Artistic Lead

The artist leading the Alleyways project is Kevin Killen. Based in Northern Ireland, Kevin’s creative practice focuses on site-specific neon installations and large-scale public artworks. He also has extensive experience of working in a range of community settings on creative projects. Kevin’s current practice is the creation of self-made neon light sculptures and installations, often site-specific. The works capture moments in time, representing life and peoples’ physical journeys as snapshots of lives. Born in 1977 in Belfast, he graduated from the Surrey Institute of Art and Design University College in 1999 and completed further specialist training in neon making in Dallas, Texas in 2009.

Kevin Killen has been working with Armagh residents since September 2018, finding out about the lesser-known histories of the narrow streets and alleyways in the centre of the city, and meeting some of the people who live and work there. As he learns more about the stories of the city from working with all sorts of local groups, Kevin has been exploring a variety of themes and visual possibilities for the scheme.

www.kevinkillen.com

CREATIVE COMMUNITY PARTNERS

We are working with a fantastic team of community partners on the project. Their positive energy, creative ambition and hard work are making the journey of the Alleyways project a special one for all involved.

Armagh Men’s Shed is a community based, non-commercial organisation where the focus is on the provision of a safe, friendly and inclusive social environment. They have been meeting with artist Kevin Killen to explore the history of the alleyways, recount their memories and create some sculptural artworks.

Armagh Art Club are a group of talented amateur artists who meet every other week to share their love of painting and drawing. They have been learning skills in drypoint printmaking facilitated by Robert Peters, the Artistic Coordinator of the Alleyways project.

Include Youth support the employability and personal development of young people aged 16+. Participants have been working with Robert Peters and Kevin Killen exploring text, place and identity through drawing and sculpture.

The Epicentre is a youth centre based in Armagh for young people aged 8-25. They have been working with Robert Peters and Kevin Killen in a five-week workshop programme exploring how they navigate around Armagh and map their journeys in digital media.

A group of students from Southern Regional College, led by their tutor Shirley Smylie, and ceramicist Rebecca Killen are learning skills in responding to a design brief. The students are creating limited edition multiples in response to the Alleyways public art brief. Kevin has been to visit the college to give an overview of his practice and describe how he responds to artist briefs for public artwork.

Armagh Writers are creating fiction inspired by Armagh’s alleyways as part of the project. Supported in editing their stories by writer Martelle McPartland, they are selecting single words, phrases or sentences to construct in metal with the help of artist Kevin Killen.

REACT is a community organisation based in Armagh City, with a focused approach on addressing community need through reconciliation and community relations work, education, youth development and training. They are learning drypoint printmaking with Robert Peters whilst local writer Byddi Lee is encouraging the group to reminisce about earlier times in Armagh and their relationship to the alleyways.