REGISTER: Bette's "The Crossroads" Happy Hour with Artist Damian Manning on 'the fleeting nature of time'
Bette members: please register for our Tuesday Happy Hour with Irish artist Damian Manning
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I am meeting many fascinating people in my journey through Europe. In June, some of you met sommelier-turned-author Lorenzo Turchi from Florence, Italy, when he shared his travelogue with us. I asked him to attend our Happy Hour to inform us on his book about Tibetan genocide, but we learned so much more. We learned how Morocco saved his life during a period of profound depression, and how when you talk about steak Florentine, you’re really starting with a specific breed of cow, in Tuscany.
We also learned recently about a man who walked from Ireland to Spain, in a stunning six-month pilgrimage.
I have also shared some of my music experiences with you.
In this one life, I always have one hand on a typer and one foot in a nightclub. That’s just how it is.
This week we’re going to learn about the ‘fleeting nature of time’ from an Irish artist and hairdresser, Damian Manning, whose evocative work with oil and chalk pastels channels Van Gogh and 20th century surrealists.
When I launched Bette Dangerous in 2022, I had every intention of writing more cultural reports, and if you dig through the early archives, you will find many original features about my days as a Hollywood nightlife columnist and music writer. I thought this was a spectacular platform to share my reflections on that very special part of my career, which I cherish even more as time goes by.
I just went to see three indie bands in Galway, and it was like taking a time machine back to the ‘90s, where the music was grungy and the coolest bands had female bass players. I am nostalgic for those days, for reasons that should be obvious to everyone who reads these pages.
I was confident in 2022 that Americans would not make the same mistake twice, particularly post Insurrection.
But here we are.
The fascists command a lot of our time, which is ever fleeting.
But, the music plays on and art fuels the soul, so I’ve decided to launch a new series within our weekly Happy Hours, where I dedicate time to the arts.
The Crossroads.
We’ll meet at the intersection of politics and culture, and for our launch, I’m inviting an Irish artist from Belfast, who now lives on the West Coast of Ireland
Damian Manning’s bio, in his own words:
As I grew up on Falls Road in Belfast, my early life was shaped by creativity and the harsh realities of a war called “The Troubles”. I remember one early Christmas time borrowing my brother Bernard’s “colouring markers” to continue my artistic pursuits whenever my markers dried up.
A pivotal figure in my youth was a school teacher named Joe Cockeran, who spearheaded an initiative called Euro Children, where host families in Belgium would recieve us children from “The Troubles” for the summer allowing us to escape the violence of war in our surroundings. Over six summers, I was hosted by families when I traveled to Belgium and Holland, where I was first exposed to great art.
At ten, a visit to the Salvador Dalí Museum in Paris left a lasting impression on me. Dalí’s celebration of the female form resonated deeply, and his surrealistic style captivated my imagination. By thirteen, I was spellbound by an exhibition of Vincent Van Gogh’s original sketches in Holland, marveling at his ability to capture movement and emotion on canvas.
Tragedy struck my family when I was almost sixteen; my brother Bernard was killed in a car accident. This loss altered my life’s path, leading me to pursue a trade in hairdressing at sixteen. At nineteen, I took a leap and immigrated to Los Angeles, where I spent six transformative years. During my time there, I faced challenges such as surviving a robbery at gunpoint, experiencing the LA riots, and enduring the Northridge earthquake. Despite these trials, I found solace and inspiration at the LA County Museum, the Getty Museum, and the Norton Simon Museum. These “art palaces” became my sanctuary, allowing me to connect deeply with works by Rembrandt, Van Gogh, and Picasso.
My journey into art has been largely self-taught. Upon returning to Belfast in 1998, I enrolled in life drawing classes at the Crescent Arts Centre. I honed my skills further in Florence in 2015 and Berlin in 2018. I also attended life drawing sessions in Galway from 2018 to the present, where I continue to develop my craft.
In 2022, I visited the National Gallery of Ireland to study and replicate works by Caravaggio, Picasso, and Jack B. Yeats. Most recently, in January 2023, I focused on Van Gogh in Amsterdam. Using pastels, I did up close studies of several of his unique masterpieces. I also attended life drawing sessions in Amsterdam and Paris.
As a professional hairdresser, I’ve trained my eye and hands to visualize geometric shapes deconstruct and reconstruct what I see on people’s hair, and I apply these principles to my art.
I find joy in recreating the world around me through my art. Today, I proudly identify as an artist, embracing the gift of creativity that flows through me. My mission is to sharpen my skills as an artist to even better express my life experiences visually.
In my artist statement, I describe myself as a self-taught artist who weaves my life story into my work. Inspired by Van Gogh’s depictions of churches, I’ve created my interpretations of Ireland churches using pastels on colored paper. The positive feedback I receive is immeasurable, fueling my passion for creating evocative and biographical art.
I am dedicated to developing my expressive capabilities through visual art, using vibrant colors to reflect the fleeting nature of time. During the creative process, time seems to warp, allowing me to experience moments that feel both fleeting and eternal. I am now a fearless artist, unafraid of failure, and I relish painting in public spaces. The atmosphere and sounds of these settings become meshed into my work, enriching the tapestry of color and form.
My daily practice involves journaling and sketching, with a focus on oil and chalk pastels. I am enthusiastic about diving deeper into oil painting, as it allows for greater vibrancy. The act of making marks transforms into art, and I find empowerment in refining my pieces to their natural completion. My art serves me as storytelling medium, transcending verbal language and impacting the viewer on a primal level.
To foster a sense of community, I gather artists weekly for collaborative sessions, where we sketch still lifes, portraits, or buildings in short bursts. This shared experience brings us together, allowing for meaningful conversations and connections as we create.
In recent years, I’ve had exhibitions of my original art, including “Ever Changing” in September 2021 and “Here Today” in September 2022, “Art Together “ in 2024 & were all held during Clifden Arts Week. The sales of original pieces and prints have reinforced my belief in the power of art as a shared experience. I find joy in sharing my passion for art with others, creating a space for healing and connection through creativity.
Through “Art Together,” I volunteer my time and expertise to encourage art lovers to create collaboratively. This initiative not only promotes artistic expression, but also offers a healing experience for many participants. The joy of sharing the process of creation with others enriches both my life and theirs, bringing us all into the present moment, where art and life intersect.—Damian Manning for Bette Dangerous
I can attest to the transformative power of art. I have been dabbling with acrylics and while painting at a picnic table in my friend’s yard in the English countryside, I felt myself connect with nature in a way I have not experienced before. The insects and birdsong became part of the experience, a chorus deepening ties to the natural world.
Looking forward to seeing many of you on Tuesday.
Please join us if you’d like some fuel for the soul.
A note for new members: the Happy Hour began three years ago, when I noticed many Bette members in despair. I thought a weekly wellness checkin for newsies was in order, and it evolved into a session where global guests offer news from around the world. The title was always meant to be ironic, but I know I feel better when our community comes together. Our bi-monthly Sunday Speakeasys will resume on August 16, and look for an announcement about our upcoming Bette’s Book Club shortly.
Lastly, a heartfelt thank you to those of you who are renewing your memberships and are new to the Bette community. Your support means everything to me. It’s been a devastating time to be a member of independent media, and I am so grateful for your continued support.
Keep scrolling to find the registration link.
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More info about Bette Dangerous - This magazine is written by Heidi Siegmund Cuda, an Emmy-award winning investigative reporter/producer, author, and veteran music and nightlife columnist. She is the cohost of RADICALIZED Truth Survives, an investigative show about disinformation and is part of the Byline Media team. Thank you for your support of independent investigative journalism.
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Begin each day with a grateful heart.
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