As February progresses, what is a hapless Trinity student to do? Whether you are becoming increasingly stressed, bored, blue, green, or even an alarming shade of neon purple, Trinity News is here to help. I encourage you to take a break from your regularly scheduled programming, get off campus, and check out one of these events happening in and around Dublin.
Look at pretty pictures
From February 24 to March 18, Dublin gallery and auction house Gormley’s is hosting an exhibition entitled Pop Art Pioneers. This exhibition explores the pop art of four key American artists: Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Keith Haring, and Robert Indiana. Pop Art Pioneers is a promising endeavour for any student whose idea of a good time involves staring at a gigantic print of Marilyn Monroe’s face.
Learn about women
If you are woefully uninformed on the topic, look no further. This gallery event is to be held at the Hugh Lane in celebration of International Women’s Day (March 8, although personally I think we should get at least a week). Art Historian Yseult O’Driscoll will lead a tour on the gallery’s collection of female artists. The Gallery also regularly offers academic classes such as Art Appreciation: Irish and National Art from the 1980s to Today, as well as classes to gain technical skills like stained glass and drawing from life — the perfect additions to your resumé.
“The Project Arts Centre is an excellent venue for experimental performances and art events.”
Attend an experimental show
The Project Arts Centre is an excellent venue for experimental performances and art events. Ongoing shows include Manifest which opens on February 25. Orchestrated by theatre group Brokentalkers as a response to Andrew Tate and similar Tiktokers, Manifest aims to explore “what it means to be a man” and suppress one’s masculinity. The promo shows a terrifying stuffed bear enveloping a scared-looking actor, so the outlook for suppressing one’s masculinity does not look particularly good. Upcoming musical events include a February 28 concert by Katie Kim, an Irish indie folk-rocker who released her critically-acclaimed album Hour of the Ox in September.
Build your own pothead
You can forget about Build-A-Bear; you’re in college now. Not to be confused with your mother’s favourite song, This Must Be the Place is an art cafe located about 6 minutes walking distance away from College. Recent events include a workshop in which participants construct pot people out of clay and a board games social night. The events clearly veer on the quirkier side, as evidenced by the pot people and also an event on February 23 entitled simply, Create Your Own Vulva. You can stay updated on vulva and pot people creation by monitoring the café’s EventBrite page.
“As spring approaches, Wild Food Ways is offering spring foraging and wild garlic preserving workshops on their Cúl Bán organic farm.”
Flee civilisation
If staring at walls and constructing vulvas out of felt aren’t your ideal pastimes, you need not worry, the comforts of rural life await. As spring approaches, Wild Food Ways is offering spring foraging and wild garlic preserving workshops on their Cúl Bán organic farm. Learn to identify plants and eat a variety of scones accompanied by wild jams, and try out a three-course meal with wild and locally-sourced ingredients.
Laugh in the face of danger
As an Arts student, I’m unfortunately not qualified to give medical advice. That being said, the saying “laughter is the best medicine” is popular for a reason. Keep doctors and Trinity medical students away from you by attending a comedy show at The International Bar’s The Comedy Cellar. Held weekly on Sundays, stand-up events may be the perfect remedy for seasonal depression. Although I wouldn’t know — my degree qualifies me to be a barista, not your therapist.
Reject tradition and embrace instinct
If you are a literature lover who seeks to challenge the status quo, don’t be afraid to subvert expectations. By that I mean, instead of your course reading, go to a reading at Books Upstairs. In February, authors June Caldwell, Sabrina Mandanici, Darragh McCausland, and Jessica Traynor will read selections from new release Running feet, Sharp Noses: Essays on the animal world. In particular, pieces that focus on “how animals affect our sense of self, our memories, our actions.” Why would you go searching for lost time when you can spend it at Books Upstairs?
Investigate rodent life
In the coming month, acts playing in Dublin range from the mainstream (Lizzo) to indie-mainstream (Alex G). But if you self-identify as the main character, this writer encourages you to skip the beaten path, venture on the less travelled road and go see a lesser-known band like intriguingly named THE BIONIC RATS. Why are the rats bionic and why do they play ska? That’s up to you to find out.
“Trinity News is not liable for any side effects, break-ups, or statements such as “I can’t believe he took me to a garlic-preserving workshop.”
Note: some of these could in theory work as February date ideas. Results may vary. Trinity News is not liable for any side effects, break-ups, or statements such as “I can’t believe he took me to a garlic-preserving workshop.”
