Govinda Gallery

Cavan County Museum and Cavan County Council Arts Office are delighted to present Donovan Days, a three-day celebration of the art, music, poetry and life of legendary songwriter and recording artist Donovan. Donovan Days also celebrates the Celtic tradition from which he emerged. Organized in association with Govinda Gallery in Washington D.C., Donovan Days is sure to be one of the highlights of the cultural season in Ireland this summer.

Featured events from Donovan Days include the first European exhibition of Donovan’s extraordinary Sapphographs, a tribute concert celebrating Donovan’s music with Donovan as headliner, and the Irish premier of the documentary feature film, Sunshine Superman: The Journey of Donovan.

Friday 10th July, 8 pm:

Sapphographs

Launch of Donovan’s Sapphographs exhibition
Cavan County Museum
Virginia Road, Ballyjamesduff
County Cavan

Cavan County Museum is pleased to present the first European exhibition of Donovan’s Sapphographs. Inspired by the lyric poetry of Sappho (7th Century B.C.E.), Donovan captures in visual form the mythic beauty of an ancient artistic tradition. Donovan’s Sapphographs evoke the aesthetic sensuality of nature and the power of its rituals to inspire artistic creation. Curator Chris Murray writes in the exhibition catalog, “Donovan’s Sapphographs are perhaps the finest contemporary homage to the greatest lyric poet of ancient Greece.”

Donovan’s Sapphographs have been exhibited at Govinda Gallery in Washington DC, The Embassy of Greece, Washington DC, and at the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore Maryland. A tour of Donovan’s Sapphographs in Greece is scheduled for the summer of 2010.

Saturday 11th July, 8:30 pm:

Donovan Days Concert

Cavan County Museum
Virginia Road, Ballyjamesduff
County Cavan

This concert is a celebration of the Scottish and Irish Celtic traditions which have influenced Donovan’s music, songs and poetry. Donovan will headline the concert as special guest. Other musical guests performing will include Sean Ó Sé, the renowned singer and performer from west Cork; Noel Battle, 12 times All-Ireland mouth organ champion, and Seamus Fay, Cavan’s legendary lilter, along with the talented and dynamic Nyah musicians. A special marquee will be constructed on the museum grounds for this unforgettable musical evening.

Sunday 12th July, 2:30 pm:

Sunshine Superman: The Journey of Donovan

Film premier and discussion
The Ramor Theater
Main Street, Virginia
County Cavan

The historic Ramor Theater is the venue for the Irish premier of director Hannes Rossacher’s documentary feature film on the life and work of Donovan. This screening will be followed by a discussion with Donovan and his wife and muse Linda Lawrence, moderated by Donovan’s friend and exhibition curator Chris Murray.

Sunshine Superman: The Journey of Donovan depicts the extraordinary life of 60´s folk-pop phenomenon Donovan. An amazing success story covering a career spanning more than four decades of Donovan’s life, Sunshine Superman is full of rare anecdotes about colleagues, musical collaborators and friends. This award-winning film also features appearances by Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, Mickie Most, Rick Rubin, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, film directors Franco Zeffirelli and David Lynch, and many more.

The Donovan Days celebration will be complimented with an exciting and varied line-up of workshops and performances for children and adults at the Cavan County Museum complex. Donovan Days will be a unique opportunity to meet one of the most creative artists of our time in intimate surroundings as he shares his music, art and song with us.

For more information, contact Cavan County Museum
Tel. 049 8544070   www.cavanmuseum.ie   www.cavanmusic.com