Staff Profiles: Ellen Whelan

Name: Ellen Whelan
Where are you from? Douglas, Cork.

What do you do at Crawford Art Gallery?
I have recently joined the gallery as an assistant to the Learn & Explore team which is responsible for the gallery’s educational programmes, events and resources.

Briefly describe your typical working day
Luckily for me, working in the Learn & Explore department means my days are wonderfully varied as there is always a new project or event to get stuck into! My day can range from filming new videos for the Lonradh programme to creating an activity pack for kids. With Covid-19 restrictions easing and it being back to school time, at the moment a lot of my day is spent assisting with the organisation of School Tours. Mainly, I try to support my exceptional department heads Anne Boddaert and Emma Klemencic where I can!

What do you like the most about working at Crawford Art Gallery?
I’ve worked in arts administration before but this is my first time working in an art gallery and I love that there is something for every visitor of the gallery. The entire team puts in a huge amount of effort and hard work to ensure the gallery is as exciting and accessible for every person who visits, be it in person or online.

Do you have a favourite artwork, exhibition or gallery space?
Currently my favourite artwork is Brian Maguire’s recently acquired ‘Arizona 3’ which is part of his solo exhibition REMAINS here in the gallery. It deals with the loss of life by many unidentified Central American migrants crossing the Sonora desert. For me this piece forces viewers to confront the realities of the migrant crisis and provokes desperately needed conversations about it.

Images: Row 1 (L-R):
Angela Burchill, Marie, pencil & coloured pencil on board, 30 x 30 cm. Courtesy of the Artist.
Angela Burchill, Katie, pencil & coloured pencil on board, 30 x 30 cm. Courtesy of the Artist.
Angela Burchill, Rosaleen, pencil & coloured pencil on board, 30 x 30 cm. Courtesy of the Artist.
Row 2 (L-R):
Angela Burchill, John Whelan, pencil & coloured pencil on board, 30 x 30 cm. Courtesy of the Artist.
Angela Burchill, Íde, pencil & coloured pencil on board, 30 x 30 cm. Courtesy of the Artist.
Angela Burchill, Ailbhe, pencil & coloured pencil on board, 30 x 30 cm. Courtesy of the Artist.
Row 3 (L-R):
Angela Burchill, John K, pencil & coloured pencil on board, 30 x 30 cm. Courtesy of the Artist.
Angela Burchill, Eoin, pencil & coloured pencil on board, 30 x 30 cm. Courtesy of the Artist.

Another favourite of mine is the work of Angela Burchill, which was also recently acquired by the gallery and added to the National Collection. Angela’s highly detailed portraits are so joyful to look at, as they are so full of warmth and love for her subjects. Angela is a member of the Crawford Supported Studio, a programme that advocates for sixteen Cork-based artists living with disabilities. You can read more about the Crawford Supported Studio here.