A Weekend of Traditional Irish Art Forms: Meet Our Artists in Residence, Kieran Jordan and Vincent Crotty
This May 18th and 19th, join us for a unique celebration of Irish culture and arts at Artistree. We are thrilled to welcome Kieran Jordan, an acclaimed sean-nós Irish dancer, and her husband, Vincent Crotty, a master plein air painter, as our artists in residence. This dynamic duo embodies the spirit of Irish artistic traditions and will bring their talents to our community through a series of engaging workshops.
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Kieran Jordan invites you to step into the world of traditional Irish dance with her sean-nós workshop. Known for its "old style," this dance form is intimate, improvised, and rooted in the rich storytelling culture of Ireland. Kieran's graceful moves and profound connection to the rhythm will inspire dancers of all levels. Whether you're a seasoned dancer or new to the art form, Kieran's workshop is an opportunity to learn from a contemporary master of this ancient tradition.
Sean-nós (Old Style) Irish Dance with Kieran Jordan Workshop
May 18th | 1-3pm
“Boston’s first lady of contemporary Irish dance”
— Boston Globe
Join Vincent Crotty as he takes you outside to paint the stunning Vermont landscape en plein air. Vincent's approachable style and his passion for capturing the transient moments of light and color make this workshop a must for any art enthusiast. From beginner to advanced painters, Vincent's guidance will help you to see the environment with new eyes and translate that vision onto canvas.
Painting from Life with Vincent Crotty Workshop
May 18 and 19 | 10am-4pm
“Working Class Hero: Crotty Makes the Gritty Magnificent”
— Artscope Magazone
Take a moment to slow down and connect with your inner rhythm in Kieran's Mindful Movement workshop. Blending dance with mindfulness techniques, Kieran offers a space to explore movement as a meditative practice. It's a chance to find balance and peace through the art of dance, all while immersing yourself in the gentle flow of Irish culture.
Mindful Movement with Kieran Jordan
May 19 | 10-11:30am
This artist residency is more than just learning new skills — it's about experiencing the transatlantic connections of the Irish arts and how they continue to influence and enhance our contemporary lives. Kieran and Vincent's presence at Artistree is a testament to the power of cultural exchange and the timeless nature of Irish artistry.
BIOGRAPHIES
Vincent Crotty is an Irish-born artist who has been living in Boston since 1990. Regarded for his landscapes, seascapes, nocturnes, and figurative paintings, he paints with fluid and vigorous brushstrokes, balanced by sensitive color. His paintings reveal a remarkable understanding of light — transforming everyday subject matter into images that are memorable and moving.
Painting from life as often as he can, Vincent’s plein air approach brings a feeling of energy and immediacy to his work. His paintings convey vivid moods and evocative depictions of time and place. Guided by intuition and a fearless playfulness with paint itself, Vincent expresses a unique vision in contemporary representational painting.
18” x 24” | 2019
Vincent explores the places and faces of both Atlantic coasts as his primary subject matter. Inspired by the 20th Century Ashcan School, his paintings of Boston and New England celebrate the gritty corners of urban American life. In Ireland, he captures the silvery gleam of wet galvanized roofs, and bursts of sunshine illuminating a wild landscape.
Vincent has been exhibiting his work for over 35 years, with gallery shows in Ireland and throughout the US. His paintings has been recognized with awards from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the John Stobart Foundation, Plein Air Magazine, and plein air competitions internationally.
12” x 24” | 2017
He has taught workshops in Colorado, Wyoming, Nova Scotia, Wexford (Ireland), and throughout Massachusetts. He’s a long-time faculty member at the Catskills Irish Arts Week in New York, and he currently teaches weekly classes at the New Art Center in Newton, Mass. He has given portrait demonstrations at the Harvard University Art Museums, and his portraits been commissioned by the Boston College Burns Library, the Irish Cultural Center of New England, the Michael J. Quill Cultural Centre in New York, and other organizations and private collections.
Vincent was born and raised in Kanturk, County Cork — a small town in dairy farming country in southwest Ireland. “One of my earliest memories, long before I could talk,” Vincent recalls, “is of sitting in a pram (baby stroller) and watching the sunshine make patterns of light on the kitchen wall. I was mesmerized. I have always been sensitive to light and color.”
Kieran Jordan, based in Boston, is an Irish dance performer, teacher, director and choreographer, and founder of the Kieran Jordan Dance company and studio. Drawing from a background in contemporary dance, somatic work, and more than 40 years of immersion in traditional Irish dance, Kieran is recognized as a leading artist and contributor in her field.
Kieran is a tradition-bearer and innovator, mentor and community builder. Born in Philadelphia in an Irish American family, she started Irish step dancing when she was just five years old. A passion for music and movement, a life-long interest in family and cultural identity, and a quest for health, wholeness, and joyful self-expression — have guided her unique career in Irish dance.
Regarded as “one of America’s premier dancers and instructors” (Irish Echo), Kieran is a two-time recipient of the Massachusetts Cultural Council Artist Fellowship (2008 and 2018) and was also awarded two Master Artist teaching grants in the Traditional Arts Apprenticeship program (2010 and 2020). Kieran has a Master’s Degree in Contemporary Dance from the University of Limerick, Ireland, a B.A. from Boston College in English and Irish Studies, and also holds the TCRG certification for teaching Irish Dance.
With a deepening focus at the intersections of dance, movement, and healing, Kieran has recently expanded her work to offer holistic bodywork and energy healing, with certifications in Reiki and Polarity Therapy.
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