Goose Lane Gallery

Autumn 2016 - Spring 2019

The Goose Lane Gallery project began because of a lack of exhibition space in the new building in Belfast School of Art for students. As a 2nd year Fine Art student I was involved in the Arts and Culture Student Society and we wanted to run a member’s show. Rob Hilkin was the Visual Artists Ireland Northern Ireland manager at the time and made a few suggestion for people to talk to. Eddie, owner of the Tivoli Barber Shop on North Street, came to our rescue and we we ran the Arts and Culture Society in the back room, Goose Lane Gallery. The space had been set up for use as a gallery space a couple of year before but had not been recently used. (North Street used to be called Goose Lane and is one of the oldest mapped streets in Belfast.) We had a really successful event and asked Eddie of we could make this a regular thing. Eddie has a reputation for philanthropy and being a supporter of art and culture, said yes. It became a personal project, no longer linked to the Student Union Society, and Jenny and managed and curated the space for about 4 years. The exhibitions opened for Late Night Art Belfast, a first Thursday of the month, now running for about 15 years, where galleries and studio groups would open their doors between 6:00 pm and 9:00 pm. Late Night Art usually runs the launch of exhibitions and there is often hospitality (of dubious vintage and quality) available as visitors makes their way around the city centre. We also ran a Belfast School of Art Graduate Award that Eddie helped select.

I was successful in applying for Arts Council of Northern Ireland funding to develop curatorial skills, which paid for the design and print of some of the posters.

Before the space became too damp to continue as a gallery, we managed to host over 30 exhibitions, worked with over 80 artists, took part in Culture Night and invited other artists to curate shows. Eddie still has a book with information about several of the exhibitions in the shop. Lots of students got their first experience of volunteering in an art space with us, and I am still friends with folk I met through the gallery.

Special thanks to the staff at the shop, for letting us traipse in and uninstalling work, and staying open late on all those Thursday nights.

Link to Mapping everyday heritage research paper : Tivoli barbershop on North Street by Anna Skoura

2019 Slavka Sverakova review

two books titled Goose Lane, mounted on a black structure with a decorative border.

Poster for an art exhibition titled "A Legacy of Love" by Mary Gilfillan. It showcases an abstract painting of a reclining figure with a fish, using earthy tones and blue accents. The exhibition is from March 3rd to March 18th, 2016, at Goose Lane Gallery, 15 North Street, Belfast, with opening hours from 6-9 pm on March 3rd.

A Legacy of Love by Mary Gilfillan was our first exhibition after the society one.

In the picture on the right there is a rare photo of me, Mary, Jenny and Eddie. the photo at the bottom right gives a glimpse of the Tivoli door from Garfield Street.

Four people standing in front of an abstract orange and red painting, smiling at the camera.

A group of people at an art gallery viewing colorful paintings on the wall.

Four abstract paintings hung on a white gallery wall, each featuring different colors and shapes.

People gathered and socializing at an art gallery exhibition, with artwork hanging on the white walls.

An abstract painting with a blurred face, predominantly yellow and dark colors, with red, green, and white accents. Text overlay announces an art exhibition titled 'Elucidating the Human Form' by Amy Higgins at Goose Lane Gallery, Belfast, from June 2nd to June 18th, 2016, with opening hours and contact information.

Young woman with short red hair smiling, wearing a black top with a tattoo on her right forearm, holding a cup, standing next to abstract art painting on a white wall.

An abstract painting with dark, warm colors, featuring orange and red shapes and yellow outlines, with a black background.

A poster for an art exhibition titled '22'. The event takes place from August 4th to August 19th, 2016, at Goose Lane Gallery in Belfast. The poster mentions the opening hours and the address. It features a black and white photograph of a delicate, dried plant or flower. The exhibition is a solo show by Kate Donaldson, and the poster includes a brief description of her artwork, which explores the experience of losing her eldest sister to asthma and her artistic process involving sculpture and photography. It also credits Jenny Davies and Zara Lyness as curators and provides an email contact.

A group of women are conversing at an art gallery exhibition, with photos of women and artistic images hanging on the wall behind them.

People gathered in an art gallery, engaged in conversations, with white walls and artwork displayed, under ceiling lights.

A hand holding a small bottle of medication directed toward a bundle of green herbs tied with string, next to a bunch of white flowers on a white background.

Group of people socializing at an indoor art gallery or event, with photographs on the wall and wooden flooring.

Group of women and a man standing in an art gallery, talking and looking at each other, with abstract art on the wall behind them.

Poster for 'Le Salon Des Diplômés,' an art exhibition from September 1-22, 2016, at Goose Lane Gallery, Belfast. Features details about the opening and the artists from Belfast School of Art Graduates 2016.

Gallery wall with multiple colorful paintings, a floral cage-like art piece with flowers, and a cluster of white flowers in the foreground.

People attending an art gallery event, socializing and viewing artwork on the walls, with drinks and snacks on a table.

Gallery wall with various paintings including abstract art, a woman in a white dress, a portrait of a woman, a boat, and a person holding a red object.

Art gallery displaying abstract paintings on a white wall, wooden floor, table with brochures in the foreground.

A crowded art exhibition with people viewing and socializing in an indoor gallery space, featuring large colorful paintings on the white walls.

An abstract painting of a group of people gathered together, with some figures standing and others sitting, rendered in muted colors with expressive brushstrokes.

Exhibition flyer titled 'Chance' by Drydan Wilson at Goose Lane Gallery, Belfast, November 3-24, 2016. Features artwork with a geometric pattern of interlinked circles on a brown background. Includes details about the artist's background and contact information.

Three people are standing and talking indoors near a coat rack and a sign for a barbershop. One person is wearing glasses and has long hair, while the other two have short hair. The setting appears to be a casual or rehearsal space with wooden flooring.

People standing at a wooden counter, reading papers, in a casual indoor setting, with some cups and bottles on the counter.

Text describing an art exhibition titled "The Cage Without a Key" by David Copeland at Goose Lane Gallery, Belfast, from December 1-21, 2016, with opening hours on December 1st. The flyer mentions the exhibition is inspired by Elizabeth Wurtzel’s quote about depression and discusses using photography to convey mental illness. There are logos of Goose Lane, Arts Council, and other sponsors at the bottom.

A leafless tree with many thin, intertwining branches is seen against a bright, overcast sky. A dark piece of fabric or plastic is wrapped around the lower part of a branch.

A flyer advertising an art exhibition titled "Fictive Perception" by Brian Kielt. The exhibition runs from February 2 to February 23, 2017, at Goose Lane Gallery, Belfast. The opening hours are 6-9 pm on February 2. The flyer mentions it is a solo exhibit of works exploring trauma perception, curated by Jenny Davies and Zara Lyness, and supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. It features an abstract painting of a woman with a dark background, some trees, and indigo, green, brown, orange, and white colors.

A group of people gathered in a small room, engaging in conversation. The room has white walls decorated with colorful artwork. On a table, there are cups, bottles, bowls with snacks, and papers, suggesting a casual social event or gathering.

A group of people gathering in an art gallery, looking at artwork and engaging in conversations.

Poster for the exhibition 'Exquisite Corpse' at Belfast School of Art Undergraduates, showcasing student and artist work from Ulster University, held from April 6-27, 2017 at Goose Lane Gallery, Belfast. The poster includes logos for Arts Council Northern Ireland and mentions it is lottery funded.

A makeshift walking cane made from a tree branch with a balloon tied around the top and colorful tape wrapped around parts of the branch, resting on a concrete floor.

A small homemade device resembling a bird feeder or small weather station, mounted on a metal pole in a room with beige carpet and white walls.

Event poster advertising 'Linger,' a solo art exhibition by Santa Leimane, at Goose Lane Gallery in Belfast, from May 4th to 16th, 2017. Opening hours are 6-9 pm on May 4th. Contains text details about the artist, exhibition description, and sponsors, including the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Lottery funding.

The image shows a poster for an art exhibition titled 'Macellum (slaughterhouse)' by artist John Connolly. The exhibition runs from June 1 to June 22, 2017, at Goose Lane Gallery, Belfast. The poster includes an abstract artwork featuring pastel colors and geometric shapes.

Event poster for an art exhibition titled 'Captured: Rich, rugged, and fresh,' showcasing Ireland landscape paintings by Belfast-based artists Esther O’Kelly, Jonny McEwen, and Neal Campbell, running from September 7 to September 23, 2017, at Goose Lane Gallery in Belfast, with opening hours on September 7th from 6 to 9 pm.

Gallery wall with abstract art pieces, including a colorful geometric painting, a sketch of houses under a yellow sun, and a small digital photograph.

Two abstract paintings hanging on a white gallery wall, one smaller with darker colors and the other larger with bright colors and geometric shapes.

A flyer for an art exhibition titled 'Process Extended' showcasing the processes used by recent Belfast School of Art graduates. The flyer features various artwork images, including sketches, paintings, and photographs, and provides details about the exhibition dates from November 2 to November 24, 2017, at Goose Lane Gallery in Belfast, with an opening on November 2 from 6-9 pm. The flyer mentions that the artists are Hannah Clegg, Hannah Johnston, Megan Kerr, and Charlie Scott, and notes the exhibition is lottery funded and hosted by Artistslegup.

A corner of a room with beige fabric draped over rods, with embroidery of small animals, possibly rabbits or mice, embroidered on the fabric.

Collection of yellowed, aged paper sheets hanging on a display rail, featuring sketches and drawings of circular objects and various abstract designs.

A group of people gathered indoors, some talking and smiling, with artwork hanging on the wall behind them and a table with cups and papers in the foreground.

A wall display of abstract art pieces hanging from a wooden rod, featuring various colors and brushstroke styles.

Black and white illustration with the words 'Future Brewing' and text explaining the exhibition 'It Matters To Me...' at Goose Lane Gallery, Belfast, with details about the exhibition and contact information.

Black and white image of an urban park with trees, a playground, and a residential building in the background. The text overlay announces an art exhibition titled 'Take Me Somewhere Nice' by Chad Alexander, along with details of the showcase, artist background, and contact information.

Black and white poster for the High Contrast Art Exhibition announcing its opening from December 6th to January 3rd at Belfast School of Art Students, featuring various art disciplines, including painting, printmaking, illustration, graphic design, and product design, with part of the poster showing the Goose Lane Gallery in Belfast.

Announcement poster for an art exhibition titled 'Shelbox Archive' by Aisling Magee at Goose Lane Gallery, Belfast, from February 7th to 22nd, 2019. The opening is on February 7th from 6-9pm. The poster features a watercolor-style portrait of Jesus Christ with a peaceful expression, and includes textual details about the event, the artist's background, and a description of her work.

A barber shop on a city street with a red facade and large front window. The shop has a sign that reads 'Tivoli Barber Shop' in red and white. There is a barber pole outside, and a sandwich board sign on the sidewalk.