I recently had the pleasure of meeting with Antonella Scanu who, together with her Italian partner Constanzo Idini, developed ‘Phoenix Studios’ in the Docklands.

Through the interview it becomes apparent how this lifestyle suits her, although she is not an artist herself. The creativity surrounding artists is very enchanting, but it also requires a lot of tolerance and love, as everyone knows how the temperament of an artist is reported to be!

Antonella appears to be a calm person whilst still capable of being the driving force behind the studios. Organising events for the studios and its artists is one of her main objectives so as to promote awareness of their art. She claims, “I love doing this, I live for it, it’s my main motivation for living in Dublin.”

Their first venture came to fruition in the form of Barrack Studios. At the same time they created the company ‘Noah’s Ark Studios’, with the thought of bringing together the synergies of different artists through providing a spacious, untroubled work environment, encouraging creativity and involvement in new projects, shows and international partnerships with similar organisations.

Unfortunately after just twenty months the Barrack Studios building was demolished to build student accommodation and they found new premises in Liffey Trust before moving to their present location just across the road in December 2000.

By Antonella’s own admission, it took quite some time to find a suitable location, “It’s hard to find buildings for our purpose because many don’t want artists, they only want businesses and professionals, other places that will accept artists charge too much.”

The 5000 sq. ft stone loft of the former soap factory, located on Upper Sheriff St., was then completely renovated by Antonella and Constanzo by means of their own finances and six months of labour. Initially, it was divided into twenty partitioned spaces before being extended in 2002 into another building so as to add thirteen more spaces. The main aim behind the design was to provide light, wall space, some privacy and to facilitate interaction.

The studios are the base for some thirty-two artists working in varying forms of media such as paint, sculpting, mixed media, ceramics, glass, jewellery, illustration, photography and fashion and handbag design.

I met with some of the resident artists including Anthony Collins who has been in Phoenix Studios since its inception. He arrived directly from NCAD, where he had studied as a mature student. His work has been exhibited in Oisin Gallery and he has also displayed an interactive piece at Limerick’s EV+A Project. I also met Maria Tupper who is from Sweden and is a self-taught fashion designer who sells her designs in the Cow’s Lane Market with two other designers under the label ‘Tailor Bright and Young’. They also had a stall in the IFSC during the recent Fringe Festival.

Finally, I met with Beatrice O’Connell who graduated from D.I.T. and has been in Phoenix Studios for two years now. She has had four solo shows to date and is planning one for early in 2005.

An annual event called ‘Open Doors’ is organised by Noah’s Ark to allow the public to stroll around and see the artists’ work and the atmosphere in which it was created.
There is also an ongoing exhibition called ‘Art in the Docklands’ with the art exhibited along the corridor walls in Phoenix Studios. If you are interested in visiting the studios for the sake of buying or simple curiosity, contact Antonella at antonella@phoenixartstudios.org or 087- 2753944.