celebrating art(hur)

By Catherine Jones on Sep 23, 08 08:24 AM

Sculptors, wellwishers, friends and - rather strangely - a bagpiper were in attendance for the launch of the Arthur Dooley exhibition at the Academy of Arts last night.
I popped by before heading off to the Empire for a spot of Cabaret (which, incidently, was pretty damned good).
June Lornie and the Arthur Dooley archive have drawn together some terrific examples of his work. Tantalisingly (for me as I don't have the kind of deep pockets you need for this kind of thing) a couple of the sculptures are even for sale.
And there was a new sculpture there too - Tom Murphy's own tribute to Dooley in the form of an instantly-recognisable bust of the late sculptor.

The exhibition, and one at the Albert Dock, are part of a wider Arthur Dooley Sculpture Trail. Leaflets can be picked up at the Academy in Seel Street.
It takes in sites across the city centre and beyond, from the famous Four Lads Who Shook the World in Mathew Street to sculptures in St Nick's Church, the Met Cathedral and the Scandinavian Seaman's Church.
There are also sites where Dooley used to live, work, drink - such as Ye Cracke and the Philharmonic, eat (the Everyman Bistro) and 'politick' - the railings of the Bluecoat, turned into an alternative art gallery.
To learn more about Arthur Dooley and his work, visit www.arthurdooley.org