culture - Traveller Pride Week 2021
Thursday September 30th, 2021
Drawing on the personal reflections and observations of three women from the Traveller community this event assesses notions of culture in Irish society, past and present.

Talk Series: Pride in Kilkenny 2021
June 2021
Speakers from Ireland's LGBT+ communities discuss diversity and representation in Ireland's contemporary arts sector.

Talk Series: Incoming - Richard Mosse
June - July 2021
A series of talks that accompanied the exhibition Incoming by Richard Mosse.

Talk Series: WolfWalkers, Cartoon Saloon
January - April 2021
A series of exclusive talks online, delivered by the WolfWalkers Creative Team from Cartoon Saloon, providing a unique insight into animated movie making.

Talk Series: The Defence Forces - The Bloods
August - October, 2020
A series of four talks on the occasion of the exhibition The Bloods, by artist Amelia Stein at the new Butler Gallery at Evans' Home.

Eamon O'Kane Artist Talk
Artist Talk from Eamon O'Kane's exhibition 'Does all the beauty of the world cease when you die?' at Butler Gallery, May 6 - Jun 11, 2017

Re:Collecting
November 10, 2012
Re:Collecting took place on Saturday 10th November 2012 when a group of like minded people with an interest in the heritage and history of Kilkenny came together for an afternoon and evening of exploration and recollection. Re:Collecting recorded a moment of pause and reflection at Evan’s Home, between past and future inhabitation following a period of collaboration between Butler Gallery and Commonage.